The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-19
SUIT INCREASES
TROUBLES Of
MISS ALICE
Her Secretary Pushes Claim
For $25, 900 Damages Filed
in Washington.
By DOUGLAS G. TINSLEY.
international News Service,

I
MUSKOGEE, Okla, April 10
The trials and tribulations Of the
only man who ever served in the ca
pacity of secretary to a woman
member Of Congress in American
history are to form an interesting
chapter to the already interesting
life of the National Capital, judging
from the preparations that are be-
ing made to produce evidence in sup
port of Ben F. Cooks suit for $4,000
damages, for alleged Islander, against
Miss Alice Robertson, who retired as
one of Oklahoma's Representatives
in Congress March 4.
The suit, which was filed In Wash
ington recently, grows out Of the
alleged charge by Miss Robertson
that Cook, while her secretary, sold
her automobile and appropriated the
funds for his own use.
Behind the suit, friends Of Cook
say, is an interesting story OF dis
agreement that existed between the
secretary and Miss Robertson many
months before Miss Robertson was
retired from Congress by the voters
of Oklahoma. The disagreement was
over financial matters, it Is claimed
Cook claiming that Miss Robertson
had not paid him the salary which
she had agreed to pay. There were
numerous attempts on Cooks part,
according to his Muskogee friends,
to adjudicate the matter, which
failed.,s
ADMITS Selling the Car.
Cook admits selling Miss Robert
sons car, but claims he had her au.
thority to do so. Upon receiving an
offer for the machine, he claims. ne
advised Miss Robertson at Portland,
Greg, where she was visiting, of the
offer, and she telegraphed her &C
ceptance, Cook says The car was
sold for $382.50, which Cook says he
deposited in. the bank to his own
credit for that amount on an indebt-
edness he says she owed him.
The former secretary claims ne
will prove that the former Con-
gresswoman accused him of selling
the car without her authority and
with embezzling the proceeds or
the sale. He also charges that Miss
Robertson promised him $3.50 9
month as salary, although for ex-
pediency's sake and with the full
knowledge and consent of Miss
Robertson he says he certified his
name on the Government payroll
for $203.S3 a month.
Salary Short, He Says.
The balance, he claims, was never
settled, although he frequently at
tempted an adjustment. and he also
paid some of her personal accounts
and office expenses from his own
purse. On Miss RobertSon'S trips
to Muskogee in the summer Of
1922, Cook says. ne loaned her
500 when he alleges she pleaded:
"Ben, I'm broke; can't you let
me have 500 to get back homer"
Following Miss Robertson's return
to Muskogee. Cook says, he wrote
her suggesting that each appoint
an arbitrator. the two to name
third who should hear his story
and Miss Robertson's story for the
purpose OF rendering a judgment
on the financial disagreement which
Cook alleges to have been the diff
Guilty between the two, Miss Rob-
ertson replied, he says, that she
would discuss the matter with him
on her return to Washington but
that she never did. Cook attempted
to obtain an agreement with her,
he says. the day she returned from
Congress. Walking out of her Of
fees. he declared she snapped him
off with: mo, / don't want to be
bothered with you; you've made
my life miserable"