Evening star., 1923-11-14
Former Veterans Bureau
Head Also Contradicts Saw
yer's Testimony.
ADDS NEW SENSATIONS
TO SENATE BODY PROBE
Says White House Gave 0. K. to
Sale of Goods at
Perryville.


rector Charles r. Forbes of the Vet-
erans' Bureau. put new thrills into
the Senate veterans investigation to
day by fatty contradicting the testi-
mony of several previous witnesses.
He passed the lie direct to Elias
H. Mortimer of Philadelphia, who haG
told the Investigating committee that
under Forbes administration conf
Dental information was furnished
certain contractors regarding pro-
posed hospital sites.
"If Mortimer states that" said the
former director, 'he states that as Il
lie"
Then he turned to Mortimer. who
was seated at table with the COM
mittee counsel. and exclaimed:
"You lie!"
Chairman Reed of the committee
interposed.
you are testifying to the commit
tee" said the chairman, "and II Is
not necessary for you to ADDRESS
other persons"
Taking up the purchase or the E4 ;t
celsior Springs, Mo, hospitai ste
from E. l.. Uiv) Morse, prominent IN
Missouri republican polltics, olpe'
said there had been a dehnlte COM
mfttment by the Treasury Depart,
ment to purchase the property anu
establish a hospital.
"Representatives in Congress came
to me and explained the situation. ne
Continued. "I in turn, discussed 1t
at the White House"
Denies Mortimer Charge.
The witness characterized as "ab-
solutely false" the testimony OF MOT
timer, that the Thompson-Blaek Com
pany of Chicago, which Mortimer said
he represented, was furnished with
"confidentiar' list of proposed sites
for hospitals, so 1t could select the
one on which 1t preferred to build.
Eorbes told the committee he as
sumed full responsibility for the sale
of goods at Perryvilie. Again taking
issue with testimony given recently
by Gen. Sawyer, the witness declareo
President Harding had given MIN
authority to release loaded cars at
Perryyilie after the first stop order
had been issued. DR.. Sawyers tesu.
rnony was that Forbes was dismissed
for his "insubordination" IN releasing
these cars.
the former director, read INTO the
record a requisition on the veterans
Rnreau for supplies for the Soldiers
Home at Dayton, Ohio, mace py Ien.
SAWYER. 1t called for twenty parrels
Of whisky twenty So 6aGrets oa6 tnweIs eI a 5000
blankets, 100, 900 yards of gauze and
lac. 600 yards of gauze bandage This
reo,,isition Forbes said he refused to
fill
WHY" asked the committee chair
man, Senator Reed. republican, Penn
sylvania.
Forbes responded.
Brands Second Charge Lie.
Asked about the testimony of Nor
timer that Forbes had stated that
while he was in an official capacity
in Hawaii he had fixed things SO
nobody lost any money" Forbes ex-
claimed:
again Mortimer lies!
"Trv to restrain yourself" warned
Mr.. Easby-Smith.
I am restraining myself returned
Forbes .., .,a,r,
that he had paid Forbes ,,naaI,bia on.i at .ne
FORBES said the reverse was the case
that he paid $3.50 for Mortimer. he
explained that he was not Wen anu
had asked Mortimer where ne couIo
spend a quiet week emo. Mor.,Ihes hes
denied that he attended any party
there. He said he retired early: Lat
ar he continued, a man came to ms
room and said the party hao leil
without paying a Dill Oh sov ,a
"J Maid the BILL" the witness sald.
o1+ seems Mortimer had left the hotel
for short time and they were anx-
ious about the bill.
II never permitted Mortimer or
any one else to pay my expenses ~
my secretary was along gshe ts hs was n,n
the money to pay bllls anu IL he ""s
not along 1 paid them.
questioned about his relations with
Mr and Mrs. Mortimer, ForpeS SAID
ba met Mrs Mortimer nrst at the
Veterans Bureau and soon a1terWaro
.n,ad that Mrs. Mortimer was at the
hureau on soldier welfare work, say
ing She was there to visit a. woman
employe.
Found Pair Agreeable.
He said he became fairly inti-
mate" with the Mortimers and found
then, agreeable companions" Com
ING then, to the famous Pacific coast
trim with them in the summer OF 1sII'
Forbes said it was Mortimer VINO
suggested that he and Mrs. mortimer
west, as Mortimer never had peen 10
that section.
Il said that there would be lot
of men in the party, the witness
cor4tnued, but that / did not see
any objection to their going IL they
Forbes said there had been no con-
yersation with Mortimer about ex-
penses of the trip.
= Explains Chicago Visit.
why did you stop at Chicago"
asked Mr. Easily Smith.
ITO inspect the Speedway Hospital
and to visit patients in the Marine
Hospital" was the reply.
The witness said he met j. w.
Thompson at Chicago. but not by pre-
ARRANGEMENT. Before that he had
seen him in Washington, Thompson
having called on him In connection
with a claim against the government
growing out of q seizure of ship.
Forbes testified as to the arrange
ment of the rooms of his official party
at the Drake Hotel where Mortimer II
claims he loaned Forbes $1,000 in the
form Of ten $500 bills.
Up to that time. Forbes said, Nor
timer had been talking about con-
"But I never gave him, any en-
couragement," he added.
l. The witness then made emphatic
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