New Britain herald., 1924-05-21
!. Spie4i on BroOkhart.

know whether the espionage was Stlll in progress. It started March 16.
 "O'Brien told me they had men in Iowa looking up Senator Broollhart's $ record, and men in Montana on Sen ator Wheeler" Duckstcin said and were looking up all the members of the committee"
 '"'l think the less attention we pay to this the better" remarked Sen aotr Jones, republican, Washington.
 T don't think SO Chairman Brookhart rejoined. Wed better find out how far this government by blackmail is going to go.'
 Duckstoin said he saw Todd's let ter to Daugherty.
 The committee pressed the witness to say why he had not reported the incident.
 Il considered them as co-workers with my wife" Duchstein said. Petit and OBrien said they were going to take the papers to Todd in New York"
 "Why did you finally tell Means?" asked Senator Wheeler.
 He replied he had heard Means had got some of the facts and was get ting my wife into it."
 Mrs. Duckstein. though employed directly under w. J. Burns, former head of the bureau of investigation, did not report the paper enterprise to her chief. he said.
 George Chamberlain, attorney for II. Nj. Daugherty, asked the witness for details Of his conversation with Petit and O'Brion about getting evi- dcnce against committee members
 Were you drinking when you talked about that?" he asked.
 We were" said Duckstein,
 Did you think they were stringing you?"
 No. cant say I did"
 Mir. Chamberlain suggested the stories might have "become more vivid with the liquor," but Duekstein said that on the contrary the liquor would result in more freedom Of talk.
 Under further questioning. Duck stein wac moro specific about the Means papers. He said that Petit and O'Brien. on the night of March 3i. took the witness and his wife over secluded road in Washington park Wnth flashlight they made a hurried inspection Of several cases of diaries and documents In the automo- 1 bile. Since that date, Dncksteln said, he hadn't seen hide nor hair Of eith- CT man, but had a telephone conyer- satlon on April 8 with Petit,
 You told me on one occasion that was going to be framed, didn't you?" Senator Wheeler asked Duck stein.
 "Yes 1 did," Ducksten replied.
 And that was A month before was indicted in Montana" the sena- tor persisted.
 "l guess so," said Duckstein
 "Didn't you think there was a pos sibility O'Bren and Petit represented Mr. Mcans?" Chamberlain asked
 "Oh, mo- Duckstein said. T thought they represented Todd. the man who was prosecuting Means"
 Mrs. Duckstein Called.
 Mrs. Duckstein took the stand and Senator Wheeler took her first through the process of identification of persons in the inquiry. including JoSs Smith. She said she took dic- tation from Jess Smith in his private office on the sixth floor of the depart mcnt of justice"
 What was his correspondence 2" asked Senator Wheeler.
 "rhe chief thing that is in my mind is that Mr. Smith was writing letters for President Harding about d sour rilous book that was being written about the president"
 Who worked with Smith in that investigation ."
 MT. Smith sent for Gaston Means to help him"
 Many of smiths letters. she said, were giving the views Of the attorney general"
 Did be fell you to make copies of his letters?" Senator Wheeler de- manded.
 'He told me particularly not 10 make any copies of his letters. I tore up my shorthand notebooks from time to time"
 Who did he write about whisley permits?"
 T can't remember"
 Senator Wheeler put his question in different form and inc witness said:
 The letters seemed to be arrange ments about whiskcy permits, saying he would see that they got them, or something like that can't remem- Der more than that"
 She began to work for Smith ct the department Of justice in September, 1922. she Taid.
 Smith was sort of confidential assistant 10 the attorney general" she added. and was second in authority. l thought. He had a messenger as signed to him.
 Did ycu ever write letter about ilte Dempsey-Carpentier fight pic- turesg"
 "Yes. to somebody Up in New Jer- sey. a man named Reed. I think"
 smith got files any anything with in reason" he wanted at the depart- ment. she said. Alfred Urion. How ard Maningio on and Wade Ellis visited him frequently.
 Means and Smith. she said, also were frequently together.
 Did Jess Smith dictate confidential memoranda to Meansg" Senator Wheeler asked.
 ''Nery frequently. Instructions as Co what Means was 10 do and other things. I think Smith had Means in- yestigating General Sawyer and was sending Means reports on to the president"
 She also named ''E. H. Mortimer" Senator Caraway Of Arkansas. and Representative Woodruff of Michigan, as among those under investigation.