Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-26
State Supt. Anderson, Facing
Charge Of Forgery, Declares
One Henry Mann" Was En-
trusted with Expenditure Of
Money Given by ''John
King"-Prosecutor in Saw
age Cros s. Examination,
Brings Out Remarkable
Story Z

New York, Jan. 25.-William H.
Anderson, state superintendent Of the
Anti Saloon League. today continued
his narration OF the $4,000 he OBJ
tanned from a comparative stranger in
1912 and 1913. and added to his reel
tai the name Of another comparative
stranger. to whom he entrusted the
expenditure Of the gift.
Every ratification OF the remark
able story was given in detail by
Anderson, who was on the witness
stand for the second day in defense
Of the forgery 1charge being heard
against him in supreme court. Most
OF the story was drawn by the cross
examination of Assistant District
Attorney Pecora. the prosecutor, who
talked himself into hoarseness and
fatigue in his three and half hour
arraignment OF the witness.
A person named by Anderson was
Henry Mann q mysterious as the
strange John T. King" who, accord
ing to the league heads testimony
Yesterday, made him the $4,000 gift.
was the added member of the story's
cast. 1t was he, Anderson testified.
who spent the $24.70O the league head
said he advanced to the league in
1913-14 for publicity purposes" And
he spent 1t. the witness declared,
without giving in return receipt
or voucher. and without making an
accounting of any kind, to the league
superintendent
interest throughout the day was
riveted on the continued cross ex-
animation Of Mr.. Anderson. the
crowded courtroom paying little at
tention to the testimony OF two
character witnesses called by the de-
tense. Today's crowd was the largest
OF the hearing. and the audience in
Guided q large sprinkling OF men in
ministerial garb and a dozen deacon
esses OF tho Methodist Episcopal
church. who sat on n front bench.
The day opened with Anderson on
the stand and Pccora, thumbs In
waistcoat, shoulders squared. stand
ing before him with a list of ques-
tons. Pecora, apparently dissatis-
fled with the witness statement of
yesterday unent his knowledge of the
mysterious "King" continued on this
subject for the first half hour.
Anderson declared the last time he
had seen King" was in the Waldorf
Astoria Hotel. shortly after he as
sumed the Office of league superin-
tendent. They had dinner together.
he said. and King" passed over an
envelope which Anderson later found
to contain $4,000 in currency.
did he say what the money was
for?" Pecora asked.
HE didn't have to--that was I'M
derstood." was the reply.
They were alone. he testified. This
was In the morning. In the after
noon, still under cross examination.
lie told Pecora he believed he had
been introduced to Mrs. King.
Il think, / am not sure, that she
was present at the dinner"
The name Mann" was brought
into the record under conditions
similar to those under which that of
King was made public. Pecora
asked Anderson the name of the
publicity man King" had intro
duccd TO him.
Il protest that to name him would
he a violation OF confidence" An
derson said. turning to Justice
Tompkins.
You must answer" the court de-
Cided.
He said his name was Mann
Henry Mann"
He did not know his residence or
Office address. he explained, nor had
he ever seen mann" except In the
league offices or by appointment at
the Pennsylvania terminal. On all
these occasions. he said. he gave
Mann" money.
Mann" he added. was employed
In the publicity work" OF the league
for twenty-five months. doing his
last work in 1915. when he received
the final payment of the $.4.t 900. In
all. he declared, he had met Mann
20 TO % times. He had met him but
once. casual street meeting. since
the work had been completed. ne
said. although he had sought him
since the district attorney began the
Investigations which eliminated In
his indictment.
Pecora questioned Anderson Q;
length as to the nature of "aMnn's''
duties. The witness replied that they
included general publictty-any-
thing to promote the work OF the
Anti-Saloon League"