Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-18
dc. MAN HEARD
IN FORBES TRIAL
Wardman Manager Says
Mortimer's Reputation for
Veracity Bad.


Dyer, manager of the wardman Park
Hotel, Washington. contradicted from
the witness stand today portions Of
the testimony of Elias H Mortimer,
principal Government witness in the
Forbes Thompson Veterans Bureau
conspiracy trial. He was called as
the second defense witness.
He denied that Mortimer ever had
reported to the hotel management
that his apartment had been ran
racked and his papers stolen. Nor
timer had told of three robberies.
The witness said Mortimer fire.
quently exhibited large sums of
money.
Sometimes 1T was in hundred dol
lar bills, sometimes in smaller denom-
nations" he said.
Says Reputation Bad.
DO you know what was Morti-
mer's general reputation for truth
and veracity among the guests OF
the hotel?" James S. Easily Smith,
counsel for Forbes, asked.
yes"
What was that reputation, good or
bad?"
1T was bad"
would you believe him under
| oath?"
mo"
Dyer said he once asked Mortimer
to vacate his suite, although he was
always Financially satisfactory
"WilI you tell the jury the nature
of the Objectionable conduct?"
"Well, drunkenness mostly" Dyer
| replied
Randolph Laughlfn. counsel for
Thompson, endeavored to pursue this
line OF inquiry.
TELL the jury specifically what he.
did" he demanded.
Il object" interposed Government
counsel in unison.
AZ do not think We need the de
tails 'of an ordinary individuals con
duct while under the influence of Ii
quor," Federal Judge George A. Car
penter ruled.
ut was not ordinary conduct" the
witness offered.
Objection Sustained
We'll, even the extraordinary con
duct of a man out of his right mind
is hardly material to this case" the
court ruled.
Did Mortimer ever attack and
beat woman guests Of the hotel?'
Laughlin questioned.
That question must be divided in
to two sections to show whether you
mean while the subject was intoxicated
or sober" the court interjected.
Very we'll" Laughlin responded,
I'VE Will put the question in any
form the court pleases."
AS to sober moments, the witness
may reply" the court ruled.
We'll. could only answer that
question from hearsay."
He was excused from further answer
Harry J. Dougherty, chief house
detective of the Wardman Park
Hotel. also denied that Mortimer ever
had reported the robbery of his suite
Sid Houston Of Washington, editor
of the Stars and Stripes. a veterans
paper, testified his work had thrown
him into close contact with the
Veterans Bureau during Forbes ad-
ministration. Houston said he was =
former State commander of the
American Legion in Missouri, ami
long had been interested in the wei
fare of returned soldiers.
Tells of Conferences.
He told Of newspaper conference
at the Veterans Bureau during 1922
denying that official business was
shrouded in secrecy.
A copy OF the Stars and Stripes
| article listing approved hospital
sites. was offered.
EasbySmith then questioned Hous
ton to bring out that the list had been
given him by the publicity director OF
the bureau prior to May "a
Mortimer testified last week he had
received from Forbes on June 4 a con
idential list of three hospital sites
listed in the Stars and Stripes article
One OF the overt acts listed in the
conspiracy indictment was that
Forbes had supplied Mortimer with a
list of the three sites OH June ].
The defense then offered in evidence
documentary evidence that the hospi-
tai sites in question had been ap-
proved by President Harding on May
IL, 1922.
Houston also testified that Mortimer's
reputation for truth and veracity was
not good.
On cross examination he was ques-
toned as to his advocacy of
veterans hospital at Excelsior
Springs. Mo, on a site purchased from
E. L. Morse. Houston admitted he
had advocated the hospital and had
appeared before a state convention
of the American Legion in Iowa to
enlist legion support for the project.
The defense objected to this cross
examination on the ground that the
matter had not been touched upon III
direct examination and because the
Excelsior Springs site had been pur-
chased before Forbes appointment to
the Veterans Bureau.
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