Evening star., 1924-12-12
DECLARES FORBES
ASKED $1,000 LOAN
Mortimer Says Money Ad-
| vanced Without Expecting
! It Would Be Returned.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. December 12.-Elias H
Mortimer, principal Government wit
ness In the Forbes Thompson conspi-
racy trial. testified in cross-examina-
t!on today that Charles r. Forbes,
former director of the Veterans Bu-
reau, approached him for loan of
$1,000 on June Is, 1922, Ave days
before, he had testified previously,
he gave Forbes $1,000 IN cash in a
Chicago hotel.
Mortimer was on the stand for the
nth days cross-examination. He
said Forbes visited him at the Ward
man Park Hotel, in Washington, to
ask for the loan to help finance his
wife's visit to Europe.
Il told him ! did not have the
money. but would see what I could
do for him." the witness said. Il
then told Thompson and Black what
Forbes had said, and then went back
to Forbes and told him things could
be fixed up
j.. w. Thom n~on, Forbes co-defend-
ant, and ]. W. Black, now dead, were
partners in several contracting firms
seeking veterans hospital contracts.
Both were Mortimer's guests at the
Wardman Park Hotel at the time.
Did Not Expect Money Back:
When you gave this money to
Forbes, then. it was in the nature
OF loan" Randolph Laughiin,
Thompson's attorney asked.
He asked for a loan," Mortimer
answered.
Well. was it a loan? Did you ex-
pect to get it back or not?"
Says He Received $4,000.
In negotiating this loan or payment
Tor Forbes the witness said, he also
arranged to get $4,000 from the con-
tractors for his own account
Half the amount was loan which
Mortimer expected to repay from
his share in hospital building profits.
The balance was for expenses of the
by Thompson, which he divided equal
in June and July, 1922. on which Mr..
and Mrs. Mortimer accompanied
Forbes and several members of his
staff
The defense introduced in evidence
two bank statements showing the
condition of Mortimer's account In
Washington when the trip began. In
one bank there was balance of
S6E21 and in another $3.50.
IN Chicago. on June 90 Mortimer
said he was given $4,000 in cash
by Thompson which he divided equal
~ with Forbes Immediately. The
next day. he added. he was given
$4,000 more. He had signed a note
FOR $4,000. but had taken nothine q
from Forbes in receipts for the money
said TO have been turned over to him.
Mortimer Excused.
On June 10, the day he signed the
note. Mortimer said he drove with
Forbes Mrc
or inspection of the Speedway Vet
Grams Hospital, near Chicago.
Did you object to Mrs. Mortimer's
going on that trip?"
Il never objected to her going any
where with Forbes. If L did. she
arranged to go anyhow Mortimer
replied. Mortimer said he told Thomp-
son, in Washington, he needed part of
his $4,000 advance to "clear up some
obligations"
Questioned as to the nature of these
obligations, Mortimer said they were
purely personal matters, having no
bearing whatever on this case"
The court excused him from answer
Ing further.
We never expected to get it back
In the fourth days cross-examina-
t1on yesterday the defense obtained
from Mortimer a fat reputation of
portions of his testimony before the
Senate Veterans Bureau investigat-
ing committee last year, which form
ed the foundation on which was
reared the Government case against
the defendants.
IF that's in the book, it's a mis-
take Mortimer replied to one ques-
tion based upon an excerpt from his
Senate testimony which was at vari-
ance with his narrative in the trial
Admits Animosfty.
Il have had my recollection refresh
ed on that point since the Senate in
vestigation,' he answered at another
point in explaining an apparent diff
ference between the two accounts.
After admitting in his cross-ex-
animation that his testimony before
the Senate committee had been
metivated by hostility toward
Forbes Mortimer affirmed in reply
to- another question that he would
mover have made the story public"
If he could have effected a reconcilia-
tion with his wife. who he believed
at the time had been won by Forbes.
would you have denied every
thing you have told about Col. Forbes
If you had effeSted such a reconcila-
tion?" the examiner asked.
Yes" said the witness, but I
would not have committed perjury"