Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-11
FRANK A. VANDERBILT
CALLED BY DEFENSE
IN TRIAL Of FORBES

CHICAGO, Dec 9.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press.)-Defense counsel nave
issued a subpoena for Frank A. Van
derlip. widely-known eastern flnan-
cier, IN the trial of Charles r. Forbes
and j. w. Thompson on conspiracy
CHARGES growing out of the veterans
Bureau administration.
PAPERS STOLEN AND GIVEN
FORBES, MORTIMER SAYS
CHICAGO, Dec. 9.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. )-Col Charles X.
Forbes, during his term as director
of the veterans bureau, sought only
high class, reliable, able and tlnan-
cially responsible contractors for
hospital work, he repeatedlytold EllaS
n Mortimer, contractors agent, the
latter testified in ceoss examination
in the trial of Colonel Forbes and
others on conspiracy charges grow
ing out of the veterans bureau ad-
ministration under Forbes.
Mortimer also told of an agree
ment between himself and Forbes,
reached early in 1922, under which
thew would divide between them 50
per cent of the profits on contracts
awarded to firms which Mortimer
represented in negotiations with the
veterans bureau.
Mortimer was on the stand for his
second days cross eXaminat1on TO-
day. He is the chief government
witness against Forbes and j. w.
Thomson, Chicago and st. Louis con-
tractor, on trial for conspiracy to
defraud the government in the allo-
cation of hospital contracts.
Tells OF Meeting Forbes
Mortimer recOunted his meetings
with Forbes in March, 1922, two
months after Forbes was appointed
to the bureau post. After several
conversations with Forbes, in which
he represented himself as soliciting
agent for various contractors inter
ested in veterans bureau awards, he
had been given a list of proposed
uOSplIdl SlI6S Ny Il VI DCS lCbC III -N1o :,
1922, Mortimer said.
James S. Easby-Smith endeaVoring
to bring out that each of three sites
on the Its had previously been def
nitely selected by President Harding
as a hospital site and the announce
ment published in the newspapers.
Mortimer told also, under a rapid
fire of questions from Forbes cOun-
sci, of the disappearance of some OF
his papers from his apartment i'll
the Wardman Park hotel in Wash
ingtOn, and from a safe deposit box
in Washington.
Theft of Papers Charged
"The papers were stolen at three
different times and given to Colonel
Forbes" Mortimer replied in, answer
to Colonel Easily Smith, defense
counsel, questiOner.
The answer was permitted to stand
despite the objection of the defense.
Coming to the 200 advance to
Mortimer from Thompson in June,
1922. the witness said that the
amount, with 500 more, had been
deposited in three Washington banks.
A heated Wrangle between counsel
followed attempts to question Nor
timer as to the use he made of the
funds.
The court sustained the govern
ment'S objection that it was a purely
personal affair of the witness.
Defense counsel persisted in an
argument that the distribution of the
funds might prove to be of vital i'm
pOrtance to the defense.
Says He Gave Forbes 5000
Mortimer was on the stand for
the second day of cross examination.
He told of his first meetings With
Forbes, soon after the latter became
head of the veterans bureau in 1922,
and of giving him $1,000 in the
Drake hotel here in June, 1922. The
money was part of a loan of So
600 to Mortimer from Thompson, a
member of the firm of Thompson 6,
Black, the witness said.
He told of entering his hotel suite
June 20. 1922, to find Mrs. Mortimer
and Forbes shooting dice on the bed.
After cross examining to develop
the testimony that he two were in
the room alone. EaSbY-Sm read
from the Senate records extracts of
Mortimer's testimony to the effect
that when he entered the room, per-
hapS fifteen persons were there.
Judge George A. Carpenter re-af-
firmed his ruling several times, but
later when it developed that all the
bank statements and cancelled checks
were in custody of the government,
ordered them presented to the defense
counsel for examination.
Mortimer told of his visit to Chi
cago in June, 1922.
On June 30, he said he went to the
Chicago office Of Thompson and
Black between 10 a. m. and noon and
signed a note for a $4,000 loan.
That afternoon. Mortimer said, he.
went to his room in the Drake hotel
and found Mrs. Mortimer and Colonel
Forbes shooting craps on the bed"
1T cost me 1920 to pay for his
fun that afternoon" Mortimer said,
over the objection of the defense.