The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-03-20
ZIHLMAN SAYS HE REFUSED
TO ACCEPT BRIDE MONEY
Congressman Declares Charges
of Graft Are Due To Revenge
Plot Laid by Mortimer

Congressman Frederick n. Zihl-
man, of the Sixth Congressional Dis
trict of Maryland, which includes this
county, maintains that he has proof
to establish before the House investi-
/ eating committee created to probe
graft charges against him that he is
the victim of revenge by Elias H. Nor
| timer, Philadelphia contractor.
According to the story as told by
! Congressman Zihlman and his num-
erous friends, Zihlman, an erstwhile
| friend and intimate of Mortimer, will
seek to show the House Mortimer is
the tool of others high in Govern
ment circles who are attempting to
bring about the political destruction
Of Zihlman, Representative John w.
Langley, Kentucky Republican, and
others as yet unnamed members of
the House.
Zihlman, confident of vindication, it
is said, will unbosom himself with de-
tails Of official and social life in
Washington that may prove startling
before the finish. Zihlman's friends
said last Friday the worst that can
be charged against him is that he has
been RECKLESS" in his friendships.
They insist no criminal wrong can be
proved against him.
Zihlman's case probably will pro-
vide more fireworks than that of Mr..
Langley. When Mortimer, a high
flier in the social colony at Wardman
Park Hotel, sprang upon the gay
night life scene soon after the present
! administration began, he found any
number of Senators, Representative
and others in the unofficial but highly
prominent social list ready to help
him give zest to his peppery parties
at Washingtons exclusive hostelry.
Mortimer was the grand mogul, the
ever-resourceful, with plenty of liquor
and money, and even a select list of
feminine acquaintance, always on tap
for parties"
When Zihlman tells his story it
probably will make the oil scandal
! seem tame in comparison-if he tells
it at all. And Zihlman, according to
his friends, was merely an onlooker
or bystander at most of the sensa-
tional happenings at Mortimer's
apartments in the Wardman Park Ho-
tel, where it is alleged gigantic con-
spiracies were conceived and later
Matched in the privacy of department
tai bureaus.
Zihlman's friends claim Mortimer
turned upon those of his former init
mate acquaintainces whom he could
not "buy" and openly threatened he
would get them" before he stopped.
Zihlman has told his friends that as
soon as he detected Mortimer in his
plan to corrupt those around him who
were members OF the Senate and
House he (Zihlman) broke off the re-
lationship.
Zihlman severed his relations with
Mortimer after the loan Zihlman adj
mitted was made by Mortimer to Mrs.
Zihlman to cover an obligation which
placed her in need of immediate funds.
Zihlman will claim Mortimer sought
to take advantage of his financial dis
ability, sought to bride him to use his
influence to foster certain plans, but
that he (Zihlman) resented such over
lures and then followed the dissolu
ton of their friendship.
Zihlman is said to have become an
gered when Mortimer approached him
with a gift of money, and is said to
/ have exclaimed:
'If you are that kind of a man,
want nothing more to do with you"
Zihlman went to his friends soon
afterward, told them what had hap
pened and expressed his fear that
Mortimer might seek to ruin him po-
! litically. Zihlman has been laboring
under this fear ever since. Mortimer
turned States evidence and became
the star witness of the Government in
! the case of Col. Charles R. Forbes,
former head of the United States Vet
erans' Bureau, another of Mortimer's
intimates, while he held sway at the
Wardman Park Hotel.
Zihlman will not deny allegations
that he and Mrs Zihlman visited fire.
quently with Mortimer and his wife.
He will tell frankly of the trips they
took to White Sulphur Springs. He
! will hide nothing about the other
numerous incidents of travel and So
cial contact during the time of their
friendship.
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