The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-01
[. R. FORBES \ IS INDICTED AT CHICAGO Bribery And Conspiracy
 Charges Named By $
 Federal Jury
 ASSOCIATE ALSO CAUGHT IN PROBE { !. w. Thompson Alleged To Have Conspired With Director
 To Defraud Government OTHER SENSATIONS IN INVESTIGATION COMING Handling Of Veterans Bureaus Affairs Develops Numerous
 Marks Of Wrong Doing s- k
A SSOCIATE ALSO
 CAUGHT IN PROBE
OTHER SENSATIONS IE INVESTIGATION COMING

CHICAGO, Feb. 29s-fBy Associ
 ated Press.l Colonel Charles R { Forbes former director of the United States veterans bureau, and John w Thompson, contractor of Chicago, and St. Louis. were named in four indict, ments returned today by the federal grand jury which has spent q month sinvestigating charges of waste, graft and debauchery in connection witl, Colonel Forbes administration.
 Forbes and Thompson were named jointly in two indictments charging conspiracy to commit bribery and of. fenses against the government and con. spiracy to defraud, the United States government. Forbes was named, alone. In q third indictment on charge of accepting q bribe and Thompson in a fourth charging that he had indirectly given bribe.
 In special report which acco,n- panied the indictments, the grand jury indicated that other. sensational de- yeIopments, involving alleged graft had been uncovered, but because they were not within the jurisdiction of the acanrt. had not been pursned.
 Details Kept Secret
 We do not feel, the special re- port said. "that it would subserve the best Interests of the government for this jury at this time to make public the details of this transaction. This jury feels that it will suffice to report that they involve:
 Speculation by one or more of fieials of the government wherein it has been asseftea that official infor- mutton H'ss used for pprposes eE specu-
 That Se,saiu. ss1sas q were paid to two membsls 9f ( S6isH Tess <!
 That possession of d file Of oiie of the departments for about a montb was had by persons having no official eonneetion with such depatthaen9 !, {.
 That money was accepted by certain individuals (not attorneysl for the purpose of obtaining eiemency for prisoners through their intimacy with officialst
 '.5. That money was collected by certain individuals (not attorneys) for obtaining through such intimacy per inits for Intoxicating iquor.''
 95,O0O Bribe Mentioned
 The indictments charge that Forbes while director of the veterans bureau receired- bribe of $5,OOO and certain additional emoluments on agreement to award contracts for government work to the contracting firm of Thompson and Back of which Thompson and James W. Black, deceased, were the heads.
 The contracts were to be awarded. it was charged, in connection with the building and equipping of hospitals for soldiers for which the government ap- propriated $12,000,000. Charles r. Cramer, former general for the bureau who committed suicide after investiga- eion was proposed, was named ir the indictment as having accepted a promise from Thompson and others for $lO0, GOO in return for his approval of the contracts.
 Elias M ,rtimer, of Philadelphia, who appeared before the Senate committee which investigated the veterans, bureau and made bribery charges and who also appeared before the grand jury, was named in the indictments, having been 'etatned as the agents of Thompson nd Black, who the indictments l harged, used the Pontiac Construction | ,mpany in. their actions in securing 1 ntracts for Black and Thompson for | d. tnses to be incurred by them, the |
 d moneys to be wasted and misap- l ptkcu anu Ihe puFpOec Ol Sdiu dctS ue- l feated.
 Allegations In Indictments
 Among alleged overt acts listed in | the indictments are the following: That Forbes, Cramer and Mortimer. April 23. 1922, travelled from Wash igton, Tarrytown and Poughkeepsie,
 Y.
 Nhat Forbes, June 1, 1922, at Wash
 on, gave Mortimer paper con
 .ling the names of proposed hospital -ructures.
 That Thompson, at Chicago, on the same day. telegraphed Mortimer.
 That Mortimer, Thompson and Black met in Chicago Jun, z, 1922, "con- ferred concerning the means and meth ods of effecting the object of said un- lawful and felonious conspiracy com bination, confederation and agree ment"
 That Thompson, Black, Mortimer and Forbes, June IF, 1922, met in Wash lngton "to discuss means for carrying out the objects of their conspiracy"
 That Thompson and Black, June 20, 'S22, borrowed $15,000 from the Union rust company, Chicago, and paid it to Mortimer,
 That Thompson, Black and Mortimer. Dn June 20, 1922, at Chicago, paid Forbes $5,0OO. That Thompson. Black. Mortimer and Forbes, June 20, 1922, met at Chi ago and arranged to have Thompson 20 to Washington and assisted Cramer io carry out the conspiracy in connee- ion with the preparation, submission md opening of bids pertaining t) work It Northampton, Mass" That Forbes, Mortimer and Black net at San Francisco June 25, 1922, to
 (contIAued on Paas Tvs. Column Two)