Evening star., 1924-12-05
Jury VIEWS CODE
IN FORBES TRIAL
Mortimer Says He Gave
Cipher System and Key to
Former Director.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
CHICAGO, December 5.-The secret
code agreed upon by the alleged CON
spirators in the Veterans Bureau
Hospital construction program, was
examined today by the Jury in the
trial of Charles r. Forbes, former
director of the bureau, and John w
thompson, ST. Louis contractor. Elias
H. Mortimer, chief Government wit
ness, said that the code was prepared
by c. B. Hurley, Seattle contractor,
for use by himself Mortimer, Forbes,
Thompson and James w. Black,
Thompson's partner, and others in the
for Forbes was 'McAdoo," and for
Forbes secretary, Sweet, it was
pickles"
Mortimer testified he gave Forbes
his copy Of the code and a little red
dictionary, used as the key, at Hayden
Lake, Idaho.
Would Question Constructor.
Randolph Loughlin, counsel for
j. w. Thompson, asked the court for
the privilege of examining John j.
Brennan of Detroit, president of the
Pontiac Construction Co, which got
the first veterans hospital contract.
1t was for the Northampton, Mass,
Hospital foundation. The Pontiac
Co. was a subsidiary of the James
Black Masonry and Construction Co.
of st. Louis. Black, now deceased,
being a business associate of Thomp-
son. Brennan actually closed the
contracts for the Northampton job
with Veteran Bureau officials, while
Forbes was on the Pacific Coast.
The Pontiac Co.'S bid was $4,000
higher than the lowest bid, but its
construction time limit was so days
against 120 days for the other bid
ders. The Government charges as
part of the Veterans Bureau con
spiracy that Forbes had agreed to
favor the ThompsonB Black group of
contractors through special features
Of their bid. Brennan. who had been
summoned as a Government witness,
was also desired by the defense to
identify office files of the Pontiac Co.
relating to veterans hospital con
tracts, particularly the one at North
amptun.
Brennan, because of illness in his
family, desired to return to Detroit
until ready to go on the stand. John
w. H. Grim, Government counsel, said
he would not be ready for Brennan
for a few days, but Grim said he had
no objection to Brennan's examlna-
ton by the defense.
Mortimer Tells His Story.
Mortimers story, starting with his
Introduction to Charles R. Forbes,
then director Of the Veterans Bureau,
in the Spring Of 1922, has covered the
principal parts OF the alleged con
spiracy as set out in the indictment
against Forbes and John W. Thomp-
son, St Louis contractor. He had
reached the identification of the al
lodged code when court adjourned at
noon yesterday
Mortimer testified that before starting
on the Western trip June IL, 1922, Forbes
asked Thompson and him not to let Mrs.
Carolyn Fotaw, President Hardings
sister, know about the trip. Mortimer
said that was because she was close to
the President, and was also an official
of the Public Health Service, which.
prior to the organization of the Vet
Grams Bureau, had much to do with
capitalization Of wounded World War
veterans.
Judge George H. Carpenter did not al
low Mortimer to finish a statement that
Mr.. VOtaw threatened to throw Forbes
out Of a tenth-story window" and
ordered it stricken from the records.