Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-03-08
FORBES INDICTED
AS BRIDE TAKER
Ex-Director Charged With GET
ting $4,000 From J. w.
Thompson.
PLOT ON CONTRACTS ALLEGED
Grand Jury Wants Government to In
vestigate Payment Of Money to Two
In congress-Giver Of Graft
Also Is Named by Grand Jury.

Chicago.-Col. Charles R. Forbes.
former director of the United States
Veterans Bureau, and John w. Thomp
son. contractor, of Chicago and St.
Louis, were named in four indictments
returned by the Federal Grand Jury,
which for month has been invest
eating charges Of waste, graft and de.
hatchery in connection with Forbes's
administration. Forbes and Thomp-
son were named jointly in two indict-
ments charging conspiracy to commit
bribery and offenses against the Gov
erment and conspiracy to defraud
the United States Government Forbes
was named alone in a third indict-
ment on charge of accepting bride.
and Thompson in a fourth charging
that he had Indirectly given a bride.
In special report the Grand Jury
Indicated other sensational develop.
ments involving alleged graft had been
uncovered, but because they were not
within the jurisdiction of the court
had not been pursued. 1--WE do not
feel" the special report said. that 1t
would serve the best interests of the
Government for this jury at this time
to make public the details Of these
transactions. This jury feels that 1t
will suffice to report that they in
volve:
1. Speculation by one or more officials
of the Government, wherein 1t has
been asserted that official informa-
ton was used for purposes of specu-
lation.
paid to two members Of Congress.
8. That possession Of a file of one of
the departments for about a month
was had by persons having no Of
fetal connection with such depart
ment
4. That money was accepted by GER
tain in 1ividuals (not attorneys) for
the purpose of obtaining clemency
for prisoners through their intimacy
with Officials.
s. That money was collected by Ger
tain individuals (not attorneys) for
obtaining through such intimacy
permits for intoxicating liquor.
The indictments charged that
Forbes while director of the Veterans
Bureau received bride Of $4,000 and
certain !, additional emoluments on
agreement to award contracts for Gov
eminent work to the contracting firm
of Thompson & Black, Of which
Tn 10
ceased, 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,OOO,0OO. Charles F.
Cramer, former general counsel for
the bureau, who committed suicide
after investigation of the department
was proposed, was named as having
accepted promise for Thompson and
others of 100000 for his approval of
the contracts.
Elias Mortimer of Philadelphia, who
appeared before the Senate Committee
which Investigated the Veterans Blu.
reau and made bribery charges, and
who also appeared before the Grand
Jury, was named in the indictments as
having been retained as the lent of
Thompson and Black, who, the indict-
ment charged, used the Pontiac Con,
struction Company in their operations
The indictment charges that Forbes,
Thompson, Black, Cramer and Morti-
mer, from April /, 1922, to January /,
1923, at the city of Chicago, did unlaw-
fully and feloniously conspire, confed-
crate and agree together and with
divers other persons to said grand ju.
rors unknown, to defraud the United
States by fraudulently, corruptly and
unlawfully applying and converting por.
lions of money SO appropriated to the
private and personal use of said con-
spirators, Forbes and Mortimer, de-
priving the United States of benefits
accruing to it under said acts of Con-
gross.