New Britain herald., 1924-04-03
Deposed Employe Claims That Army Officer Took Them Recites Tale of How Govt. Was Fleeced.
His Charges Are Partly De- nied by Capt. VoIandt- Secretary Weeks to Be SubpOenaed to Get Docu- ments.

NlCfilss
 Washington, April 3.-TLe storm
 swept course of the Daughcrty inyes. usatlon committee took sudden turning today which led it into a swirl of charges and recriminations cchtering in the War department.
 Thomas r. Lane, until few days ago legal adviser to Major General Falrlck, chief of the army air service. testified that when he refused to com ply with the order to stay away" 1 from the committee, he was dismissed rom the air service and his desk and oret case rifled of valuable papers 1 bearing on aircraft transactions. 1 subpoena Necessary The officer named by the witness as having given him an order and taken the papers, Captain W. F. \o'andt followed Lane immediately on the stand and told the committor he did advise Lane not 10 appear he lore the committee. He confirmed also that he had taken certain of thn records Tn the possession of Lane, and said Secretary Weeks had instructed him 10 say that q subpoena served on the secretary himself would be neces- safy to bring the papers before the committee.
 Nolandt denied that he had desired To suppress Lanes testimony; declar- ed Inc had taken only "ofricial roe. ordS' from Lanes desk and brief oase; and insisted that he was actunt. rd only by desire to see that m. committee should come through inc proper channels if it desired to seepro possession Of the documcnta,
 Now After Weeks
 Senator Wheeler. the cummltf.,y prosecutor. immediately instructed In, clork to "9ct out subpoena for in. secretary of war describing the pa- uers" wanted.
 Lane had described the missing rec. ords 10 the committee as relating t, many aircraft eases on which he had worked. These cases, he said. incniJ- gd the Lincoln Motors ease: the Stand ard Aircraft case; and the Bosch Mag hcto case. in ali Of which he charged that oycrpayments had been made by the government. In the Lincoln case he said, the department of justice made a settlement over the protest of the war department and "so bad" that when il was preached General Patrick and the other war department repre- cntatltos walked out Of the con .arencc.
 Nolandt insisted he was mot und,,. rders" when he searched Lanes bripr case. He said he had suspended" Lane last Saturday when he "rcfuscd to come to the office," and that Lam was later separated from the scrt .ce' by action Of Secretary Weeks.
 Papcrs "In the safe"
 The witness said that when Lam, ailcd to appear al the office he had wanted him 10 work on the Standard nd Wijys Knight eases. in order Co ush them tn fine department Of us. ic" for action. The Standard cas-, vent over about five days ago. he said. ut denied that committee proceed rEs had any effect on the procedure with this case.
 lHue's brief bug was empiicd Of pa- -ers at tho air service office the neNt iay. the witness said. and they were nut 'in fine safr"
 Records Are Needed
 The pa pcrs in possession Of Lane. ,olandt said were needed 10 com. 1irls thr records that eve wcrr rush ng' to the department or justice for iCtiun.
 "Oh. go you'd get them over thero 1.fore tne committee got inc wit- |, ssose" Senator Wheeler said.
 No. We were rushing these yasr~ ,ll thc time"
 flushing thrm for G,e ycars.."
 "AbUut tHrtr."
 You wanted to rush this case o,,r ,. fore thr testimony came out. tU hUW tHr diiatory tactics Sou and the est of them at tho war department ave hf-u pursuing t0 protect these rocks < natar Wheeler charc. d.
 "Ar-olHttIy u"i." NolauIt returned.
 IoIas'S Hearing in Detail
 Thomas r. lann. until waek ago -eaI ada tser to th, riicf Q. 're army air sert lcs.. fold thr s"uate uanghrny committee to-day he had roen ord.rcI 'ty Captain " r. Anl8usit or tHc air .trr rirr-" To "atay away" from th, -ommittea and tHe capitol When h. -. fused tg h. dictated tu. H.. said ht tas "iisuiasau' from f1fa air ssr,ft..
 uH n1otinH rF Srnatnr Iurrs. rapui iran. WaShiaeton. fhc rrrnmiit.e di- .ectcd Chairman Erookharf Co uouf, Secretary Weeks at once uf. Lanes astimUng.
 The witness also declare thJt papcrs ram hfz auH personal files in con farfl0u wffH aircraft cases had been akan 5ram his brirf ease by Captain Oianlf.
 IItrffur MoiitrS
 As legal adtistr t0 the air service. one said. he had recommended Co the erretary of war that the government .4ses against the standard aircraft and other contractors who uppiied war materials he reoptnca. He declared he feIt +there was some ilterior purpose behinB his dismissal s