Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-01

Former Investigator Tells
Senators That Department
Is Functioning as an ''Aid
to Crooks"

for Monday, ITO consider the question
of the inquirys duration and dlrec-
ton.
The sentiment Of committee mem
bers as developed since yesterday S
resignation Of the attorney general
was that a way had been opened
for curtaiIing. if not concluding, the
vflow of charges which has run
through the proceedings.
A general charge that the de
partment of Justice is functioning
as an aid to crooks" made to Mr..
Daugherty by III. F. Seattle, for
mer special investigator in govern
ment employ, as he resigned in
April, 1922, and a hint of another
S100,0 whisky "deal,' were the
high spots in today's public hear.
ing w. J. Burns, head Of the bu-
reau of investigation, who had been
summoned to appear with his files
for the day, was excused to wait
on the committees executive ses-
sion Monday.
The question of access to the de-
partment's files, which the commit
tee sought from Mr.. Daugherty. and
which he refused, was settled for
the time being by. its decision to
grant the request of Acting Attor-
ney General Beck that the matter
be left open until a new head of the
department takes office.
Tells of Going to Fielder
Scaife's story, which had wide
ramifications, indicated that he had
been "blocked" in attempting to
bring about prosecutions for alleged
airplane frauds. Going to Thomas
B. Fielder, friend of Mr.. Daugh-
erty, with his story, he said, an
interview with the former attorney
general was arranged. at which he
presented general and extensive
charges as to non-prosecutlon OF
frauds against the government.
The matter was dropped, he added,
although Fielder wrote him a letter
rendering him "a retainer in the
Bosch Magnetic case" This case, he
asserted. involved a concern seized
by the alien property custodian DUR
ing the war and sold for a, grossly
inadequate sum-" to Martin l..
Kerns. identified as "a friend of A.
Mitchell Palmer, then alien property
custodian"
Hornblower & Weeks, a Boston
banking firm, from which, Senator
Jones, Republican, Washington, put
in, Secretary of War Weeks ere
tired some years ago, was named as
being a factor in the magnetic con-
Germ sale and reorganization.
Nicholas Cimino, a New York res
taurant man, told of "interceding
with Howard Warrington, a friend
of Mr.. Daugherty, in an endeavor
to obtain appointments,b but specifical-
Iy and repeatedly denied suggestions
that money had passed. He did as
sst two New York stenographers,
whom he named as Price and
Moore" to obtain contracts for re-
porting federal court proceedings,
and collected later from Price "be-
tween $1,000 and $1,000 as REIN
bursement for expenses"
Approached Warrington
He told likewise of approaching
Warrington with a request to get
in on" the granting Of permits TO
withdrawals of whisky, and Of being
sent by Warrington to w. A. Orr,
who has also figured in the stores
of whisky deals
Cimino overheard a. statement
that e. H. Mortimer got the $780,
900 that was involved in another
supposed whisky transaction.
Former Senator Chamberlain, who
represented Mr.. Daugherty IN the
cross-examination, said after the
hearing that his client might wish
to appear, and certainly would de-
sire to summon witnesses before the
committee.
detail OF the committees past
action was brought up when CHAIR
+ man Brookhart said that a memo
randum had been filed with the
committee in behalf OF M. S. Daugh'
Nertv, the former attorney general
brother, challenging the committee
right to call him as a witness.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Mon
tana, the committees prosecutor,
was absent from the days session
because Of illness.
No Talk OF Money
Chairman Broolkhart, questioning
the witness in the absence of the
committee prosecutor, Senator
Wheeler, Of Montana, who was kept
at home by illness, asked II Man
nington had asked for money.
"Nothing was ever said about
money!" Cimino replied.
He had acted on behalf of Giordi'
ano as a candidate, both for lmml'
grafton commissioner at New York
and for commissioner general or I'M
migration, the witness said.
Cimino also sought to procure
through Daugherty stenographlc
contracts in the New York federal
courts, he said, for two stenogra-
pliers named Price and Moore.
"They paid me money from time
to time Cimino said of Price and
Moore. cit ran from $1,000 to 81,
500"
He said he got some of the steno
graphic contracts.
Cimino also sought to get some
of his friends appointed as prohibi
ton agents.
Now you met Orr and Goroni
during their trial and Orr told vol
everything was fiXed?" Chairman
Brookhart asked referring to prose
cutions on the liquor permit transac
tons.
NO. he told me it would be al
right" Cimino said.
Mortimer's Name Heard
Asked if he remembered a whisky
deal whereby Mortimer got 500,
000?" the witness replied:
IT overheard a conversation
where one of the fellows said Morti
mer got 100000 from party il
Pittsburg."
A man named Grant" was men
toned. Cimino went on. es havin.
been double. crossed" " MortimeI
In the S100, 600 deal. He SAID he un
fulI nQEu nDV