The Washington times., 1924-03-01
FORBES CLAIMS
INDICTMENT
|SPLOT
Former Director of Veterans
Bureau Makes Bitter Attack
on Senate Committee.
CONTINUED from First Page)

Continued from First Page)
Mortimer a confessed criminal, who
is the only witness against me.
II am firm in the faith that these
indictments will give me an OPP
portunity to reveal before an inn
partial court, fair Jury and a
just press. a hell-engendered con-
spiracy against my honor and IN.
tegrity. / shall interpose no tech
nical objection to trial there under
these conditions, but on the con-
trary shall go to Chicago volun.
tarily as the first step toward my
complete vindication.
Not Going to Florida.
IT am not going to Florida. I
am not going to stand on my con-
stitutional rights and refuse to
testify. While other men now
charged publicly with crimes
against the government have been
reported hiding behind the screen
of ill health, it is q matter of Off.
cial record that I left a sick bed
on the Pacific Coast to cross the
country in order to attend the Sen
ate investigation. In the mistaken
belief that it would be fair. l vel
coined that investigation just as
now welcome the court proceedings
in Chicago. There will be this diff
ference though. the Constitution
gives me the right to present my
complete defense before the Chicago
tribunal and 1 intend to exercise 1t
to the limit.
There was not one iota Of truth
in any Of the testimony given the
Senate committee which reflected
upon my honor or integrity. Evil
dence taken before the committee
late at night on November 7, 1919
tended to show that one OF the com
mittees counsel NOV an assistant
director Of the bureau at a salary
of $1,000 a year, attempted to bride
witness to commit perjury. There
upon this testimony was suppressed
by the committee.
"By most despicable and dishonor.
able means, witnesses were subject
ed to brow.beating and unfair treat
ment.
"These same forces were at work
on the grand jury which returned
the indictments in Chicago.
Defends Employees.
IT unqualifiedly deny the state.
ment that certain employees Of the
Veterans Bureau, during my in
cumbency, were regarded as a
ring The same men were there
when / entered office and they are
there today. They are fine. up
standing examples of the American
soldier and gentleman and any At
tack upon their loyalty or integrity
is an outrageous reflection upon the
American world war veteran.
II gave almost two years OF my
life in an honest endeavor to ad-
vance the interests OF ex.SerVice
men. The political pressure upon
the Veterans Bureau is a force for
evil. Were permitted by my
counsel. should now give the com
| plete details and names OF in
dividuAls involved in this attempted
political corruption, happily foiled
I shall make this information public
later. am convinced, that fol
want Of q more convenient politica,
goat, / was selected as victim
and q sacrifice.
DenOunces Indictment.
these indictments are as false al
the lies Of Mortimer, as vindictivt
as the villainous conduct Of O'Ryat
and Arnold, as cowardly as the so
called second preliminary report Of
the Senate committee who had MOI
the courage nor the fairness to heal
my defense, who shirked the duty
Of formulating an honest report and
who have attempted to escape de
served criticism by scurrying be
hind the barricade Of Organ!
malignant verbosity and by meekl!
crying out, some Of 1t we believe
some Of II we don't believe, pleas
take your choice knowing all thu
time that the charges against mi
are as false a. helPs own brood"
ypseao eAi4 ~ vas waiting aogv