Evening star., 1924-12-09
H|SPAPERS STOLEN,
MORT|MERCLA|MS
Informs Court They Were
Taken Three Times and
Given to Col. Forbes.
TELLS OF AGREEMENT
Says Director Insisted on Reliable
Contractors to Build
Hospitals.
TELLS OF AGREEMENT
By the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, December 9.-Col.
Charles R Forbes. during his term
as director of the Veterans Bureau,
sought only high class, reliable, able
and financially responsible contrac-
tors" for hospital work he repeatedly
told Elias H. Mortimer, contractors
agent, the latter testified today in
cross-examination in the trial of Col.
Forbes and others on conspiracy
charges growing out of the Veterans
Bureau administration under Forbes
Mortimer also told of an agreement
between himself and Forbes, reached
early in 1922. under which they would
divide between them 50 per cent of
the profits on contracts awarded to
firms which Mortimer represented in
negotiations with the Veterans
Bureau.
Second Day ON stand.
Mortimer was on the stand for his
second days cross-examination to-
day. He Is the chief Government
witness against Forbes and J. w
Thompson, Chicago and St. Louis
contractor. on trial for conspiracy to
defraud the Government in the alloca-
ton OF hospital contracts.
Mortimer recounted his meetings
with Forbes in March, 1922, two
months after Forbes was appointed
to the bureau post. After several
conversations with Forbes, in which
he represented himself as soliciting
agent for various contractors inter
ested in veteran bureau awards, he
had been given a list of proposed
hospital sites by Forbes late in May,
1892. Mortimer said
James S. Easby-Smith endeavored
to bring out that each OF three sites
on the list had previously been def
nitely selected by President Harding
as a hospital site and the announce
ment published in the newspapers.
Disappearance of Paper~.
Mortimer told also, under rapid
fire of questions from Forbes coun-
sci, of the disappearance of some of
his papers from his apartment in the
Wardman Park-Hotel, in Washington,
and from safe deposit box in a
Washington bank.
The papers were stolen at three
different times and given to Col.
Forbes, Mortimer replied in answer
to Col. Easby-Smitb, defense counsel.
question.
The answer was permitted to stand
e.
Deposited in Banks,
Coming to the $4,000 advance to
Mortimer from Thompson in June.
1922, the witness said that the amount,
with 500 more. had been deposited
in three Washington. banks
A heated wrangle between counsel
followed attempts to question Nor
timer as to the use he made of the
funds.
The court sustained the Govern
ment's objection that twas a purely
personal affair of the witness.
Defense counsel persisted in an ar
gument that the distribution of the
funds might prove to be of vital i'm
portance to the defense.
Orders Checks Presented.
Judge George A. Carpenter reaf-
firmed his ruling several times but
later when it developed that all the
bank statements and cancelled checks
were In the custody of the Govern
ment. ordered them presented to the
defense counsel for examination.
In regard to his first contact with
Forbes, in March, 1922, Mortimer said
one of the first questions from the di-
rector. when the Thompson and BLACK
Construction Company had been sug-
gested for future hospital work, re-
lated to the integrity. reliability and
general good standing of the firm.
Ibid Col. Forbes ask you about any
other contractors who might be in
terested in the bureau hospital?" the
defense counsel asked.
He asked about others generally"
said the witness.
did he mention anything about
their reliability, financial responsible
ity, good reputation and general
trustworthiness," Easby-Smith con-
tinued.
"Yes, he asked about their qualifi-
cations generally" the witness re-
piled.
when you first mentioned Thcmp-
son and Black did Col. Forbes ask
similar questions?"
"Yes," Mortimer said.
Mortimer then told of his visit to
Chicago in June, 1922.
On June 20 he said he went to the
Chicago office of Thompson and Black
between 10 am. and noon, and signed
a. note for a $4,000 loan.
That afternoon, Mortimer said he
went to his room in the Drake Hotel
and found Mrs. Mortimer and Col
Forbes shooting craps on the bed"
. 1T cost me 1920 to pay for his fun
that afternoon" Mortimer said, over
the objection of the defense.