The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
BORAH TOLEAD
SENATE INQUIRY
IN WHEELER CASE
Records OF Indictment
Demanded From Mon
tana Court
BY THOMAS .. STOKES.

BY Leased Wire to The Age Herald
p WASHINGTON, April 10.-Prepara-
tions have been made by tie special
Senate committee, headed by Senator
Borah of Idaho, to "go to the bottom"
Of the indictment against Senator
Wheeler Of Montana.
The committee will begin work as
soon as possible.
Members of the committee met
Thursday shortly after their appoint
nent, and authorized Senator Borah
to telegraph the Montana court to turn
over to the committee copy Of the
indictment, the minutes Of the grand
jury, and other records in the case,
with the names of the witnesses who
appeared Borah sent his message di-
rect1y to Judge Charles N. Pray, to
whom the indictment was returned
The investigation will begin as soon
as this information can be obtained and
witnesses brought here, Borah stated.
In the event that there are witnesses
here WHOM Senator Wheeler wishes to
have called, Borah said the inquiry
could begin sooner.
IT. has been suggested that Edwin s.
Booth, solicitor Of the interior depart
nient, who has been friend of Wheeler
for some years, might properly be
called, as wheeler stated that he is the
only official of the interior department
with whom he is acquainted. The
Montana senator is charged with using
his influence to secure oil and gas
permits from the interior department.
The committee of Investigation il
composed, besides Borah, Of: Mclean,
Connecticut; Sterling, South Dakota,
Republicans, and Caraway, Arkansas,
and Swanson, Virginia, Democrats.
simultaneously with the appointment
OF the committee, two witnesses be-
fore the Bro0khart committee inyesti-
eating the department of justice, pre-
scented testimony bringing former at
torney General Daugherty and Off
Gals OF the republican national COM
mittee into the story.
Arthur Lambdin, an official Of the
telephone company here, was suddenly
called before the committee, and upon
questioning, told of a telephone CONVEX
sation here Wednesday between George
B. Lockwood, secretary Of the repub-
lican national committee, and Blair
Coan, at Great Falls, Mont, where the
indictment against Wheeler was re-
turned
Senator Wheeler at once summoned
William j. Burns, head Of the bureau
Of Investigation to the sstand and Burns
identified Coan as being an employe of
the republican committee, but said he
was mot connected with the, department
of justice.
Sent Operatives
Burns admitted that he had sent
three men to Great Falls "a week ago
to investigate Wheeler and those who
were indicted with him, and. that he
and Dangherty had discussed the case.
He could not remember, he said,
whether this was before Daugherty re-
signed. He said an expert accountant
Of the department Of justice, who was
one OF those sent to Great Falls, had
been requested to do some work. for
the postoffice department on the case
three weeks ago. Burns also testified
that he had seen Daugherty and Lock
wood together recently.
AS result of these Disclosures
Thursday, it is likely that all those
involved in the testimony will be sub
pOenaed before the special committee.
headed by Senator Borah. The Idaho
member stated that all who appeared to
know anything regarding the indictment
would be called.
A serious charge has been made
lContinued On Pase TwoJ