Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-04-02
IN
FRAUD CASES IS
| URGEDAT PROBE
Former Justice Department
Man Tells of Failure to
Prosecute U. S. Frauds
AIRCRAFT CASE is CITED
Mentions Names of Daugh-
erty, Secretary of War
Weeks and Others
AIRCRAFT CASE IS CITED

WASHINGTON, April 2.-Continu-
ing his complaints about failure of
the Justice Department to prosecute
various war frauds cases, H. l..
Scaife once a department investiga-
tor, told the Daugherty investigating
committee today that in his opinion,
Harry M. Daugherty, Secretary John
w. Weeks ,and others, ought to be
indicted in the Wright-Martin air
craft case.
The indictments, the witness said,
should be drawn up ION charges OF
conspiracy to defraud the United
States government"
But all these facts,'' Senator
Moses interviewed, concern things
which took place in 1918, and 1919,
when Mr.. Weeks was not secretary
ofawar."
WBut these letters were written
after that" said Scaife,. referring tc
correspondence about proposed
prosecutions.
Scadfe said his investigation into
the Wright Martin case was COM
pleted and the matter ready for suit
before he left the department OF
justice. but that they refused to
bring suit
The witness came to the Wright
Martin case after he had renewed
his charges regarding sale of the
Bosch Magnetic Company and had
declared that on the very day the
army airship Roma was destroyed at
Norfolk in 1921, he had tried to
start a department of justice inquiry
Into that subject, but had been
blocked by William ]. Burns.
1t was his judgment. Scaife said
that the Wright-Martin case was one
calling for indictments" Pressed
by Senator Moses, Republican, New
Hampshire, he named Secretary
Weeks, former Attorney General
Daugherty, Charles Hayden, chair
man of the Wright-Martin board
and Guy d. Golf. former assistant
attorney general. as those who should
be indicted.
Taking the stand for the third
time, Scaife contidued his long
story about obstacles encountered in
his efforts to institute proceedings
against airplane manufacturing con-
Germs charged with receiving over
payments during the war.
The committee took up the Indian
land matter yesterday. Files relat-
ing to the case were obtained from
the department for examination in
executive session and Edwin S.
Booth special assistant attorney,
who was named in connection with
the case, was, summoned for ques-
tioning today He was solicitor for
the interior department during the
administration of Albert B. Fall.
H. M. Peck, former United States
attorney for western oklahoma told
the committee yesterday he under
stood work on the civil proceedings
had been started il. the department
within the last two weeks, although
criminal action ended in 1922. He
attributed the delay. in part at least.
to letter signed by Daugherty.
The lands, Peck said, are still en-
braced in the "101 ranch" of Miller
brothers. George l.. Miller and two
assistants, he related, were fined a
total of $4,000 in 1922 when they
pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges,
and the trial judge expressed his
understanding that the holdings
were to be restored to the Indians
through civil action.
The committee also went further
into complaints from purchasers of
the property on file in the Post
Office Department.
The kilograms to Daugherty were
brought out by Senator Hef1in as in
dicating an effort to influence the
former attorney general to have
cases against Rio Grande valley land
companies dropped.