The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-16
SENATE PROBE
 IS CALLED OFF FOR TEN.DAYS
Teapot Dome Sensations Come So Fast That
 Market Is Affected
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 tcsutlnusd Frsm Psss ons, / .3 vanderlip'' Brush said, in beginning the testimony.
 The Marion publisher testified that he and Roy D. Moore had been the sole purchasers ofcmfwtaoicmfwyptpaolSer funds were their own, except such as they borrowed from Ohio banks. Against these ordinary loans" he added, Sstock of The Star" has been hypothetical as collateral for the loan.
 Underg0es Gruelling MT. Vanderlip was on the stand today little less than two hours and was subjected to one of the merciless cross examinations of the whole inves- tigation. He was asked repeatedly why, without any facts upon which to base them, he had given circulation to such rumors about the dead President, and always his reply was that he regarded 1t as his patriotic duty" to bring the rumors into the open in the hope of scotching them.
 Chairman Lenroot began the exaui- nation, and time and again came back to it, sometimes interrupting the half dozen other Senators who joined in the questioning. Frequently Senator Len
 
 gestures and often he leaned far across the table toward the witness to press home the points he desired to make.
 Only once or twice did the New York banker appear ruffled. Much of the time he leaned forward with his hands clasped on the table, but occasionally he changed his position the better to face his questioners, and at times punc- tuated his answers with a pointing fore finger. .
 Breathless Silence
 During most of his testimony there was an almost breathless silence in the crowd that jammed the committee room climbed to points of vantage in the windows and against the walls and closely surrounded the committee itself.
 At the outset MT. Vanderlip told the committee that he had stated emphat- ically in his address that he knew noth- ing whatever about the facts upon which the rumors were predicated. He denied that he had circulated scandal, arguing repeatedly that what he had done was to bring to light rumors cur rent in Washington and New York and over much of the country.
 Tt was something rising to the i'm portance of the whispered campaign
 
 Mir. Harding's election" he said, land believe that out of respect to his mem ory that thing should be brought up to close scrutiny and the scandahif it is a scandal, as I believe it is-should be downed"
 Where Committeeman Differed
 Committeeman differed vigorously with the witness as to his conception of what constituted patriotic duty" particularly with respect to circulation of rumors about dead President
 Insisting that his only purpose in making his statement was to clear Mir. Harding's name, the banker declared he was friend of the late President and had respect for his memory. Asked by Senator Adams, democrat, Colorado, about a rumor that a grudge against Mir. Harding was the cause of his state ments, he declared that nothing could be- farther from the truth did not know Mir. Harding inti- mately," he said. T never asked but one favor of him and he granted that in- stantly with most charming courtesy, and that was a favor that he speak at a meeting. My relations with him were the pleasantest and friendliest. admired him and have reverence for his memory"
 The witness said he had not known when he made his address that the committee had been advised by. counsel that Fall should not be compelled to testify, and that if he did, testify under duress he might be given immunity so he could not be prosecuted at all. He said he had followed the newspaper accounts Of the investigation, but that he had not read of that development.
 Didn't Ascertain the Truth
 When the committee had finished it's questioning, MT. Vanderlip was cross- examined by William H. Brodrey of East Liverpool, Ohio, counsel for the present owners of the Marion Star.
 What effort, MT. Vanderlip, did you make to ascertain the truth or falsity of these scandalous reports ?' asked Mir. Brodrey.
 None at all" was the answer. q had no meam-'
 T thought so." interposed Mir. Brodrey. 'As a friend of Mir. Harding did you communicate any of these re, ports to those who were most closely associated with MT. Harding?"
 No, that would have been an i'm pertinence on my part"
 The cross-examination was brief and when 1t was concluded Luis H. Brush, who with Roy D. Moore bought the Marion Star, from President Harding just before his death, appeared before the committee voluntarily to present statement as to the circumstances and conditions of that purchase.
 Roy D. Moore and I alone pur- 4 chase of the Marion Star was our own have not received one penny from any outside source. We have received no assistance of any kind and no promises. Every cent that went into the pur- chase of the Marion tSar as >our own ; money"
 After this statement had been ampli- . fled, and Mir. Moore had read into the record previous statement by Mir. Brush completely denying the rumor ] circulated by MT. Vanderlip, they were excused.
 No Knowledge of SIush Fund Chairman Lenroot read into the : record telegram received from Otto . H. Kahn at Palm Beach, Fla, in which the New York financier declared he had no knowledge whatever of any million dollar oil slush fund sent to Washington for distribution to men in high places. A message of similar import was received from E. F. Yoakum, the retired railroad president |. who, according to rumors reaching the committee, had brought the slush fund story to Washington.
 , Both Mir. Kahn and Mir. Yoakum declared they were willingly at the disposal of the committee to give testi- mony under oath concerning these rumors.
 ] Foreman Johnson of the Fall ranch besides informing the committee he