Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-27
DAUGHERTY PROBE:RS
To TURN LIGHT ON
JESS SMITH DEATH

WASHINGTON, March 24.-Fur-
Their hearings in the senate investi-
cation of Attorney General Daugh-
erty today were postponed until
Wednesday.
The poStponement was due to the
illness of Senator Wheeler, Demo
crat, Montana, the committee prose
tutor, and TO conflicting engage
mcnts by other committee members.
Senator Wheeler is confined to his
bed with a severe cold. Another
member, Senator Moses, Republican,
New Hampshire, was engaged with
the opening of a new investigation
into Rio Grande land transactions.
Still another Senator, Jones. Repub
liCan. Washington, was called out
of the city.
Chairman Brookhart said that the
DauSherty inquiry would proceed on
Wednesday, even if Senator Wheel
err should be unable to return. The
Montana senator has been suffer
ing from a. cold for several days.
Further vestieation of circum-
stances surrounding the death of
Jess Smith may be made shortly
after he committee resumes. Chair
man Brookhart said today the COM
mittee was not thoroughly satisfied
with the official verdict of suicide and
it was probable that Coroner hewitt,
Of The District of Columbia, would be
called.
If the subject is pressed further,
the chairman added, all those having
any first hand knowledge, including
undertakers here and in Ohio and
others who viewed Smiths body,
might be asked to testify.
The committee also is issuing a
subpoena for books of the CONNER
cial Bank of Washington Court
House. The committee has Informal
ton yet unconfirmed that some of
the assets of Jess Smiths estate
have been transferred from the Mid
land National bank of that city,
headed by NJ. S Daugherty, brother
of the attorney general. to other
banking institutions. The committee
is engaged in a controversy with the
Daugherty bank over inspection of
its records.
A variety of alleged deals in
volving whisky permits, fight film
distribution, narcotic drugs and po-
litical support, remain the principal
items on the committees program,
The possibility that Mrs. Walker
Willebrandt, assistant attorney gen
eraI, might cross examine Miss ROXie
StinsOn, divorced wife of the late
Jess Smith, on behalf of Dausherty,
today helped to pack the hearing
room early with u more than usually
curious crowd.
Besides Miss Stinson, William A.
Orr, who has been mentioned in con-
nection with the alleged fight film
and whisky permit deals, and
Fred c. Quimby producer and part
owner of the CarpentierDemps
pictures, which were shown in %
states despite the law barring them
from interstate commerce, were UNI
der orders to appear for re-eXamina'
ton.
Another former department Of
Justice agent named Gershon also
was on hand to testify with refer
ence to the reports that Mexican
revolu tionists have been aided by
American oil interests.
Witness Sought in France
The aid of the state department
was enlisted today by the commit
Tee Ill us elIOlL 70 SeCuAo tt'C ICoti
mony of Howard Warrington, now
in Paris, and identified by previous
witnesses as occupying q desk in the
little green house on * street" and
as the recipient of money in the fight
film and whisky deals.
Chairman Brookhart today sent
letter to Secretary Hughes asking his
good offices in affecting the appre-
henSiOn Of Mannin CtOn.
Secretary Hughes instructed the
American embassy in Paris to locate
Warrington, if possible, and use its
good offices to induce him to come
to Washington and testify
1t was said at the department that
for the present nothing more could
be done. Officials take the position
that to cancel his passport would be
to condemn him in advance of
1,N s,,-ifo