Evening star., 1924-03-26
$33,0)0,OO PROFIT
IN OIL DEAL limited
BY ROX|E ST|NSON
Names of Five Men Alleged to
Have Been involved Not
Given by Witness.
BELIEVES JESS SMITH
DIED BY HIS OWN HAND
Repeats Statement That Daugher-
ty's Friend Increased Fortune
Materially While Here.

A hint of an oil deal in which five
men made $4,000. 900" in the fall of
1922 was brought before the Daugh-
erty investigating committee today
by Roxie Stinson, divorced wife OF
the Attorney Generals friend and
political lieutenant, Jess W. Smith.
The witness said Smith had told her
of such transaction, and that she
understood it had to do with stock III
the Sinclair interests which on April
Z, 1922, leased Teapot Dome. She
added that Smith had said he and the
Attorney General were sore" because
the men who made the money were
friends of theirs, but had not let them
in on the deal. She could not name
them.
Otherwise Tame Session.
The fitting reference to the s33.-
100000 affair was made in the midst
of a session which otherwise had
lacked much of the momentum of
Miss Stinson's previous appearances
as a star witness in the inquiry.
Senator Wheeler of Montana, the
committee prosecutor, was kept at
home with a cold and the examina-
ton for the most part proceeded
quite pea acefully-
The witness said at the outset that
she wished to diSclaim any previous
intimations in the testimony that she
had thought Smith met his death by
any hand except his own. She was
convinced he killed himself, she said.
but believed Mr.. Daugherty morally
responsible" for his determination to
kill himself.
Increase in Fortune.
When he came to Washington. Miss
Stinson said, Smith was worth some
S136, 900. but when he was found dead
in the Attorney Generals apartment
last Memorial day an inventory of his
property showed total valuation OF
s214.000. Asked whether she thought
there were other items omitted from
the inventory she said she would rather
not reply.
She replied in the negative when
asked by Senator Ashurst democrat
Arizona. whether she knew that d note
was found in Smiths pocket after his
death and never was turned over to the
authorities.
A good part of the session was taken
had written her on the Attorney Gen
erals Department of Justice stationery
They referred largely to personal mat
terS.
Miss Stinson Called.
Before the questioning of the wit
ness began Senator Ashurst, demo
crat, Arizona, read into the record d
Transcript Ia of testimony before the
oil committee having to do with stock
purchases of Daugherty and Smith.
The stock accounts were under the
name of wv. W. Spaid" of the stock
brokerage firm of Hibbs & Co. and
one of them was identified as a Joint
account Of the Attorney General and
Smith, which, accountants said,
might have resulted in d loss of
S24, 900
Chairman Brookhart then called
RoNie Stinson.
Smith had put his house in order
very carefully just before his death
the witness said, and she based her
judgment that he took his own life
on that circumstance
1T was your belief that Jess Smith
committed suicide" Chairman Brook
hart reiterated.
Yes, sir" Miss Stinson said. $50
far as | am concerned am sure that
he did take his own life However
also consider Harry Daugherty NOR
ally responsible for his DEATH
Asked Property Details.
Chairman Brookhart asked her to
give details as to the property of
Smith before he came to Washington.
.remarkins that by her testimony he
had left an estate of between 1926. .sAs
to $4,000
when bc went to Washington he
had, she said, ''somc cuaI srock
worth $4,000 and some 900 shares in
another company, appraised at $40
oOo, moi worth more than that. He
possessed a share of drygoods store
which he sold for $4,000" she con
tinued, "a $4,000 house and two cot
tages worth s3,500. He might hay.
had a few stocks on margin ana
other minor things, inconsequential."
NOW, what did he have when he
died that he did not have when bo
came to Washington" asked Senator
Brookhart.
There was $4,000 in liberty bonds
at the Riggs Bank" the witness said
According to your figures. ON com
ing to Washington" Senator Moses, ra
publican, New Hampshire, put in. ..Mr
Smith had about s136,00o."
Miss StinsoR agreed.
senator Moses then pointed out
showed he had at death s2I4.ooo
Disposition of $4,000.
Are the seventy-fiye s1.0oo hills
you testified Mr.. Smith had listed in
the inventory" asked Senator
Ashurst.
NO
You do not know what became of
them?"
II do not"
do you know the name of the
gentleman who was present when
Jess Smith died?"
Yes. Mr.. Martin, Nal Daugherty
tells me, was present.
Martin is private secretary to the
Attorney General.
Senator Moses asked if there was a
money belt" found in Smiths per-
sonal effects. Miss Stinson said she
did not know.
Attorney General Daugherty has
said ] am an angry woman because [
wasn't his sole heir" she remarked.
IF you have reason to believe he
had other property I'd like you to
state it," Senator Jones said.
I'D rather not answer"
WAS a note found in Mr.. Smith
pocket when he died?" Senator Ash
urst asked.
New VIII Was Found.
"I only know there was a will
found, all in his handwriting, made
ha "aE-