Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-03-17
SAYS ATTY. GENERAL
PRACTICALLY ACCUSED
OF BEING IN film PLOT
investigation Will Be Con-
tinued Tomorrow as Sem
ator Walsh improves

WASHINGTON. March This
Daugherty investigating COMMITTEES
heard a story today that rivaled ~
lurid detail any of those that startled
the country in the opening days Of
the inquiry.
Its salient features were based or
allegations that Attorney Genera
Daugherty himself was the head of
conspiracy to display the Dempsey
Carpenter fight films throughout the
country and that Mr.. Daugherty sug
gested to those who first formed the
plan that its hackers should receive
a fifty per cent cut" of the profits.
The witness was Gerald G. Hold
ridge, a former Department Of JUS
tice agent. and the story he told was
based on information he said had
been given him by Jap Muma, New
York correspondent for the cincin-
natl Enquirer. Muma, he said, pran
tically accused DaugS erty Of beinz
head of the conspiracy; told him Of
an exhibition Of the pictures at the
home here of E. B. Mclean with
President Harding and members ot
the cabinet present; and asserted
that in the talk that followed I1al1e7I Z
( erty discussed the possibility OF *
/ hibiting the picture generally.
Holdridge said Muna had quoted
Daugherty as saying: If you puf
this thing across. you. ought. to get
big cut-in, not less than 90 per cent
Describing the exhibition at Me-
Leans house, the witness said:
Acting on agreements previously
made on or about July 4, 1921,
Muma left New York for Washing
ton"
What arrangements? asked
Senator Wheeler.
HE passed over that casually"
Holdridge then said Muma told
him of the private showing here,
attended by the President and mem
bers of the cabinet.
Following the exhibition of this
pictures" Holdridge went on, "Muma
had a talk with Attorney General
Daugherty and the President.
Secretary Christian, Secretary
, Hughes and Mr. N.-w Joined l>em.
The discussion became genera.
He told me il seemed to be ths
general opinion that it was a shame
I people could not see thenl,' the wit
ness went on Later Muma. talk
LIS WIN tie dltoiiieS -stuSAdts lt
told me, was told that the law
( against the pictures was solely di-
! rected to transportation.
'Muma went on to saw attorney
! General Daugherty direcIed MIN tc
{ see Alfred r. Urion an attorney in
I Washington. Afuam broke cut tc
me: He's the greatest middleman
( in the world.
He said he saw Urion and tina
i he told him what 70 do" Holdridge
resumed. He said he had grest
/ influence with both the Democratic
and Republican parties, and with
the big newspapers"
Muma then was quoted as sayins
I there was 10 be a goat to be ar
! rested in each state and pay the fins
/ for exhibiting the pictures.
Muma explained that it was ssuec~
essary TO get line on the attitude
of each federal judge" Holdridga
I went on.
In one state. he said. there was
doubt as to the attitude OF one
Judge, who might insist on Jail SEN
( tences.
Spellacy was present when M,7Fna
told his story to him, Holdridge said
lie added that Spenacy now Is in 81.
Louis with the American Locomotive
/ Company. Senator Wheeler imrned-
lately ordered a subpoena for him
DO, Holdridge said eInphatical-
" when Senator Ashurst, Democrat.
arizona, asked If he believed the
attorney general ana Burns were "a
couple of crooks
continuing his quotation of
MuIna' the witness said a plan then
was lrhneu 10 ex hibit the films IN
various states. and to let certain
persons be the goats in a show
OF prosecution. 1t first was neces-
sary' however. according to the story
\ TO md out the attitude Of fafIera5
judges and avoid the districts -
those who might want to infifct iail
sentences.
Muma also told him Holdriflce
said Daugherty had suerestea Is
him lMuma) that he get in touch
with Alfred Urion, a Nashfneton
attorney, who was to provide lnfor-
nation as to the distribution of the
pictures. Urion was seen, the story
went on and then. as Holdridee
quoted Muma, I'VE went to it,
Muma said later, according TO the
/, witness, that they had succeaaaa. in
/ getting the pictures into III. sff-
one states, and that the prof5is
were very large"
While Hodridge was on the stand
/ the committee made plans TO follow
up its investigation into gun-runnlnk
on the Mexican border and ifft8
stories OF American financial aid to.
! Mexican revolutions. a gubpotna
! was announced for Casey Adams.
4 fContlnuc1 On pnee e
/ Open every eY1a<2E nHkn FrsaH Wa