San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-14
HARDING SOUGHT DATA
Late President Also Got Sc
cret Information on
Lawmakers.
TESTIMONY STARTLING
Says Treasury Secretary
Involved in Liquor
Permit Matters. f"

Washington. ID. C., March i4.-A.sk-
ing no quarter and giving none, Gas
ton r. Means, former Department of
Justice secret agent. today testified
TO the Senate committee investigating
Attorney General Daugherty, that in
February. 1922. in the Old Bellevue
hotel in Washington. he received from
"a Jap representing Aitsui 4 Coz
.Sl0O,0OO. To stop government proSecu-
ton in the Standard Aircraft case and
that lie turned the money over 10 the
late Jess W. Smith. Attorney General
Daugherty' bumper and friend. :
Just prev,1us to that means had de-
seribed himself as "the money car
iierr in transactions for Smith and
W. L. Underwood.
Means told of how making an sun
der NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., which he UNI
derstood was at the instance OF Presi-
dent Harding. he had investigated
Secretary Mellon of the Treasury De
partment. in connection with permits
for withdrawal of liquors and ~got
him."
In a long line of sensational testi-
mony, Means declared also he had con-
ducted Investigations of Senator Cara
way. Democrat. Kansas, after the SEN
ator had attacked President Harding
and Attorney General Daugherty and
also an investigation of Senator La
Toilette after the latter had agitated
of the Teapot Dome scam
dal.
A resolution broadening still further
the powers of the Daugherty investi-
eating committee was adopted today
by the Senate.
Under ii. the committee can hold
meetings outside the city of Washing
ton, whenever and wherever deemed
necessary by its chairman: and any
committee member can subpoena wit
nesses and papers. administer oaths
and take testimony.
Means had been directed 10 make
some Investigations by Smith. Asked
il he had obeyed these instructions al
though he knew Smith was not en-
ployed by the Department of Justice.
he said:
YES. sir"
Says They Got" Mellon.
Sidney Thompson. Means added, was
''the messenger for Underwood" Ur-l
derwood. Means explained, was "thS
man who worked with jess SmithL
and helped him (MeanS) make invSs-
LEGATIONS. He understood Thompson
was a friend of Smiths and withouf
any connection with the Department
OF Justice.
Means said he understood Under
wood wanted information regarding
his diaries and testimony in the New
York trials.
Underwood. Means stated. was max
ing an investigation for he President
OF the United States. He later said
Underwood worked for President
Harding.
Means said Jess Smith and Under
wood wanted 10 catch Secretary Mel
lon and we got him"
President Harding. he added. want
ell the information.
Means said he gave Capt. T. l.
Seattle thousands of dollars IN con-
.nection with his investigations. Scaife
was an investigator AZ the department.
who agitated Investigation of air craft
scandals.
The charges against the attorney
general. Means declared were not trllr-
Means said he knew Underwood repre-
scented the President.
Means testified that he tao, has
worked for President Harding.
Harding Wanted Secret Probe.
\ letter from Underwood TO SMITH
Means said. declared President HarS-
ing wanted some confidential u.Ider-
cover investigations made by less
Smith. Underwood and himself.
In New York. Means said be invests
yated reporiS of arrangements zone
into by Secretary Mellon for certain
rarmitS
But the first time. he slipped
through our fingers he said. ~
These invcs;ig cations. the witness
said. related 70 violations Of the Noi1.
stead act.
Means also said he had Laura ia
eo5>eu investigate Senator CarsW1>- +
Democrat. Arkansas.
Tho Carawsy investigation vas
made sitter the senator had s'sseSoi
President Harding ard the sticrucr
general Means said.
Senator IAFoiletie a'so vas invrs-
heated Means said. sid,ng that r.
saw 10 il that the iafoileiie efilee