Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-29
! BIG MONEY SPLIT
H|NTED IN PROBE
Of WHEELER CASE

WASHINGTON, April 27.-Con-
flicting testimony as to the nature
of the work Senator Wheeler, Dem
ocrat, Montana, was to perform as
counsel for Gordon Camphal1 Mop~
tana, oil operator, was given Saturday
to the senate committee investigat-
ing the indictment of the senator
by a federal grand jury in his
state.
Senator Wheeler is charged with
accepting a fee to prosecute land
matters before the interior depart
ment for Campbell after he was
elected to the senate. II. e. Clos
ser, formerly private secretary TO
Campbell, testified Wheeler had
left the impression" upon those at
tending a conference in Great Fal!S
that he would elk up" one permit
at Washington for the oil operator.
On the other hand, E. M. Harvey
of Eugene, Ore, formerly trustee
Of Gordon Campbell syndicate num-
Der one, told the committee that the
trustees had passed on the terms
Of Senator Wheelers employment
and that he was to represent the
syndicate only in court matters.
mir. Wheelers employment" he
said. so far as / know, was to
appear in a recelvershlp SUIT
brought by l.. c. Stevenson ana
some other actions we contemplated
bringing in behalf of the syndicate"
was Mr.. Closer present when
the terms of the agreement were
ratified?" asked Chairman Borah.
II think he was" Harvey replied.
Permits Discussed at Meet
CLOSER testified that the confer
ence at which Campbells business
was discussed was held on January
Is, 1928, and was attended by
Wheeler, Campbell, w. w. Rhea
and CLOSER. Oil land permits were
discussed, he said, and particularly
the Phil MCGOWAN permit.
Mr.. Campbell said to Mr. Rhea
that if Mr.. Wheeler could get this
fixed up in Washington" CLOSER
said, "'we can afford to cut lot
Of money! or something like that.
What did Senator Wheeler say?
asked Senator Sterling, Republican,
South Dakota.
"I don't recall that he made any
reply; oh, yes, he did later"
''But not that evening"
mo, but he left us under the I'M
preston that he could fix it up at
Washington because of the lntlu-
ence he had there"
CLOSER testified he had made two
affidavits at the request Of Blair
Coan. who was sent to Montana by
George B. Lockwood, secretary of
the Republican national committee,
and who had appeared before the
grand jury which indicated Senator
Wheeler. It was his understanding
that Coan was to use the affidavits
as the basis for news stories in the
National Republican.
The first affidavit was made at
Billings, Mont, he said, and the sec
ond at Denver, Col, and Coan paid
his expenses to both cities.
The committee had a copy Of the
second affidavit, but not of the first,
and Closer agreed to furnish it. He
will be recalled later, probably att
er the examination Of Coan, who has
been in Washington for some time.
No Minutes of Meeting Kept
A. t. Sparkling, of Great Falls, one
of the men of the Great Falls grand
Jury who have been summoned mere
and Colonel Harrol Willard, u. S. A,
retired, a StOcKnOluer III anu a. Il uS
tee of the Campbell company, were
heard before the committee ad-
journed subject to call.
Sparkling said the grand jury had
kept TO minutes of the Wheeler case,
although minutes were kept on the
first case that was taken up. He
started to characterize the Wheeler
case, but Senator Sterling shut him
off before he could do so.
Senator Wheeler asked that Spar
ling state the number of ballots
taken by the grand jury before
true bill was agreed on. but Sen
ator Sterling objected, and Senator
Borah said he would have to ex-
anime the law before passing on the
question.
Sparkling will be recalled.
Colonel Willard told the committee
that he had had correspondence with
Senator Wheeler with reference to
his employment by Campbell and
promised to furnish later his letter
to the senator and the latter's reply.
He was not permitted to tell what
was in them. the committee holding
that the letters themselves were the
best evidence.