New Britain herald., 1924-04-02
SAYS SEC. WEEKS IS LIKEWISE CULPABLE
Named With DaHgherty in WTiSh-Martin Aircraft Case
EX-COVT. SLEUTH TALKS

Probe Into the Disaster of fhe Air
 ship Roma was Blocked by Federal
 Officers.
 Washington, April 2.-Continuing
 his complaints about failure of the justice department 10 prosecute var iouS War frauds eases, II. l.. Scaife, once department investigator, told the Daugherty Investigating commit tee today that in his opinion Harry NJ, Daugherty, Secretary John W. Weeks and others, ought to be indicted in the Wright-M Martin aircraft case.
 The witness came to the Wright Martin case after he had renewed his charges regarding sales of the Bosch Magneto company and had declared that on the very day the army airship Roma Was destroyed at Norfolk in l92lt he had tried to start a depart ment Of justice inquiry into that sub ject, but had been blocked by William J. Burns.
 Wanted Indictments.
 It was his judgment, Scaife said, that the Wright Martin case was calling for indictments" Pressed by Senator Moses, republican. New Hampshire, he named Secretary Weeks. former Attorney General Daugherty. Charles Hayden, chair man Of the Wright Martin board. and Guy D. Golf. former assistant attor- ney general, as those who should be indicted.
 The indictments. the witness said. should be drawn np "on charges Of conspiracy to defraui the United States government"
 But all these facts" Senator Moses interycned, "concern things which took place in 1918 and 1919, when MT, Weeks was not secretary of war"
 But these letetrs were written aft CT that" said Scaite, referring 10 cor rospondence about proposed prosecu- tions.
 Seaife said his investigation into the Wright Martin case was complet- cd and the matter ready for suit be- fore he left tho department of justice, but that they refused to bring suit"
 Details nf Hearing
 More chares of delays and failures in the department of justice were laid before the Daueherty investigation committee today by H. l.. Seaife. a former secret agent of the dopart- ment.
 Taking the stand for the third timr, Scaifc continued his long story about obstacles encountered in his efforts t0 institute proceedings against airplane manufacturing concerns charged with receiving orerpaymcnt during the war;
 Captain Luke McAamcc. hoad of the navy intelligence service was quoted by the witness us saying the Mitsni company, Japanese concern, by their ownership of the standard aircraft corporation. had obtained plans and built eXpetimentally almost every type of military plane. Scalfe also repeated his charge that the gov- ,rnmcnt had sad the Bosch Magneto seized from German owners turing the war; tn Martin lIcrns for a grossly inadcouate" consideration. He said that A. Mitchell Palmer. first lien property custodian and later at- orncy general. had been employed as
 lawyer for kcrns.
 Mirl,crsham Involved
 George W. Wickersham. as attorney or Mitsui & O.. got special favor" nd exercised undue influence" with he department of justice. Scaife as- cried. He put in q copy Of letter rom Nickersham to James NJ. Beck. low acting attorney general. asking he latter to assist in getting the su- ,reme court to set down motion for rgumcnt This letter. Scaifr obscrv- d, showed the "closeness Of the re- itionship. and tho operations or -hHt 1 call the invisible government" The charges as fu tIe Standard ircrat Corporation were taken ID carly two years ago in the house im- oachmcnt proceeding against Harry |. DauEhcriy. and Paul Rowland. 1unscl for Mir. paugherty asked to- az tU have it uotrd in the record lat tbr housr committee cNoucrated ic former attorney general from any nlirgs of wrougdoinE. Scaife in- strd that ttc housa committee had sptct@d prosecutions to proceed sainst the concerns mentioned. but lar instead the whnIc matter had acn dropped.
 aircran Di-astcr~
 Scaifc wandered into an account t rcraTt disasters during and after the ar. which he said he considered a ,cd field for investigation.
 W J. Bnrns. chitf uE tlr bureau 0f v stiEatfou had disagreed with his iEgrstion. thus hetraytug -- Scaifr .id-that thr department or justice 1Iicy resulted in .--noks rot heine ,eHiEatfd uniez# thrs we're Willing bc investigate
 on the day of inc disaster 10 th. my mrship Eoma at Norfolk. Va February. 1921. thr witness said. Hr ld prauarrd a trIssgram Co the de lrm' nf-S azrut lt Norfolk insirutt- q him fa start au investigation Hut hen it was suitmitted for Burns sig sur-. tfF latter rgTHraH Co saHaiiUa b,rausr ffla var department had ,t askcd for an inueE.fEation.
 triuinai Ncgligtncc sralfe said Inc had reason to be syc that half the aircraft accidents ere due tu criminal negligence. The did not go into his reasons r suspct1iug that thetC was some ing wrong in the Roma case. Taking up tho Wright Martin case. aife said that the coGnpany's min ss shoued that f had been agreed the directors that eight per cent ,uld be. a fair profit on war con nets for planes while ihe audit of a coppauvss books showed that