The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-25
SMITHS DEATH
 MAY BE TOPIC FOR INQUIRY Miss Stinson's Story Gre ates Desire For Facts,'
 Says Brookhart WHEELER'S ILLNESS
 DELAYS HEARING State Departments Aid Sought In Finding
 Mannington

WASHINGTON, March 24.-One section of the congressional mill of investigations, the Daugherty commit tee, today stilled it's wheels tempo rarily. The illness of Senator Wheeler, democrat, Montana, in charge of the investigation and the absence Uf other senators forced the committee to call off the hearing set for today to wind up the story of Roxie Stinson, di- vorced wife of Jess Smith.
 Although Chairman Brookhart an- nounced the committee would recess until Wednesday, there is a possibility it may proceed tomorrow if Senator Wheeler should be able to return. He was confined to his bed today with a severe cold. Regardless of whether he ix able to retGrn by Wednesday other senators will proceed with the inquiry. The delay may enable Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, assistant attor- ney general, to conclude other work and be present to conduct Miss Stin- sol.s cross-examinatiOn.
 Another Bank Involved
 Today's recess enabled senators to look over the field of prospective wit nesses and prepare more subpoenas. A summons, was sent to the Commercial Bank of Morris, Sharp and combany, Washington Courthouse, O., the home of Jess Smith. Its head bookkeeper was ordered to submit records dealing with affairs of Smith in running down a report that his estate was larger than has been generally understood, and also that funds of the estate have been transferred out of the Midland National bank, which is headed by M. s. Daugherty, brother of the attorney general. The committee now is in the midst of struggle to obtain access to all accounts of the Daugherty bank.
 How Jess Smith met his death may be a phase of the inquiry to be pressed further by the committee, according to Chairman Brookhart. Although Coroner Nevitt of the District of Co- lumbia issued a suicide certificate the testimony of Miss Stinson Saturday and other information reaching the committee may result in further ef- forts, the chairman said, to "estab- fish the facts"
 Smith died in the apartment here which he and Attorney General Daugh- erty had maintained. A revolver was found near his body, but Miss Stin- son said she observed no powder marks about the wound. Chairman Brook hart is firearms expert, g renowned rifle shot, and doubts if powder marks could be absent in the case of such q suicide as SmitlIss has been reported.
 Seek AIannfnGtcn
 Determination of the committee to obtain the testimony of Howard Man. nington of Ohio, linked with Smith in the testimony as a receiver of money in the Dempsey Carpenter prize fight film and whisky deals, resulted today in a request by Chairman Brookhart to Secretary Hughes, ask ing the state department to help in- duce Mannington to return from Paris.
 Mir. Hughes replied that, although the department of state was without power to compel the return of an American citizen except by extradttiOn proceedings in cases where a crime has been formally charged, he would glad ly use his "gOod offices" The Ameri- can embassy in Paris was instructed to locate Mir. Mannington if possible and advise him of the committees de- sire to have him return here for ex- animation.
 William A. Orr, New York politician named in the fight film and whisky ''deals," presented himself to the com mittee today under recall order which followed the testimony of Tex Rickard, fight promoter, and John Go rOni, who told of the $200,0OO whisky "deaW in New York. Orr was excused auhiarf fO rAcall