Evening star., 1924-03-17
Former U. S. Agent, on Stand
in Probe, Says Attorney
General Saw Big ''Cut" in
Profits for BackerS.
TOLD PICTURES, SHOWN
IN Fl STATES, PAID WELL
Was Informed Harding, Hughes
and New Joined in Discussion of
Distribution of Fight Movie at
Mclean Home Here, Holdridge
Tells Senate Investigators.

y story alleS1n8 tnat ATTORNEY
General Daugherty was himself con-
cerned in an unlawful conspiracy to
exhibit the Dempsey-Carpentier
fight films, and had suggested that
those behind the scheme should get
d so per cent "cut" in the profits, was
related today to the Senate commit
tee investigating the Department OF
/ Justice.
Gerald o. Holdridge, former Sc
cret agent of the department, told
the story as he said it had been re-
lated to him by Jap Muma, New
York correspondent of the Cinein-
natl Enquirer and one of those
named as backer of the distrubu-
tion plan. Holdridge read to the
committee under oath a long state
ment regarding his conversations
with Muma, and at the end OF the
statement there was an Endorsement
by Thomas Spellacy, another former
department agent. saying the asser-
tions made were absolutely true"
Spellacy, Holdridge said, was present
. when he talked with Muma.
Transferred BY Burns.
After he had heard Muma's story
Holdridge went on, he came to
Washington and related it to William
]. Burns. head of the Justice Depart
ments bureau Of investigation. In
stead of ordering any prosecutions,
however, he said, Burns transferred
him to a long-pending bank case.
Some time afterward, he said, he
quit the government service lin dis
gust" 49,.
According to Muma, as quoted by
Holdridge, the plan to show the pic
lures over the country, despite the
federal law against their transpor-
tation across state lines, followed a
private exhibition at the home here
Of Edward b. Mclean, attended by
President Harding and members of
the cabinet.
Discussion General.
AT the conclusion of the showing
at the Mclean house, Holdridge said,
'Muma has talk with Attorney
General Daugherty and the President
and later Secretary Hughes Secretary
Christian and Harry S. New, then
senator and now Postmaster Cen
eral, joined in the discussion.
"He (Muma) told me it seemed to
be the general opinion, said the wit
ness, that it was a shame people
could not see them" Later Muma,
talking with the Attorney General,
he told me, was told that the law
against the pictures was solely di-
rected to their transportation.
"Muma went on to say Attorney
General Daugherty directed him to
see Alfred r. Urion, an attorney in
Washington. He said he saw Urion
and that he told him what to do
Reached Understanding.
Muma then was quoted as saying
that he reached an understanding
with Urion. who was supposed to be
friend of the Attorney General,
with the result that I'VE went to it,"
exhibiting the pictures in more than
twenty states, with large profits.
The witness also declared that
Muma had shown him a copy of the
contract under which the deal was
consummate ted, and under which
Muma, under a dummy name. was to
receive SO per cent of the profits.
The contract, he said, bore the names
and F. Z. Quimby, producer of the
picture.
Holdrige's testimony followed in
many particulars that of Quimby,
who was on the stand Saturday. He
had told the committee Muma and
l.
hibition of the films without Depart
lnent Of Justice interference, and
that money was paid out in connec-
ton with the agreement. Another
witness last week, CASTOR b. Means.
testified that while he was employed
as Department of Justice agent
he received and turned over to Jess
Smith, Mr.. Daugherty's personal aide.
large sums of money on account of
the fight films.
Holdridge was tine first witness
The witness was asked what he
knew about any arrangement Where-
by the pictures were to be exhibited
over the country in spite of the law
prohibiting their transportation in
Interstate commerce! F. c. Quimby.
producer Of the films, has testified
that they were shown in twenty-five
that there would be no Interference
by the Justice Department and Gas
ton B. Means once an agent for the
department, has told the committee
that he received and passed to Jess
Smith. close friend of Attorney Gen.
era1 Daughertyy various sums OF
money in consequence of such an ar
rangement.
To Probe Gun Running.
While Holdridge was on the stand
the committee also made plans to
follow up it's Investigation into gun
running on the Mexican border and
into stories Of American financial aid
to Mexican revolutionists A SUBJ
poena was announced for Casey
Adams former mayor of Calexico,
Calf, who was said to have knowl-
edge Of CAntu revolutionary affairs
in lower California.
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