The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-02-26
Daugherty Welcomes Investigation
Declares in Letter to Senator Willis He Bought
Stock Before Becoming Attorney General and
Lost on Deals

! Washington, Feb. 25.-Attorney
General Daughertys letter to Senator
Willis was as follows:
My Dear Senator: | am informed
that the resolution OF Senator
ton of the Department of Justice
imay be called up for consideration at
any time. | am taking advantage OF
your kindness and courtesy to me TO
place before YOU few OF the thoughts
that accur TO me in connection with
the pending resolution.
| Il wish you to understand. and I
that any committee Of Investigation
which the senate. in it's Judgment.
may appoint. will be accorded every
facility which the Department of JUS
tice affords. in order that a thorough
Investigation of my official acts and
of the Department of Justice may be
made fairly and systematically. | be-
lieve. and know. that such an inves-
litigation will satisfy the senate and
the country that the Department of
Justice has been. and Is being con-
Quoted with a high degree of efficiency
and that the rights of thes govern
ment have been and are at all times
fully and amply protected.
Il note by the. resolution that the
committee is instructed to investigate
lmy alleged failure to arrest and prose
cute Albert B. Fall. Harry F. Sin
clair L. l.. Doheny, Charles r. Forbes
and their alleged coconspirators.
Suggests Other Lawyers.
1T is interesting to remind you
that before the Introduction of this
resolution. requested the president
prosecuting Albert p. FAN and those
with whom he is alleged to have beer
lacting in collusion. because of ths
fact that Mr.. FAN had been a mem
ber of the cabinet in which / alss
served. and that the country might
'lbe better satisfied to have the con
duct of the prosecution in control o.
lawyers In no way connected with th'
lgovernment. You know the president
Iapproving this suggestion. did place
this whole matter in the hands %
1.-TWO of the ahlest lawyers in thi:
country, Hon. Atlee Pomerene ane
Hon. owen J. Roberts. whose ap
lpointments have been confirmed b,
the senate. and who are now in full
oharge of the particular matters re
ftrred to in this resolution.
Realizing the difficulties confront
ling these distinguished lawyers.
lhave extended to them every possible
facility afforded by the Department
lof Justice ma formal letter addressed
10 them. and I am attaching hereto
a copy OF that letter, so that ii ma,
lbe available for reference at ans
time.
Sought Prosecution.
"The resolution complains OF my
failure to prosecute Charles *
Forbes. You know. senator. and
cannot understand how Senator
| Wheeler has failed TO note. the activi'
ties OF this department in connection
with this matter. 1t has been placed
in charge OF Hon. John w. IL. Grim.
who was appointed by me on Decem
her Is. 1923. in prompt cooperation
with the Reed committee and after
conference with an approval by Chair
man Reed and his associates on the
committee investigating the veterans
bureau matter. Mr.. Grim is beins
assisted by Major Davis Arnold. who
so ably aided the Reed investigating
committee and by other assistants
The case Is now and has been fol
weeks under thorough investigation
by a special grand jury at Chicago
(which jury l requested the court to
limpanel for the purpose OF consider
ing this case long before the resolu'
tion criticixing me in this case was
introduced
II have observed in the press in
situations that so-called high officials
bought and sold Sinclair Consolidated
oil company stock upon information
regarding the making of the of
leases, the inference being that they
profited thereby. In view OF sucl
publications | desire now To deny all
such insinuations and inferences. and
To give the facts In this connection in
sofar as they relate 10 me personally
Always Had oil Stock.
before | became attorney genera
or seriously considered any con
nection with the government, from
time to time In the ordinary course oi
MY personal investments. bought
and paid for some stock in the sin
clair Consolidated on company. Sis
months after the execution OF ths
Teapot Dome lease tof April :. 1921
endeavoring to recoup my losses IN
said stock sold n portion Of my
holdings therein acquired and paid
for as Aforesaid before became at
torney general, Thereafter bought