Evening star., 1924-03-08
Curtis Flatly Denies Bennett
Testimony on Oil Probe Stand

, nett. NO. l don't think So
well it's a small matter" said
Senator Walsh, but he proceeded to
question Bennett at length about the
pardon given Charles w. Morse BY
President Taft.
Asked if he was the messenger
referred to in one account of the OBJ
tanning of the pardon. Bennett replied
that the pardon was not obtained
with ANY such celerity.'
witness Aroused.
Senator Dill took the witness back
to Curtis conversations, saying that
the committee wanted all of THAT
story Bennett got into a bitter al
tercat ton with the committee and wal
stopped when he started talking OF
matters in midsummer of 1928
Senator Walsh saying it was imma-
terial to the inquiry.
An attempt to fix the date of the
conversation with Senator Curtis re-
ferred to by the witness resulted in
Benefits finally indicating it was "a
day or two" before January 80.
The witness then said Senator Cur
tbs had told him during the talk of
seeing President Coolidge when he
first succeeded President Harding.
Il don't want to quote" Bennett
press, I'll do it,
Senator Walsh asserted the witness
had made a remark improper and
perfectly gratutious'' and entirely
unjustified."
Advised to Gust DauEherty.
Senator Curtis told me the new
President asked him for some ad-
vice." Bennett proceeded, and he
gave him some. He advised him to
get rid OF a certain cabinet officer
or permit him to resign
Did he say who the cabinet officer
was?" Senator Dill asked.
He said it was Attorney General
Daugherty.''
Senator Curtis had gone on. Ben
nett said. to speak of Mr.. Daugherty's s
i'll health and that of his wife.
Senator Stanfield asked if the
sation which Bennett had been re-
luctant to give. The witness said
it was.
Senator Curtis again took the wit
ness stand at his own request and
said it was utterly impossible" for
ernoon of January %. He referred
to the Congressional Record to show
his own whereabouts on that date.
The Kansas senator also declared
he had not consulted with Bennett, as
the latter had said. regarding the
policy of the Post directly or indi-
rectly."
TN December" the senator con-
tinued. Il had conversation with
Bennett and he asked me what I
thought he should stress editorially.
There were then two major mat
ters before Congress. one the bonus.
or adjusted compensation, and taxa
ton. / said to Bennett that my
judgment was he sAould stress tax
reduction.
Denies Bennett Testimony.
II did not state to him then that
L told the President Daugherty ought
to resign. What 1 did say was that
thought the President would have to
look for new Attorney General
within a few months, because he was
sick and his wife was sick. The
President told me there were some
important cases the Attorney Cen
eral had to look after"
Mr.. Bennett never delivered me
message from Mr.. Mclean and have
never in any conversation referred to
any political attacks made by this
committed"
Major Recalled.
The committee recalled John Major,
confidential agent of Mclean.
II can't remember. or L have no
idea," were answers Major gave to a
series of questions directed to him
by Senator Walsh as to who "Apples"
or "Peaches''or "Apricots names
used in his telegrams-had applied to.
Senator Walsh took up a series of
the coded and uncoded telegrams
sent by Major to Mclean at Palm
message Major said was Corcoran
Thorn, a Baltimore bank official.
Mclean had telegraphed that some
one gave him "a tip" that he was to
be called by the oil committee.
Major said he did not know who gave
Recounting his Christmas day con.
ference with J. w. Zevely. counsel
for Harry F. Sinclair. Major said
Zeyely ,relayed to A: Mitchell Palmer
MsLeans request that the former snrs
sent him in the oil committee matter.
'T had an impression that Palmer was
Zevely's law partner" Major said.
"But where I got it don't know
During the conversations in ques-
tion, he said. Sinclair came in land
we discussed race horses and the
quality Of liquor"
Under further questioning Major re-
peated that he did his business" with
Palmer through Zevely, because he was
under the impression" the two were
law partners. Zevely transmitted to
Mr.. Palmer, who was i'll in bed" what
Major had to give, the witness said
Homer Called to Stand.
Francis T. Homer, Baltimore law
yer, quoted by Major in one of the
kilograms as having urged "Quick and
easy access to the White House" AZ .