New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-18
WITNESS EXPLAINS
PT.F0LEY'S PART
Mrs, Steele Says Mrs. Lans.
dOWne Understood Fully
MITCHELL TRIAL PROCEEDS
Coloncrs Lawyer Asks That Court
Martial Call Presidents Atten-
ton to Shenandoah Courts
High Handed" Dolnss.

Washington, Nov. IS (P) - Mrs,
George W. Steele. Jr, testified TO-
day before the Shenandoah court
,oi inquiry that Mrs. Margaret
Lansdowne understood fully" that
the statement sent to her by Can
tain Paul Foley Of the court, was
merely a memorandum Of suggos-
tons, and not a direct statement
iof the testimony she was TO give
on the witness stand.
1t was Mrs. Steele who took 10
Mrs. Lansdowne the memorandum
which has become basis for
charges that Captain Foley. as
Judge advocate OF the court. sought
to induce the widow Of the Shen-
Iandoah's captain TO give false tesu-
mony
Il distinctly told her that II va
offered only for her assistance in
preparing her own statement FOR
the court" she testified, that #
was In the way Of suggestions that
she could fil out"
Mrs. Steele, the wife Of the COM
mandant OF the Lakehurst naval
air station, added that when Mrs
Lansdowne read the memorandum,
she showed not the slightest an
ger"
The witness also said that what
was in the memorandum was What
she had understood Mrs. Lans-
doWne to say she wanted to testify.
Mrs. Klein Called
The first witness today was Mrs.
Gladys j. Klein, wife of Commander
Jacob Klein of the Lakehurst air
station, who testified she heard Mrs.
lansdowne talking over the tele-
phone about the Shenandoah's west
ern trip OH the day after the wreck
and heard her say:
He was not sent; he went"
Mr.. Klein said this occurred dur
ing visit to Mrs. Lansdowne's
home. Captain W. r. Gerhardi. ma
val aide to Secretary Wilbur, also
called while she was there, she said.
and she heard Mrs. Lansdowne say
to him:
II did not say It. NY husband
never criticised the navy department
and the secretary of the navy, and
why should II"
Advised Silence
| The interview between Captain
Foley and Mrs. Lansdowne was de-
soribed at length by DR.. Mason who
confirmed that he told Mrs. Lans-
downe not to tell Foley a damned
thing" He said Foley impressed
upon Mrs. Lansdowne that the court
was friendly to her, and that she
would be under oath and should tell
all the truth.
Mrs. Mason said there was an ar
gNment between Foley and Mrs.
! Lansdowne as to whether the Shen-
andoah fight was q political one.
He said it was a political flight"
the witness said. "Hc replied Mrs.
Lansdowne you must not say that
was a political flight"
Mrs. Mason was insistent that 17o-
iley had sought to sway Mrs. Lans-
downe's testimony on the point of
political flight,
Mrs. Foley. the wife OF Captain
Foley, In giving her account OF the
interview. quoted Mrs. Lansdowne as
saying:
81 feel rather foolish In appear
! ing because everything I intended TO
say has been said in the court rec
ord"
Mrs. Lansdowne, she said seemed
eager to have aid and advice.
Foley told Mrs. Lansdowne at the
outset, the witness continued. that
the court was composed Of fine men,
who did not want to embarrass or
harass her, but TO make it easy"
| for her.
Mrs. I.ansdowne did protest
"chcmcntly that this was political
flight Mrs. Foley said.
Mrs. Steele then testified that the
statement she took to Mrs. Lans-
!downe later. was merely memoir
andum Of suggestions.
The Mitchell Case
I Washington. Nov is P>-Shadows
OF the navy's Shenandoah court OF
inquiry overcast the Mitchell court
CONTINUED on Page l3)