The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-12
TELLS COURT
SHERECEIVED
FOLEY LETTER
Substantiates Mite hel rs
Charge of Attempts TO In
fluence Her Testimony
GIVES CONVERSATION
Says Capt. FOley's Letter
Was an Insult to the Mem
DRY of Her Husband
GIVES CONVERSATION

Washington. Nov. l2.--(P)-Mrs.
Zachary Lansdownc, widow of the late
commander of the dirigible Shenan-
doah. was called today as a defense
witness IN the court martial trial of
Colonel William Mitchell.
Defense counsel sought to prove
by her testimony that Il navy officer
endeavorcd to have her give false
testimony before the Shenandoah
board of inquiry by retracting her
former statement that Commander
Lansdowne was ordered to take the
Shenandoah on her fatal flight to the
middle west over his protest.
Representative Frank X. Reid,
chief defense counsel. said her evil
dence also would support Mitchell's
charge that the navy department had
been guilty of terminal negligence"
one of the accusations which led to
his trial.
Called to substantiatc Col. Nit
chell's charge that improper attempts
had been made to influence her tes-
timony before the Shenandoah board
of inquiry, Mrs. Lansdowne testified
that Captain Paul Foley Of the naval
board had sent her letter which
was ian insult to the memory of her
husband.
The witness said she could not pro-
duce the letter, because she had de-
stroyed it.
Mrs. Lansdowne testified that the
letter was given her by Mrs. George
W. Steele, Jr., wife Of Captain Steele
| of the navy, who is commander Of the
Lakehurst air station, and of the
dlrigible Los Angeles.
Over objections by the prosecution
she testified that in the communica-
ton Foley, who was judge advocate
of the board Of inquiry, said she
| Mrs. Lansdownc) had every conf
dence in the board and was willing
to leave the investigation to it as
| competent authority. This statement
of her attitude she described az
false"
| Defense counsel then read extracts
from Mrs. Lansdownes testimony be-
! fore the board, but the prosecution
| objected and was supported ~ nc
| court.
Letters introduced
The defense then introduced copies
| of the letters exchanged between Cap
tain Lansdowne and the navy depart
| mcnt relating to plans for the Shcn-
andoah's last flight
"Did Captain Foley come to see you
before you testified?" Representative
| Reid of the Mitchell counse. asked
the witness.
! "He did
"When?'
1.-TWO nights before testified"
"When did YOU testify"
October 9th"
Colonel Sherman Morcland of the
ination.
did Captain Gherardi, (aid to See
| rotary Wilbur visit you at Lakehurst
on or about Sept 4th?" he asked.
"He did"
Mrs. Lansdowne said she did not
tell Captain Gherardi that the things
she had said to the newspaper Of the
Shenandoah were lies
81 denied to Captain Ghcrardi,' she
said. "that | had said that the secre
| tary of the navy personally was the
| murderer of my husband. That is all
l denied
Mrs. Lansdowne further testified
! that the letter Captain Foley sent her
suggested that she state her willing
ness to waive legal defense on behalf
| of her husband, and authorize the
| naval court to act for him.
FOley'S Conversation
what did Captain Roley say to
you when he visited your Mr. Reid
asked.
"He impressed me with the impor-
! tance Of the court. He said the SOL
| emnity of my appearance was very
great and asked me what | expected
! to tell the court | told him | would
| emphasize the fact that the court had
evaded--that the Shenandoah had
been sent on political flight, despite
| Secretary Wilbur's denial
Captain Foley said | had no right
| to say it was political flight as the
taxpayers had a right to see their
| property
| Answering Major General VIM. S.
Graves, a member of the court, Mrs.
Lansdowne said the letter from Cap
! tain Foley had no signature to it and
no mark to show even that 1t came
| from the navy department.
| Glow did you know it was Il letter
! from Captain Foley?'
| Because my friend said So"
| what is the name of your friend =
81 had rather not say"
The question was repeated.
Then Mrs. Lansdowne said: 1T
was Mrs. George w. Steele, Jr."