New Britain herald., 1925-02-10
MORE GRAFT TALES DOWN AT ATLANTA
Businessman Tells Of Offering
 Bribe to Prison Official
PRIVILEGES PURCHASED
Among Favors Granted to Prisoners Who Paid, 1t is Testified, Was Right to Eat at Warden's Home and at Priests Quarters.
By The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press.
 Atlanta, Ga, Feb. 1O.-Samuel Rothberg, Atlanta merchant, testified today in the trial of A. Sartain and L. J. Fletcher, former officials of the Atlanta federal penitentiary, and Laurence Riehl, of Columbus, Ohio, that he told Fletcher early in 1924 that If he would take care of Fred Haar, Sr., of Savannah, Ga., convict ed of violating the prohibition law, he would be given sl5000.
 Fletcher, Spartan and Riehl are charged with conspiracy and bribery as a result of federal investigation of conditions at the prison.
 Would Appreciate Courtesy.
 As a result of a conference with MT. and Mrs. Marshall Mckenzie, formerly of Atlanta, but now of Sa- vannah, Rothberg said he first told Fletcher, deputy warden at the pris- on, that he was sure Willie Haar, the elder Haar's son, would appreciate any courtesy shown his father. This conversation with Fletcher, he testi- fled. occurred in December, 1924.
 Later, Rothberg said he again saw Fletcher and told him that if he would take care of the elder Haar willie Haar would see to 1t that the deputy warden would be cared for in the sum of $15,000."
 What did Fletcher say?" District Attorney c. ". Hager asked.
 Agreed To Terms.
 He said that would be all right In March, 1924, Rothberg agair made another visit to the prison, he said, and told Fletcher Willie Haal was in town.
 Fletcher told me not to take any money, that it was all off, Rothberg testified.
 On cross examination, Attorney William Sehley Howard of the de. fense developed that Rothbere taught a Sunday school class al prison.
 Rothberg said Willie Haar had of fered him q loan.
 Didn't you tell Fletcher that Haa had agreed to lend you S35, ,000?" h. was asked.
 Yes"
 Didn't you get so,OoO from Willie Haar to get his father and brother! sinecures at the prison?"
 'J did not"
 "Didn't Willie Haar offer you s2,. O0O?"
 That's a lie"
 Willie Haar, Fred Haar, Jr., and Carl Haar were convicted in the Sa' vannah rum ring" exposure ant sentenced to the Atlanta penitentiary Rothberg said he was led to make his proposal to Fletcher as a favol to MT. and Mrs. Mckenzie, GUS toners of his store.
 Willie Haar testified he held z conference with Father Thomas P Hayden, former Catholic chaplain a the prison, who yesterday admitted his participation in the bribery con spiracy, before coming to the peni tcntiary.
 Tells of Agreement.
 At this meeting in Atlanta, Haa continued, it was agreed that s1,50t each was to be paid for special privi leges for seven men convicted fl Savannah. These men. he said, wer' his father and brothers and himself Eamuel Goldberg, C, c. Tuten, Rich ard Bailey and Graham Baughn.
 Later, Father Hayden and Rich came to Savannah, Haar said. Ate a dinner at the Haar home. the wit ness continued, he gave Riehl S10, 500.
 "Riehl said he would turn tn money over to the proper person and that the men would be take care of," the witness said. Dcfens Attorney Hooper Alexander calle, the courts attention to the poin that the witness testimony had in n way connected Sartain with the a. legged conspiracy.
 Special Privileges.
 Among special privileges Haar sal, were granted him at the prison, wcr : eating at the warden's home and a Father Haydens quarters. and tn issuance to him of a temporar chauffeur's card. Baughn, he con