New Britain herald., 1926-07-29
WITNESS REFUSES
 ID GIVE ANSWERS
Cunningham Defes Reed-
 Threatened With Contempt

refusing to answer questions today before the senate campaign fund Icommittee, Thomas w. Cunningham of Philadelphia was advised that he would be cited to the senate for con- tempt.
 Acting on advice of his counsel, Ben Colder, Cunningham refused to respond to any inquiries as to the source of a s5O,OOO contribution he made to the campaign fund of Will liam S. Ware, who won the repub- Ilican senatorial nomination last May. Cunningham contended that this was a personal matter. Before that Colder had challeng ed the right of the committee to go Unto the Pennsylvania primary at all, declaring that this was a matter flor the commonwealth of Penn sylvania to deal with"
 With Cunningham's persistent re- lfusal to respond to questions, Chair Iman Reed said he wanted to inform him that it would be "the duty of lthe committee to report you to the United States senate for contempt"
 What the result may be will have to be determined by the senate and the committee" Reed added.
 This is not threat" the senator continued, but a statement Of fact. II ask you now if you adhere to the
 position you have taken?"
 q do," Cunningham replied.
 "Very well, that's all"
 The authority of the senate to lnunish citizens for contempt in re-
 fusine to answer questions before an Investigating committee is now be- fore the courts in the case of Harry
 r, Sinclair, oil magnate who re- fused finally to testify In the Teapot inquiry.
 Cunningham testified that on
 April 5, 1926, he gave s25,Ooo to Thomas F. Watson, treasurer of the Ware organization.
 "Where did you get this money?
 Reed inquired.
 "Out of my private funds" Gun , ningham replied. 1, At that point Ben Colder coun- sel for Cunningham, said he had ad-
 yised his client that in his judg-
 ment the committee had no Jurls- diction to inquire into the Pennsyl- vania primary and that consequent Ivy he need not answer certain ques- tions.
 Refuses to Answer Senator Reed then inquired as te | the source of the s25,oOO. q refuse to answer that question; ! that is A personal matter" Cunning , ham replied. "Where did you keep that e money?" Reed asked. 2 That is another personal ques e tion and I refuse to answer" d What is your salary as clerk O l. general sessions?'
 "sS,oO0." IS "Was this s25,ooO savings iron l. your salary" s That's another personal question l. which I refuse to answer" Il Calls Question Unfair 't "Is there anything wrong, O
 WlChtu, UT tlOOhVd' cboN| '''c SSN' r of that money?" Reed asked, r That's an unfair question" brok 'f in Colder, "and I advise MT. Gun Il ningham to disregard it." it Senator Reed and Colder got int
 a wrangle, with the upshot that tn e chairman warned the attorney tha l. if he did not maintain respectful st attitude toward the committee h n would not be permitted to sit at tn It hearing table.
 m Colder protested the senator
 questions were unfair. De "Did you give any other mono le in the campaign?" Reed asked. ts "Yes," Cunningham replied. 70 tn April 16 gave S25.O00." of Reed sought to develop the sourc
 of that money, but Cunningham, 0
 advice of his counsel, refused to all
 swer. Likewise the witness re
 fused to go into details concernin Is the vacation he took while the con - mittee was sitting in Washington, 1T ce vestigating the Pennsylvania pr fly mary.
 lo DO you know Mir. Powers Ie, asked Reed. lis "Yes."
 of Do you know whether Power in had a law partner who is head of he trust company in Philadelphia. ?" he Colder advised his client not w. answer.
 ms Total Now S965, ,3G5.47 on Of the total of s965,S65.47 tn, he
 i'd 1