New Britain herald., 1927-03-02
Latter Says Mysterious "War Vet' is Former Husband Chairman Johnson of House Vet eran's Committee Calls Him Hoax.
Declares He Was Forced to Expose Man as Con- gressmen We're Planning Putting Him on Govern ment Payroll for Life.

Washington, March tPt - Jerry Tarbot, that mysterious character whose identity has confounded vet erans organizations and govern ment flngerprint experts over a long and colorful season of investigation. today sat in congressional con- mittoeroom and blinkingly heard himself described as a draft dodger and man Of divers aliases.
 Former Husband. She Says
 One of those who testified said she formerly was his wife, and that she knew him as Howard Francis Noble of Toledo. Ohio Another woman witness said she also knew him Tn Erie. Pa, as Howard Noble. while Chairman Johnson of the committee declared the mans real name was Alexander Dubois. Jr. and that he was the son of chef in a Cuban hotel
 Called Hoax and Fraud
 The committee chairman told his colleagues that his statements would be borne out by records of the de- partment of justice which. he assert ed had disproyed Tarbot's claim that he is suffering from loss of memory caused by injuries in the world war. and had exposed his plea for legislative relief as hoax and a fraud.
 After the two women had tcstiii,,I the chairman put on stand F. Y. Burruss, a special agent for the ur- partment of justice. who said he had been assigned to determine Tar bots identity and war record. Traces Tarbot's History
 Tn 1ai5-16," Burruss said, "our investigation showed Tarbot lived in Sharon, Pa. in 1918 also he was en- ployed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company at Akron. Ohio" The witness then recounted find ings which he said disclosed that Tarbot was born in New York city. the son of French clothes mer- chant and an Irish mother. He contemplated studying for the priesthood, said the government agent. and was known in his con- nuuity as "Frenchy"
 Numerous people in sharon. he continued. had identified photo graphs of Tarbot as Howard Noble"
 Adjourns Till Tonight
 Burruss had not completed his story when the committee adjourn. ed until tonight. Johnson declared that when the case was complete the evidence would show that Tar bot had had more than score of aliases. At one point. he said. the trail would lead to San Francisco.
 The woman who testified that she had been married to Tarhot was Mrs. Florda Dove Lang of De troit- She told her story calmly and remained unruffled under some sharp questioning by Mrs. Mary T. Norton, the representative from New Jersey who has taken an in innate interest in Tarbot's effort to get government compensation.
 Mrs. Lang said she had been married four times. She did not remember the name of the justice of the peace who performed her marriage ceremony with Tarbot. or the name of the judge who grant ed them a divorce. Mrs. Norton declared in surprised voice tha; she did not understand how any one could forget those details.
 The witness had hay remem. hrance of Tarhot having tattooed eagle on his arm bur when ques- tioned further coudl not remem- Der whether it was on his arm CT some other part of his boiy. Eorrci to Act
 The committee meeting was call cd by Chairman Johnson withon, previous warning. and most ot the other members had no inkling Of what was to occur. He said his purpose was to blow up the Tar bot fraud" although, he said. h. would not have done 1t were he [ not forced to do so because of the attitude of the other members.
 The committee members were going 10 force me 70 call meet ing 10 report 8 bill to put Tarhot on the government payroll for the rest Of his life" he continued. The time has come, it seems to me. 10 put stop to this case. The government has It's duty toward honest former service men. and that will keep it busy. I want 1t to be made plain that as long as l am chairman of the veterans com mi'tee no frauds need think they can get money out of the treasury on spurious claims"
 Mrs. Sue Kahl Seiple. of Erie. Pa, testified she knew Tarbot in 1916, in sharon. Pa.. as Howard Noble. and saw him many times In her occupation as theater cash fer.