New Britain herald., 1927-12-16
HEARST ASSERTION
 PROBE IS SECRET
(Continued from First Page.)
clerks were illiterate.

| Page, who was instrumental in obtaining the documents, said he had some additional affidavits rclat- ing to their authenticity. one of which was signed by Almicar Zou- tclla. member of the Mexican con- gross. Another was signed by a istenogcapher in Mexico City, he said. ! He added there also were atfidaVits bearing on a Japanese secret treaty. The witness did not believe there were misplaced accents on the doc uments as some members of the committee had concluded. He said he knew Spanish well enough 10 know when accents were properly placed. Some accents were missing ! he declared.
 Senators Deny Charges
 Haing heard emphatic disavowals from Senators Borah, Norris, La Toilette and Hehin, and having been told by the principal wit nesses that they were confident no Mexican money passed to these members of congress, the task was to trace the documents if possible, and questions by members of the committee who were directed to this end. George IIinman, former Mexico City correspondent for Hearst papers and who now works for Hearst in New York. was in Mexico City when John Page, q fellow reporter, got the documents, but HinmaR testified he never saw them.
 Last March, Hinman said. he had heard papers were i'll existence purporting to, show payment Of money to Americans. The next day. Hinman said, he was called homo by his fathers death. Meanwhile, he said. Page apparently had ob- tained the papers.
 After I returned to Mexico. l got the impression that Mr. Page was working on these papers," he continued.
 Chairman Reed pressed him about his first information on the documents, but he repeated he merely heard from Mexican sources that they were in existence He did not know whether his informant was the same as Pages. and knew nothing of the gcnuinencss of the papers
 The witness said that Miguel Avila, the man who testified ycstor- day that he got the documents for Mir. Hearst, had told him that he be- lieved some documents could be ob- taincd from the treasury.
 T believe he approached mc Oh the question" Hinman said. This was early in April. told him we were interested.
 Tt was gossip around Mexico by summer time that these papers were in existence"
 Page had testified he went to Avila in May and asked him to get on the trail of the documents.
 Victor Watson, editor Of the New York Daily Mirror was called when Hinman concluded his testimony but he failed to respond and Hin man was asked to communicate with him.
 There are no other witnesses that I known of" Senator Reed said. Please tell him the committee is waiting for him.
 William A. De Ford of New York. senior counsel for Hearst, told thu committee that he had made inquiry about Watson and was informed that he was cn route to the committee room.
 T am informed that he Is little under the weather" De Ford said.
 The committee members conferred while they waited for the witness.
 Watson Takes stand
 After about ten minutes Watson reached the committee room, but Avila was recalled to the stand and he testified he was just informed about the documents in the latter part of last May hy Page.
 Are you certain about that ?" asked Senator Robinson, democrat, Arkansas.
 Avila testified that he talked to Hinman about some expenses Of American Protestant missions going to Mexico and not about the doc uments furnished to the committed
 Watson then vas called. but be- fore his examination began, Ayila was directed by Senator Reed not to go away.
 We will want you later" the chairman explained.
 Watson said he first heard about the documents on July s last from l.. B. Coblentz, editor of the New York American.
 Watson said he saw the docu- ments at the ranch of Mr. Hearst in California where he met Page and Avila.
 T was pretty well convinced al first blush." he said. that they were genuine. I made no special inquiry into them then
 He told how publication then was planned with an "opening smash on the Japanese treaty." and said he in | vestgated the authenticity of the | |
 II worked with Page" he ex- ! plainod. T don't read Spanish. l . vent over the background of McXi- ,an affairs with him.
 Told of Precaution
 One important thing 10 do, told | Page, was to get evidence to prove he documents correct.
 T concluded the best short cut was to plant & man right in the Mexican office In New York city, but