Evening star., 1928-04-17
Widow of John T. Pratt De-
scribeS Visit to Home
Early This Year.
u. S. CHARGES SECURITIES
WERE GIFT OF SINCLAIR
Former Property Custodian Denies
He Took Part in Bond
Transaction.
ry the Associated Press.

~ hHE HNSh'iaNfA bEfSe.
Testimony that VIII H. Hays. former
Republican national chairman, visited
her home early this year in search of
the record of Liberty bond transaction
with her late husband was given the
Senate Teapot Dome committee today
by Mrs. John r. Pratt of New York.
Mrs. Pratt had no personal knowledge
OF the transaction between her husband
and Hays. and Thomas w, Miller
former alien property custodian. now
under penitentiary sentence, likewise
told the committee he knew nothing
OF the operations of the Continental
Trading Co. from whom the bonds
came.
Previous testimony has been that
Harry +. Sinclair turned over large
batch OF Liberty bonds to Hays and
that Hays gave $50 1000 of them TO Pratt
to dispose of in wiping out campaign
deficit, Through Pratt's records the
names OF Secretary Mellon, William M,
Butler. present Republican chairman,
and John w Weeks. former Secretary
Of War. were brought into the inquiry
as prospective recipients OF the securi-
ties
Tells of Visit.
Mrs. Pratt said she believed Havs
came to her home on Lincoln's birth
day, February IL, and asked me If
/ could find the record of the Liberty
bonds he gave TO Mr. Pratt"
That was February OF the present
year?" Mrs. Pratt vas asked. referring
To Hays' visit
Yes. sir: ii was then that went
10 the Office OF Charles Pratt e. Co, and
looked TIP the record
When was the previous yisit?"
Two or three years before"
Mr.. Hays gave us the distinct I'M
preston that he was a frequent guest
OF Mr. Pratt" Senator Walsh said.
He was not stopping at our house IL
that is what you mean" Mrs. Pratt re-
piled.
She said that Hays had formerly
been a frequent visitor ai her home.
when. In 1920. she was vice chairman Of
a Republican ways and means commit
tee IN charge Of organizing Somen 10
obtain contributions In small amounts,
Miller on Stand.
When Miller took the stand. he was
asked what he knew about the SIS 900
in bonds which Hays turned over TO
Senator r. Coleman dn Pont OF Della
ware. Miller said his only knowledge
was what he had read IN the news
papers. He added that Senator Du
Pont had told him that the Republican
national committee had a note at the
Empire Trust Co. OF New York City.
Did YOU take part in any LibeIly
bond transaction between Harry F. SIM
clair and VIII II, Hayes?" Senator
Walsh, Democrat. Montana. asked.
mo. sir"
Miller said he knew nothing OF the
transfer Of bonds by Sinclair TO Hays as
a political contribution. Hays was man
aeer Of the Republican campaign Of
1920
Neither did he recall attending a
White House luncheon soon after the
acces sion cf President Coolidge 10 Of
nee He was never at the White House
with the late John r. King OF Connect
cut, or wIth former Attorney uenefal
Daugherty. he said
Clarence e. Chase. former coilectu,
OF customs at FL Paso, Tex. and son
in-law nf Albert b. Fall testified that
Fali asked him 10 go 10 Cleveland In
November. 1919, andesee Price Mck.n-
ney as 10 why he had not replied TO
letter written TO him by the former
Interior Secretary
Reads Mckinney Testimony.
MIR. Mckinney was 10 come TO
Washington and tell the committee
Teapot Dome) that he had made ar
ranRements 10 supply the money for thf
purchase Of the Harriss ranch prop
erty." he said
But the HaFriss ranch already had
been purchased and $4,000 In cash
paid on IL "
Yes. but Mr.. Mckinney was to tell
The committee that he furnished the
money instead VI Mr. Doheny," t. l..
Dohfny who transmitted 800 900 10
Fall, was the lessee Of the Elk Hills.
Calf. oil reserve.
Senator Walsh then read Mckinney
testimony given in 1894 that he had
been asked 90 say that he had made
a loan and that he had refused 10 do 80
because he had made no loan to Fall
But you knew that 10000 had been
paid on the Hartiss ranch In your once
In vi Paso?" Chase @as asked,
Yes. sir"
did you know where the money
came fromP"
Yes. | knew II came from Mr..
Doheny."
The former customs collector said he
met Fall at Kansas City after the visit
10 Mckinney and accompanied him 10
New York, Atlantic City and WahhlnK~
ton.
Faita New York Visit.
What dld Mr., Fall 90 TO New York
f0rP" WalAh asked
''f0 see Mr.. Doheny"
What did he want 10 see him foi9"
ITO see whether Mr. D0heuy stu had
the note MIR Fall had given him when
he borrowed the 100000" Chase re-
piled. "T'he note waa niutiiated, the
signature having been tarn on +"
At Atlantic City the witness said,
"Mf Mclean dropped In one day" re-"
fefring % Edward ~ Mclean, Wash.
inglan publisher, who agreed at that
conference 10 say that he had loaned
Fail sih0 600
Asked why he had refused 10 testi-
fy before The committee IN 1924 Chase
said he had a joint account with Fall
and had handled some Of the Dpheny
money and was apprehnnhlve that he
! chit he Indicted With Pail, aa The Sem
ate had directed the employment nf sne-
ciai counsel t0 prosecute tho oil cases.
II Intended 10 appear before the COM
mitihe hut when / got telegram from
Fail saying he was coming on ] decided
not t0 appear" he said.
Fall Memorandum hesd.