New Britain herald., 1929-09-30
SilcarCr tO Testify

Washington. Sept. 90 UP)-Wil- liam B. Shearcr, who called him self the big bass drum" which made disc cordant noises at the un- successful Geneva disarmament con- ference, was summoned before the senate's naval lobby Investigating committee today for examination about his activities for American shipbuilders.
 Before Prime Minister Macdonald arrives here the end of this week to discuss with President Hoover a re- sumption of disarmament negotia- tions broken off at that conference, the committee hopes 10 learn from Shcarer just what the shipbuilders had him do at Geneva and later in Washington.
 Nvstcr.cuS Character
 Shearcr marches to the witness chair as dramatic and someWh hat myst erious character. He has seen much in Washington in 1926 and 1928 when merchant marine aid legislation was under consid cration in congress and when the shipping board was planning to aid that lame branch of commerce. He brought a t0Xyer's suit in court here after the Washington arms conference seek ing unsucCcssfully 10 stop battle snip scrapping. He turned mp at Geneva later, his purse amply filled and his brief case bulging with statements containing many figures he says were known only secretly in the navy.
 No one seemed 10 know who was paying him until a month ago he filed suit in New York court ask ing judgment against three Amcri- can shipbuilding companies for about $240,0O0 which he contended was due him in addition to the $52, 1 GOO he had already received. The suit was lodged against the New York Shiphuildine company, the | Bethlehem Shipbuilding corporation | and the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydocil company, whose off cials have told the committee Shear CT was employed at various times as an observer and consultant. LOoNs Like Wallace Ec2ry
 Never claiming to be unassuming ] She&rcr with a booming voice, is { | double for Wallace Bcery, the mo ton picture actor. He served il the navy briefly during the Spanish | American war and for 10 days dur. ! ing the World war. He claims tt | have invented a onc-man torpedo boat during the World war, bu tests were not wholly successful. H. is well known by the personnel a the navy department, but there tho available record of his activities cease.
 Reports indicating he was believ cd to have done work for one sid' or another during the World war have been received by the investi gating committee, but not verified A newspaper witness, Drew Pearson testified he saw what purportcd l. be a Scotland Yard record on Shear CT at Geneva. and the committee has communicated with Scotland Yard to ascertain if this is true.
 Laurence Wilder. one of the snip builders who gave Shearer abou $4,500 for work in Washington il 1928, said he had Shearer's recor investigated and found it was good He did not go into detail but sai' he was convicted Shcarcr was al American citizen.
 Declines to Be Interviewed
 Shearer has declined to be inter | viewed since he retained Daniel :. Cohalan as counsel. Before tha time he was quoted as saying he hal received confidential figures iron naval officials Pearson named fou naval officers, members of tn American delegation at Geneva, a having been friendly with Shearel these including Rear Admiral J, N Reeves, Rear Admiral Frank + Schofield, and Commanders II. | Frost and H. C. Train.
 Reeves has arranged with Chair man Shortridge to put brief state ment in the record today concernin Pearson's statement that Admir-; Reeves was the one I heard mos frequently express the hope that tn conference would not succeed
 Shearer has allowed the genera impression to be drawn that he 1T
 tends to tell an important stor
 which may drawn new personalitie into the lobbying scene. He is e> pectcd to be on the stand for tw . days.