Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-20
DEN|SON RETAINS
ATTORNEY BY WIRE.
Layne Denies Charge in
Count Against Dry Illinois
House Member.

Representative Edward Everett Deni-
son, Republican, of Illinois, who was
indicted yesterday by the grand jury
on charge of possession of liquor fol-
lowing the discovery by prohibition
agents at the Union Station of a leak
ing suit case, addressed to John Layne
care of E. E. DeniSon, Ali House Office
Building, last January, today from his
home at Marion, Ill, wired Attorney E.
Hilton jackson, well known local law
yer, to enter his appearance as counsel
with United States Attorney Leo A
Rover. The accused Representative is
known as an ardent dry.
Jackson visited Rover and obtained
q copy of the indictment, saying that
he is informed that it is the first true
bill" in this Jurisdiction for charge of
mere possession of liquor. Such cases
are usually heard in Police Court, he
said, on information.
The lawyer, when asked If he would
also represent Layne, who was named
in the indictment with Representative
DeniSon, was not prepared to answer.
Identification Question.
Rover declared today that since Deni-
son, according to published statements,
had said that the suit case belonged TO
his nephew, Charles Lane of st. Louis,
he would ask the prohibition officials to
check I'D the question of whether there
had been a mistake in identification be-
tween John Layne, named in the indict-
ment, and Charles Lane, the nephew,
who it is understood, accompanied his
uncle on the trip to Panama. whence
the liquor in controversy is reported to
have been shipped to New York and
thence b yeXpreSs to Washington.
John Layne, several years ago Secre-
tary to Mr.. DeniSon, and now connected
with the Internal Revenue Bureau, is
emphatic in his declaration that there
has been a mistake made in the intro
duction of his name into the case.
Explaining that he had not been Mr.
Denison'S secretary for nine years, and
that he was not in Panama with Deni-
son, he added that records Of the Treas
ury Department will show that was
not out of Washington in January"
Issues Flat Denial.
''I fatty deny any connection with the
case" he continued. THE first heard
going to investigate the indictment. It
is a case Of mistaken identity"
The United States attorney admitted
receiving a wire from Denison at Marion
last night in which he was informed
that DeniSon was leaving Sunday to re-
turn here. The entering of appearance
by Attorney Jackson puts to rest any
question of whether the Representative
could be taken into custody as he Is
attending the present extra session Of
Congress. Rover said Denison had asked
for an early trial.
The evidence presented yesterday to
the grand jury included an express COM
pany receipt for the trunk, which is
said to have contained ID bottles Of
whisky and 6 bottles of gin, which
was shipped from New York with the
leaking suit case and which was found
by prohibition officers in DeniSon'S
room in the House Office Building.
The receipt for the trunk Is signed ~.
H. Layne per E. E. Denison." Repre-
sentative Denison claims, 1t Is stated,
that the express company had made a
mistake and sent him the wrong
trunk.