The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-19
new ANGERED
BY BLAINE S
POSTAL QUIZ
Former Mail Chief Denies
Putting on Pressure to
Halt Lease Probe.
EVIDENCE IN CONFLICT
Hoosier Fails to Remember
Sending Letter to Late
J. w. Good.
BY LAWRENCE SULLIVAN
Times stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Sub-
jected to vigorous cross-examina-
ton by chairman John j. Blaine,
Harry S. New, former postmaster
general, reviewed in detail today be-
fore the special senate postoffice
lease committee his part in the
celebrated st. Paul lease.
Asked about a mysterious" let
ter sent by New to the late Secre-
tary of War James w. Good, at
Chicago, in July, 1928, the witness
said he had no recollection of such
communication. Pressed by Sen
ator Blaine. New said, however, that
he would not deny he might have
sent such a letter.
'Mr. Good was at that time
western campaign manager for the
Republican party?" asked.
II do not remember just what his
connection was" New answered.
Evidence in Conflict
The letter never has been placed
in evidence before committee, but
John H. Bartlett, first assistant
postmaster general, testified before
the committee recently that he
personally had carried News letter
to Good at Chicago. New had sealed
the letter before handing it to
Bartlett.
At the time this letter was car
ried to Good, the federal grand
jury was about to assemble to con-
slider the facts surrounding the st.
Paul lease. Good at the time was
attorney for Jacob Kulp, holder of
the st. Paul lease.
Blain also developed that Federal
Judge Sandborn at st. Paul, on
June 18, 1928, had ordered the grand
jury to assemble for the Lease case
on Aug. 7.
The alleged letter from New to
Good was said by Blaine to have
been dated July &c, about two weeks
before the date on which the grand
jury was to assemble.
Denies Using Pressure
New also reiterated his emphatic
denial that he ever had sought to
bring about the removal of Assist
ant District Attorney John K. Fess-
Ter at st. Paul, when Fessler vigor-
ously was prosecuting the lease in
vestigation.
Blaine then read a department of
justice report which challenged the
methods of the postal inspectors
sent to st. Paul by New. This re-
port said the postal inspectors crit
icised witnesses and testimony be-
fore the grand jury.
Were these inspectors sent to st.
Paul to investigate the grand jury
or the postoffice lease?" Blaine
asked sharply.
"They were sent to get to the
truth about this lease" New replied.
Statement Held Insulting .
New characterized as "absurdly
insulting" Blaine's question whether
the postal inspectors had not, in
fact, been sent to st. Paul after the
1928 grand jury investigation, not to
investigate circumstances surround
ing the lease, but rather to dis
credit the grand jury.
ut is unworthy of an answer" the
witness shouted idignantly, "but
will answersit."
He then repeated that mis- only in
terest in the case was to "get at the
truth" Senator Hastings of Della
ware, an administration Republican
agreed that Blaine's question was
insulting"
mo one ever acted in better
faith" New offered after the inter
ruption.
At the conclusion Of the session
Hastings complained that two hours
had been occupied today with ar
inquiry which developed materia,
which might have been obtained
from three questions. New will re-
sumo the stand at 10 o'clock Friday