Evening star., 1934-03-02
TWO DEMOCRATIC
LAWYERS ADDED
TO WAR QUIZ LIST
Neither Likely to Be Called
Before Grand Jury,
However.
BOTH ARE BELIEVED
AIDES OF SILVERMAN
Names of Pair to Be Heard by
Jury Next Week Are
Withheld.

Two lawyers prominent in national
Democratic circles have been added
to the list Of attorneys, associates and
so-called lobbyists" who have rep
resented Joseph Silverman, ir, New
York trader, in his dealings with the
War Department, according to re-
ports of the investigation being made
of Army contract negotiations.
There is no indication, however,
that either of these men was in
volved in testimony given the grand
jury in connection with certain con-
tracts now under intensive inquiry at
the Court House. Nor will either be
summoned as grand jury witnesses,
it is said, although one Of them has
been interviewed by investigators.
One of the lawyers is said to have
gone to Assistant Secretary of War
Harry H. Woodring in behalf Of Sill
verman at time when the latter was
endeavoring To sell back TO the War
Department vast quantities Of rain
coats previously purchased from sur
plus World War stocks. The depart
ment refused to buy the raincoats at
an Increased price, however, and the
deal was not consummated.
Two Are Summoned.
Two persons not heretofore men
toned in the grand jury investigation
have been summoned for questioning
by United States Attorney Leslie c.
Garnett and may be taken before the
jurors Monday, it was learned today.
Names of the new figures in the
inquiry are being withheld pending
completion of investigations being
made by Department Of Justice agents.
The two witnesses will be brought
here from out of the city, it was said.
Efforts to find third witness, long
sought by subpoena-servers. were re-
doubled by special agents of the divi-
sion of investigation of the Justice
Department, following examination of
certain papers said to have come into
possession of the department. This
missing witness is Frank E. Speicher,
tire company representative, who
sought to sell leak-proof inner tubes
to the War Department sometime ago.
Speicher Reported Seen.
Speicher has been reported seen at
various widely scattered points within
the past few weeks-from California
to New York and even Haiti, but
trained Federal detectives so far have
been unable to locate him.
There are indications that II Spei-
ic rnf ceryad uith GRAND iIIry
summons before the present hearings
are concluded drastic action may be
taken by the district attorneys office.
What this action, If any. would be
has not been disclosed.
The two lawyers for Silverman in
some of his early negotiations have
not been barred from the War De-
part, it appears, although Secretary
of War Dern has announced that Sill
verman and his attorneys and asso-
ciateS" are persona non grata at his
Office and the Office of Woodring.
Silverman Mentioned.
Silverman, whose activities in seek
ing contracts precipitated the grand
jury proceedings, has been mentioned
in connection with negotiations for
automobile, clothing, saddle and other
awards by the Army.
Ralph T. O'Neil, attorney and for
mer national commander of the
American Legion, also represented Sill
verman before the War Department
at one time, investigation has revealed.
The grand jury hearings are ex-
pected to continue well into next
week, with a possibility that report
will be made next Wednesday or
Thursday.