The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-07-19
Manager Of Utility
 Co. Confesses Order
(Continued from Page 1)

of the huge holding company's fight against the bill he intended to investigate "every phase" of the campaign.
 It was believed he would next call on O. E. Wasser, A. G. E., comptroller, to learn if possible how high up in the A. G. E. man. agement active direction of the Wheeler -Rayburn attack extend ed.
 From testimony of Beach, E. W. O'Brien, A. G. E. securities rep resentative at Erie, Pa., and others active in the utility campaign, the senate committee learned that or ders went out to offices in 26 states to "clear your files' of<all evidence relating to the A. G. E. campaign.
 The witnesses admitted to the senate committee that they had conferred regarding testimony to be given before appearing at the hearing.
 /. Get Rid of Records
 "I told my managers" Beach said, 'it was ok to get rid of their records because we were through working on the legisla- tion."
 Beach's testimony came after the committee had heard from E. w. O'Brien, A. G. E. subsidiary em- ploye, how he and other witnesses conferred on testimony before it was presented to the committee.
 The committee Is inquiring into the company's part in the fight against the utility bill, including its activities in 26 states in which it operates.
 Beach denied that he was in- structed by o. E. Wasser, comp troller of the company, to take ac- ton regarding the records.
 1T took it upon myself to i'm struct my managers" he said.
 Told Firms Lawyer
 Beach testified he related the ''story" to William A. Hill, Boston attorney for the firm, in New York last Wednesday.
 Isn't 1t true," asked Chairman Hugo l.. Black, d., Ala, that you called managers all over the coun- try and toldl them to destroy their records on the same day that you discussed the situation with MT. Wasser?"
 1T don't think I called them all in the same day." Beach replied.
 Did you not tell MT. Hill that you had discussed this with MT. Waser?" Black asked Beach.
 q don't recall" Beach answered. "de asked me where I got my in- structions. told him did it on my own."
 ''If MT. wasser had told you not to go ahead you wouldn't dared have done it, would you?"
 No"
 Beach Was Angry
 Black asked his questions in rap- i'd order. Beach occasionally be- came angered. The two frequently were shouting at each other simul- taneously.
 "Mr. wasser didn't tell you not to do it?''
 "No."
 "Did you discuss the investiga- tion?"
 "I don't recall"
 "But that was one of the reasons wasn't it why you wanted the rec ords destroyed"
 "Yes."
 No Doubt Mentioned
 "That was one of the reasons, wasn't it--that, you didn't want the records found in case of an inves- tigation?"
 "No doubt that was mentioned"
 "Did he tell you whether he took it uup with anyone else"
 "No."
 "You planned in Ithaca. didn't you, to use the telephone instead of writing letters?"
 "Yes."
 "was that to keep this whole thing secret?"
 s'No."
 "why. then?"
 '.I figured that things would be moving fast and from experience l knew my managers liked to write long letters and didn't have time to read them"
 Beach volunteered in connection with the destruction of records;
 Error In Judgment
 ''ft was an error in judgment on my part to call up my mapagers.'
 ''The object was to destroy any papers showing Associated Gas had anything to 10 with the Wheeler nayburn bili7"