Evening star., 1935-05-22
SECOND MILITARY
f. TRIAL IS SOUGHT
Col. McMuIIen, Who Testi-
fled in Probe, Would Fol-
low Col. Williams.
BY REX COLLIER. =.

A second court martial growing out
of the lobbying investigation by the
House Military Affairs Committee is
expected by the committee, it was
learned today
As the trial, in secret session, OF
Col. Alexander E. Williams entered
its third day at the Army War Col
lege, a member Of the committee dis
closed that on the basis of new in
formation received by the House in
vestigators, a court-martial will be
sought for Col. Joseph I. McMullen,
who recently was rebuked by Secre-
tary of War Dern.
Col. McMullen testified publicly be-
fore the committee that he had re-
ceived fees from the Cuban American
Manganese Co. and other firms which
have had business dealings with the
War Department. In administering
his deepest censure" to Col. McMul-
len for accepting these sums, Secre-
tary Dern said the transactions oc-
CURED beyond the time limit pre-
scribed in the statute of limitations.
Request for Delay.
Chairman McSwain of the House
committee at that time announced he
had requested Secretary Dern to de-
lay retirement of Col. McMullen pend
ing investigation by the committee OF
alleged acts of misconduct by Col.
McMullen within the statute OF linz
itations. Results of this investigation,
it was said today, will be turned over
to the War Department.
Secretary Dern has advised Nc
Swain that although activities OF NC
Mullen previously complained OF by
the committee were outlawed by mill
tary regulations governing courts
martial, they were within the scope
Of civil law and that for this reason
he was transmitting report OF the
departments inquiry to Attorney Gen
eral Cummings. These data since have
been turned over to United States AT
torney Leslie c. Garnett.
Serenity Of Rebuke.
In a letter conveying Dern's rebuke
to Col. McMullen, Mai. Gen. James
F. Mckinley, the adjutant general OF
the Army wrote:
1T is affirmatively established -
that you caused Government business
connected with patent claims, with
which you were associated in your
official capacity, to be placed with a
law firm with which member OF your
immediate family was employed.
1T is further established that you
+s.-.A, FNr-
compensation as attorney for firms
whose interests were closely related
to the interests of the Government,
$50 scandalous was your action in
this latter matter that positive steps
looking to your trial by court marital
therefore would be taken did not the
statute Of limitations set forth in the
articles Of war interpose bar to the
prosecution of such a trial"
Col. Williams Trial.
Col. williams is being tried as q
result of testimony given the House
committee by Frank E. Speicher in
connection with alleged financial
transactions between Speicher anc
Williams when the latter was brig
adler general in charge of the trans
portation division of the Quartermas-
ter Corps. Speicher was representa-
tive of a leak-proof automobile tube
concern interested in supplying the
special tubes to the Army.
Press and public have been barred
from the trial by vote Of the court
martial, which is composed Of high Of
flcers dressed in civilian clothes to
avoid attention. The sessions are be-
ing held in the officers Club at the
Army War College reservation.