Evening star., 1942-05-20

called to his attention by Attorney
General Biddle, who had asked to
confer with him, since the charges
involved member Of the Senate
Story Based on Afidavit
The New York Post, Senator
Barley said, based its story on an
alleged affidavit. given by Gustave
H. Beekman, who ran the house
in Brooklyn" and who was tried in
court there on charges of immoral
ity.
The New York Post, in its May
issue, he said. carried an article
headed Link Senator to Spy Nest"
The article alleged that men in the
naval and military service fire.
quented the house in Brooklyn and
that member of the Senate had
been seen there frequently, talking
with Nazi spies.
Senator Barkley said that no man
could testify to what was said in
these alleged conversations, accord
ing to the newspaper, since they
were not overheard. The article, he
continued, contained a white silhou-
cite which might have fitted any
one of a dozen Senator'S"
This publication was brought to
my attention by Francis Biddle,
Attorney General" Senator Barkley
said. He added that Mr.. Biddle
took the position that there might
be some violation of the Espionage
Act if it were true and soldiers and
sailors were lured to the Brooklyn
house and piled with liquor to get
them to reveal the whereabouts of
the ships they had been on or were
about to 60 to.
Decided on Investigation.
The only interest Of the Justice
Department, the Senator said, was
whether there had been q violation
of the law.
Senator Barkley said he told the
Attorney General he wished to con-
fer with Senator McNary, Republi-
can leader, as to the course which
should be pursued. He did confer
with Mr.. McNary and they agreed
that the best course was to have the
Justice Department make a thor
ough investigation Of the story with
formal action by the Senate request
ing an investigation.
Later, Senator Barley said. the
New York Post carried the white
silhouette said to be made from the
photograph of Senator who visited
the Brooklyn house Then, he said,
Senator Walsh called him on the
telephone and told him that the
New York Post had informed him
they intended to publish his name as
that of the Senator who visited the
Brooklyn house.
Senator Walsh came to my house
and discussed the matter with me,
and told me he had informed the
New York Post that the story was
a 'diabolical lie,'" said Senator Bark
ley, "and that they would publish
such lie if they printed his name.
Senator Walsh was visibly agitated,
as any man would have been under
the circumstances 1 advised him
against saying anything for publica-
tion or on the floor of the Senate
until the Department of Justice had
completed its investigation.
Walsh Exonerated.
DAY before yesterday the Attor-
ney General said that the investiga-
ton had been completed. He said
that it entirely exonerated Senator
Walsh Senator Walsh had told me
that he has never been in Brooklyn
except three times, and on each oc-
casion to make public address"
Yesterday, Senator Barley con-
tinued, the Attorney General and
one OF the investigators visited him
and turned over to him the original
documents now in the custody of the
Justice Department.
''The facts present weird and
fantastic story" said Senator Bark
ley, adding that he did not deem it
necessary to describe the practices
which were said to have gone on in
this Brooklyn house.
He said that the proprietor of the
Brooklyn house. Beekman, who sup
posedly made the affidavit on which
the story was based, had done so
supposedly under some sort Of in
ducement that if he revealed the
top notchers" involved he might
receive leniency.
Senator Barkley said that the
statement made to the Justice De-
partment Investigators contains
things so disgusting that he would
not put them In the Congressional
Record or give them to the press.
He said further that it contained
the names of men, publication Of
which would serve no useful pur-
pose.
Senator Clark said that he had
been informed reliably that Morris
Ernst, whom Senator Barkley iden-
tilted as attorney for the New York
Post, had come to Washington,
"even to the White House." with
the Walsh story.
Senator Wheeler demanded that
the New York Post be suppressed by
the Government for its alleged ef-
forts to impugn the integrity Of q
Senator "and hence, in effect, the
entire Senate"
"Beekman," said Senator Bark
ley, lin his statement said that the
affidavit was not read to him; that
1t was prepared by his lawyer, who
advised him to sign It; that he did
l>s,& A4A l,alS la4s "a nd