Imperial Valley press., 1944-03-20

Appearance OF MAJ. SlldlIto L
Hemans as a grand jury witness in
Lansing, Mich, on March to tell
of his part as pay-off man in the
bribery of 20 Michigan state leglsla-
tors was made possible only by the
cooperation of war department and
U. S. army authorities in Washing
ton. These officials were faced with
the tioklish problem of deciding
whether to discharge an officer in
volved in political scandal, or keep
him in uniform to assist Circuit
Judge Leland W. Carrs one-man
legislative graft investigation.
Major Hemans' disclosure, reveal
ing one of the worst state political
graft scandals in recent times, are
described by Judge Cars special
prosecutor, Kim Sigler to be just
the beginning of a series of graft
and bribery charges which will rock
the entire state of Michigan and
may have profound effect on 1914
election results. Involved are in
vestigators into illegal influencing
of legislation under consideration
by three sessions of the state legis-
lature, in 1899, 1941 and 1943.
SMALL LOAN DEAL"
In the one case now disclosed, a
bribe conspiracy of "at least S2O,-
600" is charged. Six finance COM
pany officials of Detroit and South
Bend, Ind, are named as naVlng
contributed the money for a slush
fund to influence passage of a new
small loan bill which would grant
more favorable interest rates and
terms to firms making these credit
advances to poorer people with little
or no security. OF the 20 legislators
accused of having accepted bribes,
13 are still in office, the other
seven having been defeated for re-
election. Eighteen of the officials
are Democrats, two are Republicans.
| Major Hemans is now identified as
the famous Charley" who was the
pay-off man.
Since early in the war Major
Hemans, formerly Detroit and
Lansing lawyer, has been on duty
in the office of provost marshal
general in Washington. Some weeks
ago he made request for overseas
assignment, but while this applica-
ton was being considered, he re-
turned to Michigan on leave and
there gave information On the pay
off of state legislators. Records Of
his payments, by name and amount,
were found buried on his farm be-
tween Jackson and Lansing.
CASE WEIGHED IN
WASHINGTON
Returning to Washington, Major
Hemans is supposed to have re-
ported what he had done to his su-
periors in the provost marshal gen.
erals office. While War Depart
ment authorities were considering
his case, presumably weighing his
discharge or a demand that he re-
sign his commission, Michigan Of
ficials came to Washington to insist
that Hemans, as their key witness,
be kept in uniform at least until he
had completed his testimony. If
permitted to resign or If discharged
in Washington, Hemans would not
have been subject to supena in
Michigan and could not have been
returned to the custody CT the
Michigan grand jury investigation.
Mic higan authorities therefore
wanted Major HemanS kept subject
TO Army orders In the end he was
placed under guard in Washington,
then transferred to the reserve Of
ficers' pool at Camp Custer, which
is provost marchal and military
police training center.
At Camp Custer. Major Homans
was examined by Judge Carr, and
it was from Camp Custer that he
went to Lansing for his sensational
appearance before the grand Jury.
AT Camp Custer, Major Hemans
was examined by Judge Carr. and
ii was from Camp Gutter that he
went tc Lansing for his sensational
appearance before the grand jury.
Hemans, who is 48, comes from
prominent Michigan family. He
served as second lieutenant in the
last war. Following graduation
from the University Of Michigan,
he took his law degree at Uni
versity of Detroit. For eight years
he served as a regent of the Uni
versity of Michigan. He was asso-
ciated with some of the leading law
irms in Detroit, representing fl