Evening star., 1944-05-27
Federal Grand Jury
Due 10 Start Probe Of
corrigan Case Today
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A Federal grand jury In New
York today was scheduled to be-
gin delving into the affairs of
Comdr. John D. Corrigan, sus-
pended naval officer, whose i'm
mediate court-martialing has
been demanded by Chairman
Truman of the Senate War In
vestigating Committee.
The grand jury went to work on
the case "A hours after the officer,
flushing, admitted to the committee
that he had sent restricted"
letter to the private engineering and
management consultation firm in
which he is partner, with the re-
quest that it be burned after use.
He has testified that half dozen
concerns he inspected as produc-
ton trouble shooter" for the
Nays Ordnance Bureau had en-
gagged this f1rm-Corrigan, Osburne
g. Wells.
During yesterdays hearing, the
witness also identified q copy of a
letter which he said he had sent
to an old friend, H. MI Stranck of
the Utah Construction Co., San
Francisco, in which he said his
"fne Italian hand" had played a
part in the Westinghouse Co.'S TAX
ing over a Hudson Motor Co. plant
at Center Line, Mich.
Still wearing his uniform, the
officer, who was suspended yester-
day, was questioned for an hour and
a half by the committee.
Calls Violation Flagrant.
AS he rose and stood beside his
chair. Senator Truman shook a
finger at him and declared solemnly:
II think that Comdr. Corrigan
should be Immediately court mar
tialed by the United States Navy
I think it is the most fragrant VIOLA
ton of the rules and regulations of
the Navy since this committee has
been at work."
Senator Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan expressed agreement with
the statement.
Comdr. Corrigan Redeemed and
walked away.
He said he had sent to David
Amour, in the Chicago Office of Cor
rigan, Osburne & Wells, q list of
manufacturers that had received
money from the Ordnance Bureau
for plant facilities.
At first, Comdr. Corrigan had said
he could not recall ever having
written a letter to his firms Chi
cago Office after he entered naval
service. But he quickly identified
copy of the letter to Amour as
one of his own, although he said he
did not know who. Amour is.
In the letter to Mr.. Stranck, re-
garding the Hudson plant, he said:
"It took me a little longer to get
this company out of that plant and
switched over to Westinghouse than
it should have. -" " Next week I
expect to have another one of my
bad actors on his ear !" ="
The letter was written October
IS, 1943. On November 20, 1943, the
Norden Co. took over a Remingtons
Rand plant at Elmira, N. Y. II
Comdr. Corrigan acknowledged
that few days before this latter
event there had been q discussion
in the Ordnance Bureau, in which
he did not participate, of the pos
sibility Of Robert Wells, who sue
ceeded him as president OF Cor
rigan, osburne e. Wells, resigning
to manage the Elmira facility. s
Corrigan Issues Statement. q
"You know as fact" Senator
Ferguson asked, that Worden was
assured by the Ordnance Depart
ment that Corrigan, Osburne al
Wells would go in as operationaI1
managers If they took 1t over?"
II did not know that" the wit
ness declared.
In a statement issued after the
hearing. Comdr. Corrigan said:
Il am sure that when all the facts
are fully presented before the ap-
propriate tribunal, my conduct will
be found to be above reproach and
that 1t will disclose that my work. in
the Navy has very substantially con-
tributed to the war effort"
Mr.. Wells expressed regret that he
had not been given an opportunity
before the Truman Committee To
correct several misstatements as
well as neutrality-suspicious. of facts"
Mr.. Wells said he was preparing a
statement for the committee which
will establish the value of the serv-
ices Of Corrigan, Osburne e. Wells,
Inc, to the war effort and will
furnish further additional proof Of
the integrity of our company's re-
lations with the United States Navy