Evening star., 1946-12-21
Committee Attorneys
Seek 10 Draft Strong
Case Against Terry

Senate War Investigating Com
mittee attorneys worked today to
prepare the strongest possible case
for contempt charges against Ed
ward P. Terry, former secretary tc
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of Missis-
sippi.
The contempt charge, which may
not be formally filed until the new
Republican dominated Congress
eonvefles January 3, is based on Mr.
Terry's refusal to tell the committee
what became of $4,000 which he
said New Yorker gave him to use
against Senator Bilbo in the Missis-
sippi election this year.
A committee official said, mean
while, that evidence brought out al
hearings which recessed Thursday
about Senator Bilbo's dealings with
war contractors in 1941 probably viii
be sufficient basis for filing a report
without further hearings.
The usual procedure in a con-
tempt case Is to ask the Senate
president pro tenn to certify such
charges to the United States dis
trict attorney for the District OF
Columbia. The latter official then
would present them to grand
jury.
Considered Side Issue.
The Terry case is regarded as
something of side issue and raises
difficult legal problems while the
committe is studying mass of
testimony concerning Senator Bill
bo's relations with war contrac-
tors and others.
Committee Counsel George Mead
er said today he has not yet COM
municated with Senator McKellar
the Senate president pro tenn. Mr.
Meader explained that he wants the
complaint against Mr.. Terry to
stand on the strongest legal ground
and that he may decide to submit
his data to the full War Investi-
eating Committee before officially
asking that the charges be certified
to the district attorney.
Penalties for contempt of the
Senate range up to a year in Jail
and $1,000 fine.
Perjury Charge Pressed.
Mr.. Meader also was directed to
push a perjury charge against Mr.
Terry.
The former secretary testified he
got the $4,000 from Simon Liber-
man of New York to back any op-
ponent who could defeat Senator
Bilbo this year.
Unable to find such an opponent
Mr.. Terry said. he then was told
to give the funds to any one who
opposed Senator Bilbo in the rum
off primary. But Senator Bilbo
mustered a majority over his four
opponents in the first primary and
there was no runoff. So, Mr.. Terry
said, he handed the cash back to
Mr.. Liberman.
Senator Ferguson, Republican,
of Michigan, declared this was i'm
possible because Mr.. Libernan died
several months before Mr.. Terry's
bank accounts showed the money
repaid. Mr.. Terry said he was "con-
fused" and. refused to tell who re-
ceived the funds.
A woman who identified herself
as Mrs. Terry said he is i'll in his
apartment here, under doctors or
ders to talk to no one, and has
nothing more to say about the
transaction.
Meanwhile the 69-year-old Sena-
tor Bilbo, declaring he has cleared
himself of all complaints about his
dealings with war contractors, said
he will spend Christmas at his
"Dreamhouse" home near Poplar
vile, Miss.
1--WE not missed spending Christ
mas in the Dreamhouse since 1885, "
Senator Bilbo said.
The Senator told q reporter he
hardly expects to get the keys to
an expensive new automobile or adj
ditiona1 home furnishings from
Santa Claus this year.
Witnesses testified he received
these gifts from war contractors In
I941, along with an artificial lake,
a swimming pool, 'Dreamhouse
No. q" painting Of the original
'Dreamhouse" and thousands Of dol
lars for . church parsonage on his
farm.
sax-