Evening star., 1946-07-15
May Helped Two Carson Firms
8 or 8 Times,' but Got No Pay,
Freeman Tells Senate Probers
Way Sought to Bring
House Unit Chairman
Before Committee
BY Carter Brooke Jones

JOSepI r freeman, WaSnlng-
ton representative of the Cars
son munitions interests during
the war, testified today before
the Senate War Investigating
Committee that at his request
Representative May, Democrat
of Kentucky, helped the COM
panieS at the War Department
on manpoWer problems on six or
eight occasions.
But Mr. MAY, who is chairman
OF the House Military Affairs Com
mlttee, never received anything from
any OF the corporations for his serv-
ices, TO Mr.. Freeman KNOWLEDGE
the witness told the committee.
Il never gave Representative May
anything he said
You never discussed with Mr..
May the delivery of cash. checks or
anything else of value?" asked
George Meader committee counsel
Mr.. Freeman was positive he never
did
The slight, ailing business repre-
sentative, as he described his pro-
fesSlon, testified in a low voice, fire.
quently hlndered by a cough. He
waived constitutional immunity and
answered all questions put up to
him by the committee members and
attorneys.
Tells of Chicago Meeting.
Mr.. Freeman was called TO the
stand after Chairman Mead read
into the record statement in which
he announced that the committee
Inc the law with view of bringing"
Mr.. May in as witness by legal
process" The chairman. replying to
the House members inSiStence that
he be allowed TO cross-eXamine wit
nesses and send for documents, said
he would be treated as any other
witness and will not be permitted
to direct our proceedings
Mr.. Freeman admitted being pres
ent in Chicago hotel room with
Benjamin F. Fields, Joe Mariner
and Thomas O'Connell. Mr.. Mar
tinez and Mr.. O'Connell both were
committee investigators at the time
and Mr.. O'Connel still is. Mr.
O'Connell testified that after Mr..
Freeman left, Mr.. Martinez gave
him $500 for expenses and offered
him a $4,000 job to quit the inveS-
tigation and go to New Mexico. MIR.
OConnell said he returned the
money next day.
Fields called me in Chicago Mr..
Freeman recalled. He said to come
around to the Drake Hotel in the
afternoon. l met two men. AS
sat down. one of them said he
worked for the Mead Committee.
I said Id better get out Of here,
but he said it was social visit,
l said that if ne was with the Mead
Committee and he had something,
why didn't they throw the book at
those people and get it over Wlth?'
Didn't Know Fields Record.
The witness denied that he sug-
gested Fields go TO Chicago and
SAID he didn't know he was there
until Fields called him.
Mr.. Freeman said he knew Moth
ing about any attempt to get Mr..
O'Connell out Of the way.
The witness added that he had
known Fields for about six years,
describing Fields as "a very dear
friend He had not known, Mr.
Freeman insisted, that Fields was
an ex-convict until he read it in
the papers. Their relationship was
entirely social, he said, and had no
connection with the Erie Basin or
Batavia metal products companies,
the two chief Carson concerns.
II Fields ever was an agent for the
Garssons, he knew nothing about it,
the witness said.
Senator Mitchell. Democrat. of
Washington. who has charged Fields
with offering bribe in the form of
a proffered campaign contribution
asked the witness about that. Mr.
Freeman said he couldn't under
stand why Fields would represent
himself as an agent for Erie Basin
Fields was called by the committee
as a witness Friday. but refused to
waive immunity and was excused.
Hired by Murray Carson.
Mr.. Freeman said he received
about $4,000 in salary and expenses
from the Carson companies in 1914
and around $4,000 in l945. His in
come as a business representative
for other companies had been SO. 900
in 1910 and IS 800 in 194l. he added.
Mr.. Freeman was the first repre-
sentative of the Carson empire to
testify before the committee.
Mr. Freeman said in 1885 he was
an investigator in California for
the SABBATH House Bondholders' In
vestigating Committee. He was en-
ployed, he explained, by Murray
Carson, brother and associate of
Henry M. Carson, directing head
of the Illinois munition companies
under investigation.
Doesn't Recall May Visit.
1t was Murray Carson who en-
ployed him in 1912 as Washington
representative Of Erie Basin Metal
Products, Inc, and Batavia Metal
Products. Inc, largest of the par
ent companies which amassed war
contracts of s78,000,00O.
Did you ever contact Congress
tSee WAR PROFITS, Page A-12J