Evening star., 1946-07-16

disclaimed responsibility for some
Of the characters who have emerged
from the inquiry and declared he
would sooner be dead" than linked
with such people. He put his hands
over his face before resuming his
recital
Under a searching cross -examina-
ton Gellman said he had "cut
loose" from the Garssons, Henry
and Murray. and decided to employ
new counsel and go his own way
Yet he paused to pay another
tribute to Henry as an engineer
who proved the guiding genius OF
the enterprises that filled $78 900, ,0OC
worth of war contracts for the
group OF companies.
Trusted Their Judgment.
Il feel deeply Inundated" said
Gellman, commenting on Chair
man Mead's recital of the alleged
association OF Murray Carson with
such gangsters as Dutch Schultz
and Owney Madden.
Il was misled by appearances, "
the witness went on. "Everythine
looked on the up and up. I saw
DR.. Garsson's five college degrees
with my own eyes. The War De-
partment seemed to have complete
confidence in him. l trusted their
judgment"
Asked by Senator Mead what he
would have thought had he known
that some $4,000 in Erie Basin and
Batavia checks which were sent to
Freeman were taken by an at
torney named Albert Levin to be
cashed here bv "a notorious gam
bier" named Sam Beard, Mr.. Cell
man bowed his head and replied
softly:
1T would ruin my good name"
The chairman agreed that the
committees investigation had dis
closed that Gellman and Weiss. who
had been associated in manufacture
ing since 1884, had a good reputation
before they affiliated themselves
with the GarsSons.
Met May at Banquet.
Gellman denied any knowledge of
contacts which the Garssons may
have had with Representative May
as chairman of the House Military
Affairs Committee. The witness said
he knew nothing about political
influence in connection with their
war work and did not think it was
necessary.
The only time he met Mr.. Nav,
Gellman said, was when the
award OF an "E" to Batavia was
celebrated at Batavia. Ill, and at a
banquet at the Drake Hotel in
Chicago. He said Mr.. May sat on
the platform at the Batavia Armory
and addressed the banquet
Was Mr. May ever discussed In
your conversations with Dr.. Carson
Henry Garsson) p the witness was
asked.
He did not recall any time. but
added: Murray Carson may have.
Murray claimed to know everybody
important in Washington and was
always discussing his contacts. !
can't say he singled out MI. May"
Gellman was questioned close
ly about his knowledge of the Cum
berland Lumber Co., of which Henry
Carson was listed as president and
Representative May as Kentucky
agent.
The witness said Carson came
to him some time in 1874 and said
they had to have lumber and he
knew of tract they could get In
Kentucky.
$3.50 Advanced.
Erie Basin advanced about $33 500
for the purchase of this lumber,
Gellman recalled. Asked if Batavia
didn't advance $4,000 more. the
witness said it may have-he didn't
know.
And you never got a stick of lllm-
ber?" Senator Ferguson prompted
Il understood from DR.. Carson
the lumber was being stored for us, !"
the witness replied. Il asked him
why we didn't get the lumber. He
said it was cut green and had to dry
I asked him why it wasn't drying
at the Erie plant. He said there
wasn't room in the yards"
And you didn't get stick of lum-
ber?" pressed Senator Ferguson
Apparently not, Gellman ad-
Did you ever get any of the money
back that you advanced"
Gellman said $4,000 was paid
back About $1,000 was still due
He knew nothing of Mr. Mays con-
nection with the enterprise, he
added
Sold Stock at Profit.
It also was brought out that
Gellman put something over 100000
in the U. S. Wind-Engine and Pump
Co., subsidiary concern, and sold
it for more than 100000.
Interstate Machinery Co., another
of the parent" companies which
had groups of subsidiaries, had been
run by himself and Weiss since 1884,
Gellman said
How much did you pay for your
share in it?" asked Mr. Meader
II think around $1,000"
This company received more than
81 900 900 in war contracts.
The committee attorneys devel-
oped from the witness that some of
his subsidiary companies took sub
contracts under prime contracts let
by the Government for Erie Basin.
Batavia or Interstate Machinery.
1T appears you were subcontract-
ing to yourself" Mr.. Meader sug-
gested.
Il wouldn't say that" Cell
man replied. Those were emer-
gency cases where the subcontrac-
tor fell down or We couldn't get
any one else to do the work
Chairman Mead introduced COR
showing that 1t. Col.
Edwin F. Gallagher of the Judge