Evening star., 1949-08-25
Senators Studying
Other Help Given
Perfume Firm
HOEY DESCRIBES Maragon Per-
fume Settlement With Customs
Officials. Page AS.
By Miriom Gutenberg

oy MIRIAM Gutenberg
John Maragon was cleared for a
1945 trip to Italy after Maj. Gen.
Harry H. Vaughan. President Tru-
mans military aide. told the State
Department that the President
was personally interested in
Maragon's trip" the Senate's
'five-percenter" inquiry was told
today
A memo bearing a penciled
notation that Gen. Vaughan had
informed Mrs. Ruth B. Shipley
chief of the State Department S
passport division of the Presidents
personal interest was introduced
in evidence. It was one OF series
of communications offered to show
Gen. Vaughan's repeated favors
to his friend, Mr.. Maragon. and a
perfume company.
The perfume firm. the Albert
verley Co., is the one that donated
seven home freezers to Gen.
Vaughan and other washington
notables in 1945 and 1916.
Gen. Vaughan played as much
Of a part in today's testimony as
Mr.. Maragon, although neither
testified. Mr.. Maragon, who
listened to the testimony with
obvious interest and an occasional
smile, will be called tomorrow.
Vaughan to Testify Tuesday.
Chairman Hoey announced that
Gen. Vaughan's attorney has re-
ouested the committee to put off
his appearance until next Tuesday.
The session was highlighted by
these other developments:
/. Senator Mundt. Republican,
of South Dakota said Mr.. Mara
CONS clearance for a trip to Italy
under a classification given to
persons whose travel was author
lied by the President. probably
was without the knowledge of the
President"
2. Senator Mccarthy. Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin demanded
that the Justice Department be
called on to explain why 1t failed
to prosecute Mr.. Maragon on
charges of attempted smuggling
of perfume oils into the country.
8. Senator Hoey disclosed that
Mr.. IMaragon paid $500 for re-
turn of the confscated perfume
essence with the approval OF the
New York District Attorney and
custom officials. although the
duty was only $345.
Pauley's Name Mentioned.
4. The committee was told Gen.
Vaughan and Reparations Com
missioner Edwin w. Pauley got
Mr.. .Maragon his State Depart
ment Job on mission to observe
the Greek elections and that Mr..
Maragon was being paid by the
Verley Co. while on the State De-
partment mission.
s.. A Washington attorney.
George Chadwick, jr.. told the
committee Mr.. Maragon physically
attacked him while attempting to
recover a copy or a letter referring
to payment of a fee.
Committee agents introduced
into its records memorandum by
Gen. Vaughan. dated August 8,
1945, which said Mr.. Maragon was
interested in visiting Italy for the
Verley firm.
Authorized by President"
The memorandum contained
this penciled note in the lower left
hand corner:
70 "Col. Vaughan informed Mrs.
Shipley that the President is per-
sonally interested in Maragon's
trip to Italy-Col. s agrees that
he is l D."
It was signed JFS 8f28/45.
The military permit procedure
in effect at the time listed as 81 D"
persons whose travel is authorized
by the President"
The Senators, digging into the
question of whether there has
been improper influence in the
conduct of Government business,
have wanted to know how Mr..
Maragon and other agents of the
perfume company managed to get
passage on military transport
planes to Europe in 1945.
Committee investigators also put
into the record documentary evi-
dence to the effect that Gen
Vaughn gave a letter of intro.
duction to David Bennett, presi.
dent of the Verley company ano
an associate, to make a trip to
Europe in May, 1945. The trir
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