Evening star., 1949-08-19
Probers Voin|y Seek Morogon Customs File
Continued From First Page)

public at the same time. Gen
vaughan's representative, sale
Senator Hoey, then informed thu
committee the general did not
want the group to release the
testimony.
Three Men Questioned.
The following main points were
developed in the closed session
questioning of Albert J. Gross
Milwaukee manufacturer of tht
freezers; Robert j. Quirk. a sup
plier for the Gross firm, ane
Harry Hoffman, a Milwaukee ad'
vertising man who said he OBJ
tanned the freezers from tn.
Albert Verley Co.
The perfume company, which
paid for the freezers that went Il
Gen. Vaughan and others in 1874!
and early 1916. was able to sene
Mr.. Maragon and two others tt
Paris by plane in July, 1945, wher
such travel was unusually dif1icul
TO arrange.
Mr.. Maragon tried to bring per
fune essence into the United
States on his return trip.
Not Factory Rejects.
Both Mr.. Gross and Mr.. Hoff
man testified the seven freezer
that went to Gen. Vaughan, a.
well as to Mrs. Harry Truman a
the Little White House in Inde
pendence. Mo-, and others were
not factory rejects" or expert
mental models. Gen. Vaughan
stated last Saturday that Mr.
Hoffman told him the freezer
were experimental models anc
had no commercial value.
Mr.. Hoffman denied he o.
David Bennett, president Of tn,
perfume company, asked or OBJ
tanned any consideration" OF
favors in exchange for sending
the freezers. He explained Mr.
Bennett ordered the freezers anc
paid for then without the
knowledge of the people who re-
ceived them" and that he "jus,
wanted to do it,"
The Milwaukee advertising
man, who described himself as q
long time friend Of Gen. Vaughan
admitted that his first move after
arriving in Washington last Sun
day was to visit Gen. Vaughan at
the White House.
II dropped in at the White
House yesterday afternoon" he
said in response to a question by
Senator Mccarthy, Republican, Of
Wisconsin. at the Monday session
II was with Gen. Vaughan for
about an hour" . -. -
"Was he at all interested in
what you were going to testify to
today?" Senator Mccarthy asked
Obviously" the witness
answered.
Reason for Gifts Sought.
Senators Mccarthy and Mundt
commented at length on what
they apparently regarded aS a
possible connection between the
freezer gifts and the European
plane journey Of Mr.. Maragon
along with Mr.. Hoffman at about
the same period. 81.
81 am still looking around. you
zee, for a reason why Mr.. Bennett
might be interested in giving deep
freezers to Harry Vaughan" "
Senator Mundt told Mr.. Hoffman.
KNOWING something about the
extreme difficulty that American
businessmen encountered at that
particular juncture in history to
get to Paris at all. and the extreme
difficulty Of getting the A. T. c.
TO carry them. 1t seems to me that
the mystery is gradually clarifying
itself in my mind and that you
acted with considerable wisdom,
perhaps, in suggesting to Mr.. Ben
nett that 1t would not be a bad
idea to drop a deep freeze into
Gen. Vaughan's possession, be-
cause If anyone could fix it up for
you to go to Europe it would be
Harry Vaughan. :. That is about
what took place, and you know 1t
and I know it,"
Denies Asking Help.
We'll" the witness replied. y
never talked to Gen. Vaughan
about getting any help for getting
into Europe"
THAT is about what your menta,
reaction was: I am going to call
up Mr.. Bennett and say maybe
they can send an icebox.'" the
Senator persisted.
II cannot say that actuated me,
Mr.. Hoffman said.
Mr.. Hoffman testified he. Mr.
Maragon and a New York lawyer
named Emmett King made theil
flying trip to Europe with $4,000
In cash and $50,oo0 in a letter oi
credit in their pockets.
Mr.. Rogers asked him if he had
any difficulty getting passports
He said he could not recall any
difficulty.
Mr.. Rogers-How did you travel
over?
Mr.. Hoffman-Air Transport
Command.
Mr.. Rogers-Who made the ar
rangements with the ATC?
Mr.. Hoffman-Mr. Maragon.
Mr.. Rogers-Did you not have
any difficulty getting on ATC at
that time?
Mr.. Hoffman, was not aware
Of any.
Paid Fare in Cash.
He added. under questioning
that the three men paid thei
fare in cash before they left.
Senator Mccarthy referred par
tIcularly to the return trip. whel
Mr.. Maragon repeatedly attempte'