Evening star., 1949-09-01

uany, I certainly am sorry" the
Senator said.
Before the five-percenter in
quiry recessed today. Columnist
Drew Pearson was called to the
stand at his own request to cor
rect any impression" given in yes
terday's testimony that he was
prosecuting Gen. Vaughan and
was responsible for the FBI in
vestigation of the military aide.
Col. c. j. Mara. Gen. Vaughan S
assistant, testified yesterday that
Gen. Vaughan was investigated
and cleared by the FBI on charges
by "a member of the press" that
he tried to "fix" an income tax
case. Col. Mara said Mr.. Pearson
prosecuted Gen. Vaughan, but he
did not say Mr.. Pearson was re-
sponsible for the investigation.
Jury Bribe Case.
Mr.. Pearson said the case Col.
Mara was referring to was really
a jury bribe case.
He said w. T. Burton of New
Orleans, whom he identified as a
great friend of William Helis,
wealthy race stable owner, was
twice tried on charges of income
tax fraud with hung pury both
times and that subsequently he
was convicted of jury bribing.
MIR. Pearson said there was a
"lot of maneuvering" to prevent
Mr.. Burton's conviction in the
bribe charge and there Gen.
Vaughan's interest came in.
Mr.. Pearson said he happened
to be in the Office of Judge James
McGranery. then assistant to the
Attorney General in 1916, when
Gen. Vaughan telephoned Judge
McGranery and tried to intervene
in the Burton case.
Questioning Cut OFF.
Subsequently, in November or
December of 1916, Mr.. Pearson
went on, ,rumorsE cropped up in
Louisiana that large contributions
had been made to the Democratic
primary in Kansas City to pre-
vent the conviction of Burton.
Mr.. Pearson said he asked the
FBI whether the investigation of
the Kansas City irregularities also
included campaign contributions
reportedly given to Gen. Vaughan.
Several weeks later, Mr.. Pear
son said, Edward Tamm, now q
District Court Judge and then
with the FBI, told him the FBI
was investigating Gen. Vaughan
Mr.. Pearson said he got the i'm
preston from Judge Tamm that
the investigation was based on
the Louisiana rumors.
Senator Mundt started ques-
tioning Mr.. Pearson about Mr..
Helis, but was finally cut off by
Senator Hoey, who pointed out
that the committee had agreed
to hear Mr.. Pearson only about
what the columnist considered
Misrepresentation at yesterdays
hearing.
At the end Of yesterdays hear
ing, Chairman Hoey told reporters
the committee has investigated
everything that we have any
basis for" on Gen. Vaughan's &C.
tivities, but the chairman added
"Of course, other things might
develop"
Leads to Be Checked.
Senator Mundt, Republican. ot
South Dakota, said he believed al.
leads should be checked by COM
mittee investigators to separate
the chaff Of gossip from the wheat
of fact. He said it was entirely
possible" some of the witnesses
will be requested to return to the
stand.
do you mean Gen. Vaughan
the Senator was asked.
That's possible" he acknowl-
edged.
Senator Mccarthy had predicted
Gen. Vaughan would be leased
out" of his White House job with
in two months.
Senator Mundt said the Presi-
dent should be the judge of the
standards of propriety he expects
from his military aide and whether
Gen. Vaughan lives up to those
standards.
Seeks Link to Distillers.
Through two days of question
ing, Gen. Vaughan was constantly
being asked to explain his deal
ings with Mr.. Maragon, a man.
about Washington who now faces
possible perjury and income tax
evasion charges.
Senator Mccarthy said he is
still trying to find out whether
Gen. Vaughan was ever investi-
gated by the FBI for allegedly
putting pressure on the Agricul-
ture Department to get more grain
for whisky makers.
Senator McCarthy's apology to-
day for enormously involving the
Schenley company came after the
company issued a statement say
ing Gen. Vaughan never made
any inquiry, for us and was never
paid by us, nor asked to do any,
thing for us on grain or any other
matter"
Campaign Gift Admitted
Some Of the surprises un-
corked by Senator Mccarthy dur
ing yesterdays questioning also
brought reaction from those men
toned.
Senator Mccarthy drew from
Gen. Vaughan an admission that
he accepted a political contribu-
ton from AN attorney who had
S~ =.