Evening star., 1951-10-05
Mccarthy Faces Quiz Today Report He Threatened Main Pearson
By w. H. Shippen

yesterday AFTERNOON.
The Senator probably will be
asked if he threatened to
shoot" or main" Mr.. Pear
son. as charged by the column
ist yesterday in his deposition
concerning his $5.1 million dam
age suit against Senator Nc
Carthy and others.
Mr.. Pearson described the
threats while answering ques-
tionS for three hours about his
assault charges against the Sen
ator, his radio income, his rep
utation in the light of various
descriptions of him as a liar"
his staff employees and his state
ments about the late James
Forrestal, first Defense Secre-
tary.
In turn. the Senator will be
quizZed for the second time
within the week by Attorney
William A. Roberts, represent
ing Mr.. Pearson. The brunt of
Mr.. Pearson's interrogation was
carried yesterday by the Sena-
tors counsel, Attorney Edward
B. Williams, while the Senator
sat within 10 feet of his &C
cuSer.
What information do you
have" Mr.. Williams asked, "as
to your charge that Senator
Mccarthy assaulted you at a
dinner party in the Sulgrave
Club December -, in further
ance of scheme to ruin you
in a business way?"
Heard of a Plan
I'm April, 1880" Mr.. Pearson
replied. Il learned Mccarthy
had discussed with others a plan
to beat me up. break my arm or
MAIN me for life. He had
pointed out to others that he
studied ju-jitsu in the Marine
Corps and learned how to break
a mans ankle or arm.
He had considered the idea
OF shooting me. but thought it
would be much better to injure
me physically. Later, In May,
1850. he came to me at the
Gridiron dinner, put his hand
on my arm, and said, Some day
I'm going to get a hold on you
and really break your arm I
didn't know if he was joking
or not.
Il learned of the first CONVEX
sation the day after it happened.
Mccarthy had spoken before
the Society of Newspaper Edi-
tors, I believe, at a meeting in
the Hotel Statler. A friend,
Joseph B. Keenan,, a former as
sistant to the Attorney General
of the United States. told me
about it." Mr.. Pearson added
Mr.. keenan, is now practicing
law in Washington.
Says keenan, Heard Threats.
He said Mr.. keenan, explained
he was in the group when the
threats were made.
You were told the Senator said
he would shoot you?"
mo. He said Mccarthy said
it would be far more effective
If he could do me some physical
What did you do as a re-
suit?
Il told Mr.. Keenan, I was not
worried. I didn't think Nc
Carthy would do anything like
that. But Mr.. keenan, seemed
very worried.
He said he would talk to the
FBI and get me some protec-
ton"
Did he?"
Il don't know"
Mr.. Pearson said the attack
on him at the Sulgrave Club, in
which he says he was kicked and
beaten, concerned me most be-
cause of the public reaction"
He pointed out there is "mor-
ais clause" on radio contracts,
requiring your conduct to be
such as not to reflect on your
sponsor.
Il knew, if I came back at
him, I was gone as far as the
of the sponsors and the
public was concerned. I spared
with the idea of whether I
should just come back at him or
take it-and 1 just took it
1t was the publicity from the
act which had very serious re-
percussions. j"
Loss of Contract Charged.
How were you injured in
your business?"
II lost a prospective televi-
sion contract and my radio
sponsor. TeleviSion negotia-
tions were in the hands of the
Gray Advertising Agency of
New York. Their agent came
to see me on December 13 and
said he had two TV sponsors
in prospect"
The witness said that, after
the Senator attacked him in a
speech on the floor on Decem-
ber Is. he was informed it
would be very difficult to sell
him to a TV sponsor.
He added, under questioning,
that the Adams Hat Co. ter
minated his radio program at
about that time.
WAS that because of pub
licity attending the ASSAULT"
well, the contract was not
renewed" Mr.. Pearson ad-
mitted he had received a con-
tract termination notice prior
to the incidents, but this was
merely routine" to bring up
discussion for a renewal. He
continued: