Evening star., 1951-03-27
Butler Aide Tells
0fDestroying
10000 Papers
Feared They Would
Damage Reputation
Of Man He Admired
By W. H. Shippen

Aoy WIN OC2loCC 11lFCoUlS dtOl D LlOW
le took it upon himself to destroy
about 100000 copies of the chal-
enged tabloid From the Record"
William Christopher of Baltimore
old the Senators he sincerely be-
ieved in Mr.. Butler and that ne
got rid of the tabloid from fear
hat it might damage the reputa-
lion of a man he admired.
I've been following campaigns
IN Maryland since I was a little
BOY on roller skates at the age of
r. Mr.. Christopher told the SUBJ
committee which is investigating
charges of irregularity brought by
The defeated Democratic candi-
date, Millard E. Tydings.
Il thought it was to MI. But
ler's best interests that I destroy
the tabloids," Mr.. Christopher
said. He explained he did this
after the November election won
by Mr.. Butler with a stable ma
jority.
Half a Million Copies Printed.
Half a million copies of the
campaign publication were print
ed by the Washington Times
Herald. The issued contained a
composite" photograph supposed
to show Mr.. Tydings in an inti-
mate conversation with Earl
Browder, former Communist
leader.
Mr.. Christopher was preceded
to the stand by his attorney. j.
Edward Adkins, jr., of Baltimore.
Mr.. Adkins told the Senators
that Mr.. Christopher had retained
him after two unknown men had
him with the request
that he discuss the Butler cam
paign with them.
Mr. Christopher got so highly
excited he couldn't work" Mr.. Ad-
kins said. 1T got to the point
where I was going to hide him
down on the Eastern Shore. He
shook. He was scared. I didn't
hide him out, however, but did
keep him down at the courthouse
for several days"
Asked to Get Into Automobile.
Mr.. Christopher said that two
men he did not know approached
him near his home after the elec-
ton and asked him to get into
their automobile to talk over the
campaign.
Mr.. Adkins testified that about
a week after the Butler hearing
started last month he received o
call from Mr.. Christopher.
HE was highly excited" the
attorney said. Mr.. Christopher
told him he had been approached
by two men and that he invited
them to come into his home. Mr..
Christopher was quoted as hav-
ing said the men replied. We
would prefer that you go out
into the car"
Mr.. Adkins said he advised his
client not to get into an automo-
bile. Il told him by no means
to go take an automobile ride"
The attorney said Mr.. Christo-
pher called him back a few
minutes lated and said the men
had left.
"A week later he called me and
said they were back again." Mr..
Adkins said. On this occasion the
attorney advised Mr.. Christopher.
he said, to tell the men he was
represented by counsel. Mr..
Christopher informed him, the
attorney said, that he heard Moth
ing further from the men after
giving them this information.
Has Opinion of Men.
II never did find out who the
men were" Mr.. Adkins said, "and
they never said who they repre-
sented."
Edward A. McDermott, subcom-
mittee counsel, stated that none
of his investigators had been seek
ing to interview Mr.. Christopher
at that time. Ralph Becker.
minority counsel, also pointed out
he had nothing to do with such
an attempt to interview Mr.
Christopher.
Mr.. Adkins said that by process
of elimination" he had formed an
opinion in his own mind as to
who the men represented.
Senator Hendrickson, Repub-
lican, of New Jersey remarked that
this is a surprise story. If we're
going to open it up let's open it
up all the way"
Senator Hennings, Democrat, of
Missouri stated he was against the
"smearing of people. I have every
feeling your conjectures will be
detrimental to the minority party
of which I am not a member"
Used His Sound Truck.
Mr.. Christopher testified that
he went to see Mr.. Butler some
three weeks before the election
and volunteered his services. He
said that he used his sound truck
to campaign for Mr.. Butler
throughout Maryland and he also