Evening star., 1952-09-05
|CoudIe SoysH Hopes Regain
Good Name at House Inquiry
Former Justice Aide
Recalled for More
Questioning Today
By George Beveridee

| Questioning Today
By George Beveridge
| A "fervent hope" that he car
regain some of the lost public con.
fidence in his name is the reason
for Theron Lamar Caudle's return
to Washington.
The drawling. 48-year -old North
Carolinian was called behind
closed doors today for a second
session with the House subcom.
mittee investigating the Justice
Department. Chairman Chelf saic
he already has given the probers
new leads on "every conceivable
type of case"
Mr.. Caudle left the Official
Washington scene last November
Is. fired by President Truman as
head Of the Justice Department.
Tax Division. In the days follow
ing he made headlines as key
figure in the tax-scandal hearings
run by Representative King, Dem.
ocrat, Of California.
Mr.. Caudle wouldn't comment
on what he had said to the sub
committee. But he told re-
porter about the Chelf groups
Invitation" and why he accepted
Incentive for Testifying.
IT fervently hope they can cleal
up some Of the bad impression.
about me-" he said. THAT was
the incentive for me to come. AnC
couldn't afford not to. I couldn't
let any one say I feared to come
II want the Chelf committee tx
ask me any questions they car
about anything I have ever done
and any one I ever saw.
Because, Lord, if I couldn't
convince one committee I want tt
convince another"
The King committee traced Mr.
Caudle's part in numerous ques.
tionable tax matters. But the
ex-oficial still insists his recorc
of handling the Governments ta5
cases "is impervious."
Viewed Hearing as Challenge.
A graying. blue-eyed 6-footer
Mr.. Caudle said he had looked
forward to the King hearings "as
a challenge was so proud OF
my record I didn't know what
to do"
"You don't get into trouble fol-
prosecuting cases." he went on
Its the ones you don't prosecute
that get you into trouble. So, for
about six months. ! had every tax
case we had not prosecuted re-
viewed and reviewed and reviewed
mot a single case kicked back
Not a one."
What damned him. he believes
was the testimony about his "out-
side activities" and his almost un-
believable affinity for friendships
with people in tax troubles. He
said he knows my dialect" and
his emotional outbursts also made
him a natural for newspaper copy
Then there's my memory. My
wife often told me it was too good
When was asked question ]
would go into everything I could
think Of. The only defense I had
was to try to convince people
was telling the truth"
Mr.. Caudle mentioned some OF
the "outside activities" aired by
the King committee. and he
ratified off details. as if the testi-
mony had taken place yesterday
He indicated he is anxious to GO
into just as much detail with the
Chelf group.
Mr.. Caudle said his face got so
well known early this year he
could "feel peoples eyes following
L4C W11CACfC1 i WCut. 11C Odku 1l6
could tell what they were think
ling.
He also 'lost a few close
friends" he said. who blamed
later troubles they had on as
lsociations with him.
But "the hardest blow" he said,
was a remark President Truman
made after the custer. The re-
mark was that he had had his
eyes on Mr.. Caudle and would
have fired him even if the King
committee hadn't come along.
Mr.. Caudle wouldn't elaborate.
But he indicated all the evidence
he had was to the contrary.
Staunch Truman Backer.
And he recalled that during the
1913 campaign, he had been one
of the staunchest Truman sup