Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-24
Crum Denies
He IntendedtO
Charge Bride


Senate investigators said to-
day they are confused" by
BARLEY C. Crum's action in
back-tracking from his testi-
mony against Edward Bennett
Williams. the Transfers IN
IONS top lawyer.
Mr.. Crum. a New York law
yer. sent the Senate RacketS
Committee an affidavit yester-
day denying any intent to
charge Mr.. Williams with
bribery.
"Such inference is without
any foundation whatsoever, "
Mr.. Crum said, adding that
my relations with Mr.. VIII
liams throughout the pro-
tracted litigation have been
conducted on the highest pro-
fessional level and in the best
tradition Of the legal pro-
fession." -....
Mr.. Crum has been trying to
collect disputed fees for his
client, Godfrey P. Schmidt,
from the Transfers. Mr..
Schmidt, a New York lawyer
resigned last month as a
member of the board of moni-
tors assigned to police the
union.
Last Talk With williams
During Mr.. Crum's testimony
before the Rackets Committee
July 10, the following exchange
took place:
Mr.. Crum: I think my
last talk was with Mr.. Williams
on Thursday of last week.
Committee Counsel Robert F.
Kennedy: What took place at
that meeting?
Mr.. Crum: Mr.. williams and
I had lunch together and Mr..
Williams told me that Mr..
Schmidt's fees as monitor
would be paid by Friday if
did not appear as a witness
before this committee.
In his affidavit Mr.. Crum
told the committee mo infer
ence should be drawn from the
conversation that the nom
appearance of af1iant before
the committee was a con-
dition precedent to the pay
ment of Mr.. Schmidt's fees as
monitor" He went on to swear
that it is wrong to interpret his
testimony as implying that Mr..
Williams had ''in effect" offered
him a "bribe."
Doesn't Clarity Position
Mr.. Crum's affidavit did not
in so many words retract the
quoted testimony. Contacted
by phone in New York, he die
not clarity his position.
Mr.. Williams reiterated his
own sworn testimony to the
committee that the purportec
conversation never took place
that Mr.. Crum's testimony was
absolutely, completely, un.
eCuivocally false" Another
witness corroborated Mr.. Viii.
liams' testimony that the con.
versation did not occur.
Declaring himself pretty ex.
asperated," Mr.. Williams told q
reporter, Il don't care what
Crum'S explanation is" He said
he considered Mr.. Crum's af-
fidavit "hiS way to retracting.'
Committee Chairman McClel-
Ian, Democrat of Arkansas, hac
referred the conflicting testi-
mony of July Is to the Justice
Department for consideration Of
perjury prosecution. He >ex-
pressed no opinion on who was
telling the truth.
Senator Mcclellan declined
comment on Mr.. Crum'S affi.
davit. Another committee
source said the whole matter
is confusing and doesn't make
sense"
Yesterdays AFFIDAVIT was
Mr.. Crum's third written re.
treat from his testimony
Earlier he sent the committee
two letters correcting Other
points of testimony or attempt
ing to withdraw implications
Among other things, he sale
it was inaccurate" for him
to convey the impression thai
James r. Hoffa, president Of
the Transfers, had conveyed
a reprisal threat to him
through Sidney Baron, a public
relations man for Carmine
DeSapio, the New York polit-
ical leader.