Evening star., 1962-08-23
By CECIL HOLLAND
Star Staff Writer

today he regarded threats
made by Billie Sol Estes in
efforts to stop an investigation
of his cotton allotment deals
as lust big talk"
For this reason, the former
Agriculture Department Off
cial told Senate investigators
he did not pass on a report of
the incident to his superiors.
But Mr.. Jacobs. who was
asked to resign from the de-
partment because of the Billie
Sol Estes case, insisted that
the matter was discussed in
formally in the department.
He said he had talked about
it with at least two officials,
General Counsel John C. Bag
well and Charles M. Cox, who
was his assistant in the depart
ment. Mr.. Bagwell has teSti-
fled he knew nothing about
the threats until a later date.
The matter was touched on
as Mr.. Jacobs began what
promised to be lengthy testi-
mony about his connections
with the indicted Pecos CTexO
operator and actions taken in
the department regarding cot
ton allotmentS for Estes and
others.
Threats Made to Deputy
The threats were voiced by
Estes when he and his attor-
ney, John Dennison, visited the
department last october 18 anc
conferred with Wilson Tucker
deputy chief Of the Cotton Di-
vision. Mr.. Tucker reported the
occurrence to Mr.. Jacobs on the
same day and arranged for the
meeting, which took place or
October 19 with Estes Mr.. Den.
nison and Mr.. Jacobs.
The threats were to the eff.
feet, Mr.. Jacobs, said thai
Estes would fly 38 to 40 people
into Washington, set up an of.
flee and start a publicity cam.
paign to show how this admin.
istration was abusing Estes anC
other farmers"
This was more than three
months after the Agriculture
Department has ordered a full
field investigation of the Este:
cotton allotmentS.
WAS this a threat to smear
the Administrations" askec
Chairman Mcclellan, Democrat
Of Arkansas.
1T never occurred to me al
that time" Mr.. Jacobs replied
Didn't Hear Threats
He said the threats were moi
repeated to me-" He described
Estes as "agitated and con-
cerned and imploring."
Mr.. Jacobs said Estes COM
planned the investigation was
doing tremendous harm to his
reputation. He said the Pecos
operator wanted it called of
and promised, We'll give you
all the information you need
q. You don't have to send
out shoppers" Mr.. Jacobs testi-
fled he told Estes it would be
a mistake to stop the investi-
cation, even if that could be
done.
He added that he told Estes
that. if it were stopped, every
body would be suspect"
Mr.. Jacobs said he did moi
question Estes about the threats
and at the time did not feel il
was his duty to do so.
IF I was wrong, 1 stand CEN
sured for it," Mr.. Jacobs said
Earlier, the witness testified
he believed there was a break
down in Agriculture Depart
ment procedures in handling
the cotton allotment problem.
The former official said he
did not have full responsibility
in the department for the cot
ton allotment transfers but
shared these with other Off.
cialS.
He added that he had some
opinions about whether the cot.
ton allotment transfers of Este.
and others should have beer
approved and said Il held then
honestly"
Views Unchanged
Going back, Mr.. Jacobs said
his views would not be changed
If the same circumstances pre-
vailed today.
Mr.. Jacobs has been por.
trayed as advocating, while il
the department, that the in
dicted Pecos (Tex0 operator
should have been allowed Il
retain his disputed cotton al
lotmentS.
The question involved, th'