Evening Star Newspaper, March 18, 1924, Page 4

Avers Daugherty lHoldridge Report Informed Burns DAUGHERTY CLAIMS BLACKMAIL EFFORT Says Roxie Stinson Tried to Sell Papers and Her Silence ! to Him for $150,000. l l OFFERS TO PROVE CHARGE§ Asks Senate Committee to Call Wit- nesses He Names. Attorney General Daugherty yes- terduy attacked his accusers in a letter to Chairman Brookhart of the investigating committes. The At- torney General said that he would | prove by James W. Holcomb, Samuelt Ungerlcider and Henry T. Ellis of Cleveland, and his brother, M. S.} Daugherty of Washington Court House, Ohio, that the prosecution’s star witness, Roxle Stinson, divorced wifo of Jess W. Smith, has offered to tum over her papers and documents ) for $150,000, and leave the country, and that when that was refused she offered to take $50,000, Fotiations, the Attorney d he would prove by lh&" men he named and whom he i o, the Genera ed, sought the mweeting, which culminated with « conforence be- tween Mr. Ungerleider, Miss Stinson and Fink. Threst to Sell Papers. When Ungerleider, speaking for himself and ‘the others, declinad to | enter into the negotiations, the At- lorney General said his witnesses would prove, Miss Stinson and Fink {oinounced {helr purpose to go_to New York aud sell the papers and documents to others. i o Attorney General's letter to n Brookhart follow: . Chairman, Gentlemen of the Committee “We some time ago requested the m issuance of subvoenas for . Holcomb, 9400 Euclid avent Iand. Ohio; Samuel Ungerleide; :r News building, Cleveland, Bl Teve Washington Court mittee advised hat o statement of what we ex- °d to prove by our witnesses must mpany the request for subpoenas. omplying with that rule, we al- lege on information and belief that said witnesses, if called, will testif: that on the 21st day of February, 1924, Roxje Stinson, divorced wife of Jess' W. Smith, deceased, and A. L. Fink of Buffalo, N. Y., were in Cleveland and had a conference with the above- named witn th the 18th da; of February > Stinson and A. L_Fink reg Hollen den Hotel in Cle the name of A. L they occupied roo said hotel: that the next morning they paid their bill and departed from the Hollenden Hotel, Roxie Stinson going to_the tatler in Cleveland and A. L. F' ng to the Cleveland Hotel in Cleve- = lan acting as agent for represented to_the that_the said Roxie Stinson was at the Statler Hotel and had letters and documentary evidence which would be greatly embarrassing to H. M. Dangherty If given to the public at time: that the said Roxie Stinson wag ready and willing to sell said documentary evidence and her silence to the Attorney General for $150,000, and wenld deliver documents to the above-named witnesses and leay the country. 50 that they could not subpoened to testify in any in- Yextizal on that might be had of the Department of Justice at Washington. In Case of Refux “That, if the above named witneses ‘would not purchase for the Attorney General this evidence for $150000, Fink and Roxie Stinson were going to New York to sell said evidence to other persons. “That the above witnesses were i» conference with the said Fink, act ing as such agent for the said Roxic Stinson for several hours. That the sald Fink said he was a married mar and stopped at the Hollenden Hote #ald Roxie Stinson and registered un- er the name A P ame room with him. “The witnesses will also testify that later, during a conference, =ald ¥Fink, acting as said agent for ixie Stinson, dropped her price for aid documentary evidence and her silence from $150.000 to $50,000. greeing to deliver the said documen: Threatened Jail For Movie Display While the enate investigators ' were continulmg their examination into the Dempsey-Carpentier fight film charges, Attorney General Daugberty today made public a letter from John P. Harris, a Pitts- burgh theatrical man, who said “as an act of simple justice” he wantad to recall an Interview he had with Mr. Daugherty about ex- hibitian of the Dempsey-Firpo pic- tures.” “In weply to my question,” said the letiler, “as to the view the At- torney General's department took on these questions, you sai ““There is only dne way these or any other prize fight pictures may be tran:ported for exhibition.” *How! is that? I asked. | “‘By repeal of the federal law t Dprohibiting their _transportation,’ you responded. ‘Furthermore, the government will prosecute any one who transports them and will ask for puni:thment, not by fine, by impri; SPELLACY DISCLAIMS i FIGHT MOVIE DISCUSSION: By the.Associafrd Press, SCHENEC'TADY, N. Y., March 18— Thomas G. Spellacy, former Depart- ment of Justice agent, declared last night he could not recall having been present when' 1d O. Holdridge and | Jap Muma dlscussed distribution of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight filfs, , as_testified by Holdridge before a | Senate iuvest lgating committee T know Ja p Muma,” Spellacy said. | e been i'm hisx apartment on dif- ferent oceasious, 1 used to stop there o make social calls. 1 have been there with Mr. Holdridge, but T do not remember Mr. Muma ever having dis- cussed the Carpentier fight picture If he had anything to do with them, 1 know nothing about it.” Spellacy, previous to his connection with the Department of Justice, was a member of the Schenectady fire de- partment, later was made a captain, and at one time was president of the {nternational F fremen’s Union. tary evidence t the said parties and | leave the country so she could not be compelled ti testify in any hear- ing at any investigation of the De- partment of Jastice. Cemference in Room. “The above witnesses will testify that they advised Mr. Fink, acting as s agent; for Roxie Stinson, that they would not pay her on behalf of the Attorn(y General, or for any one else, anything for her alleged evi- dence, the sum demanded, or anyl otber sum. During that said con- ference, the said A. L. Fink, acting as said agent and representative of Roxle Stinson, made three trips to her_room at the Statler Hotel to confer with her and reported back each time tb the conference. at the said A. L. Fink, as said agent for IRoxle one of the above witne: James W. Holcomb, room of sai id Fink and Roxie in the Statler he and the said Roxie Stinson came to Cleweland for the purpose of sell ing the silence of the said Roxie Stinson and sald alleged documen M. Daugherty for a ion as hereinfore set forth. “We have,the honor to remain, Respectfully_yours, 1. M. DAUGHERTY. “Ry Pawd Howlind and George E. Chamberlain, counsel. S %1 tion, PINDLER 607 12th St. N.W.-M. 2704 Of Muma’s Story of Film Scheme Holdridge's detalled report to Burns, wbich he sald was. sent to ‘Washington by registered mail from Cleveland about June 27, 1922, began with a recital of the circular order regarding the fight films issued from the Justice Department in November, 1921, and went on to say that Hol- dridge “Immedia'tely took up the mat- ter through a confidential informant.” It was added that before a report had been made Holdridge was called to Waterbury on another matter. With Spellacy, * Holdridge went to New York city to remain overnight. “On arriving in New Yo Hol- dridge’s report continued, “Spellacy proposed that we call on a friend of whom he had told very often—Mr. Jap Muma, Hotel Ansonia. He called jup Mr. Muma on his private wire and received an invitation to_come right up. We proceeded to Mr. Muma's rooms on the thirtdenth floor of the Ansonia, where I was introduced to Mr. Muma as the agent in charge of Albany. Inquired of Agent. During the conversation which fol- lowed Mr. Muma usked me if I was acquainted with & secret mervice man or a special agent of the Department of Justice with an odd foreign name, working out of the New York office. 1 mentioned the three or four names (Speliacy having informed me of Muma’s long acquaintance with the Attorney Geueral and with the director), but none of the names seemed to fit. I made some joking remark about Mr. Muma’'s intorest in the man, and he replied: ‘Well, he has been around to see a friend of mine a couple of | times—and TI'm wondering if he is looking for a shake-down.’ He did not mention why his friend should expect or have to stand for a ‘shake- | down’ and the wubject was dropped. We left quite late and I went to Waterbury the next morning. After returning to Albany 1 was preparing @ report on the Dempsey-Carpentier fight film conspiracy and happened to mention the case to Spellacy. He in- | formed me in some excitement that the man at the head of the whole thing was Jup Muma. 1 took him to a quiet place and listened to the whole story. Meations Navarro. “Tt seems that morning I left for Waterbury Spellacy called up Mr. Muma in regard to a tentative ap- pointment they had been talking about the night before. On Muma's invitation we went up to the hotel and had breakfast with him. Mr. Muma explained that on account of my being present the night before he had not cared to mention the name of the secret service man or Depart- ment of Justice agent whom he had inquired about; that the man's name was Navarre; that he had called on one of his partners, Fred Quimby, two or three times and was begin- ning to ask a lot of questions that made them feel uneasy. “He then went on to tell Spellacy the whole story of the Dempsey-Car- pentier fight ~ films transportation om state to state. * ¢ llacy it was a fine mess—'dyna- mite'—that Mr. Muma wax apt te find himself in serious trouble at any Spellacy again referred to the ance between the Attorney Mr. Burns and Mr. Also to the fact that Mr. was chief business representa- of Mr. Edw friend of the President, etc., etc. sald he would have a talk with Mr. Muma as goon as possible. Story Told by Muma. “A short time after this conversa- while we were in New York, ¥ made an appeintment with . Muma and we went up to his apartment at the Ansonia. 1 brought | up the subject of the fight films with | Mr. Muma * * * and remarked that ! it was rather fortucate that Spellacy had happened to let me know who “'On or about July 4, 1921, Mr. Muma sat down, and, in the presence of Spellacy, gave me the following information about July 4, 1921, weon or Mr. lean and Press all and Deliver Ladies’ Suits $1.50 --teapot dome ~ Stock For Sale —right now, such an announcement would leave moast of our minds in a muddle —just as the great number of cars shown and claims made during the last week have left the average automobile buyer more or less confused —but it’s really quite easy to decide the car you want to own —you need no Senate committee to solve this problem —come in today and drive a STUDEBAKER —ijust drive it; there’s your amswer. " Terma! Cooperation! Service! As for 72 Years. Joseph McReyno Commercial Aute and Selling satisfactory transpertatiom Supply Ce. in ‘Washingten for 35 years. 14th Street at R. Potomac 1631 1 told | Muma (acting on arrangements pre- viously made) left New York for ‘Washington, carrying with him films of the Dempsey-Carpentier prize fight. On arrival at Washington he went out to’Friendship, the McLean home, where he rfreshed himself and hen went to the McLean town house. The President and the members of he cabinet were there with their ‘amilies; a number of the ambassa- lors, Mr. and Harry New and many other senators and representa- sives Discussen Fight Films. “ ‘After the pictures had becn shown, Mr.'Muma had a talk with the Attor- ney General about the pictures, and esident, Mr. Hughes, Mr. New Christian joining the group, the discussion became general. The consensus of opinion was that the law which prevented people all over the country from seeing such pictures | ¥as originally made against the Jef- fries-Johnson fight to prevent the humiliation of the white race by such an exhibition as a negro beating a white man, “‘Later, talking with the Attorney General, Mr. Muma was informed by Mr. Daugherty that the crime, under the federal statutes, lay in the trans- portation of the films. In coneluding the conversation, Mr. Daugherty sug- gested that Muma take the matter up with Mr. Albert R. Urion, Munsey bullding, Washington. (Reférring to {Mr. Urion having opened an office in Washington right after March 4, 1921, Mr. Muma spoke of the many years of friendship between Mr. Daugherty and Mr. Urion; referred to incidents and periods in connection with the alleged friendship.) Mr. Daugherty remarked: “If you put this lacross, you ought to get a big cut— {not less than 50 per cent.™ Conference With Urion. ““Mr. Muma took the matter up with i Mr. Urion, representing Tex Rickard and several others, reached an under- standing, received instructions, and {procecded to carry out the plan of operation. An important part of the !plan included the use of Mr. Muma's great influence in both the republi- can and democratic party, and with {the press of the gountry of all politi- cal denominations. As a part of its most essential details, the plan re- iquired definite “understandings” with the United States attorneys or their | assistants, who would come into con- tact with the men who, as arranged, would go from one state to another jwith the films, or act as the “goat” for the transportation feature. formation on Judges. “In addition to finding out just where they would stand as to the prosecuting officers in the federal dis- trict, one to each state where the en- terprise was to be operated, it was | necessary to get a line on the atti- ture of the federal judge in each of such jurisdictions, to anticipate and provide for what he might do if the 1 ~Murco”’ the case came before him. (Mr. Muma said that in one jurisdiction the fed- eral judge stated his hostile position in such emphatic terms that the plan was given up as to that state.) ““The enterprise was operating with it success and very fite when Agent Navarro came along and started in to ask many embarrassing questions of Fred Quimby, the New York ‘goat’ After his talk with Mr. Spellacy about Navarro and on learn- ing from him that it was a serious matter, Mr. Muma decided to go to ‘Washington and see what éould be done to stop the investigation. On arriving in Washington he called on his newspaper owner, Mr. Edward McLean, and opened the conversation by telling him that he (Mr. Muma) was headed right for the Atlanta penitentiary. He told Mr. McLean Jjust how matters stood, and remark- ed, among other things: ‘Fine! Jap Muma, general manager of the M Lean newspapers—personal friend of the Attorney General—old acquain- tance of President Harding—call him Warren; calls me Jap—Fine! On my way to Atlanta as a conspirator! The master mine Told Story to Burns. “After listening to Jap's story, Mi MecLean got in touch with Mr. Daug| erty, who, in turn, referred the ma ter to Mr. Buvns. Acting under i structions from Mr. McLean, Mr. Mu- ma called on the director at his office at the Department of Justice and £ave him an account of the matter in general and his own participation in particular. Mr. Muma brought his confession (as he related it to Speli- acy, and I, in much detail and with appropriate gestures) to a conclusion by standing up, tapping his chest and saying to the director: ‘Behold the master mind!" “The director (as Jap related it) was considerably riled, and among other emphatic remarks said: ‘By God! Kvery one knows everythin going on around here except me. With reference to Agent Navarro, the director told Muma that he would look after that. As to the ‘SA ter (the circular of instructions to department agents), he (the director) had never heard of ‘it before. Follow- ing this interview (which is known to the “director and. therefore, not reported in detail) the master mind asked his leave and went back to New York with an easier mind (as he pu; “Mr. Muma showed me a_contract, under the terms of which he, under the dummy name of ‘Martin, as he pointed out, received 50 per cent of the profits ‘of the enterprise _The names of Tex Rickard and F. C. Quimby also appeared as signers of the contract. Amounts Paid in Plet. “Mr. Muma also permitted a brief look at a statement showing, as he explained, amounts paid in various cities to ‘fix things’ in connection with the working out of the conspi- racy. he amount charged up for Chicago was over $35,000. Referring to the statement, Mr. 'Muma reparked that h. was pretty sure the ‘others’ were not playing fair; that a good @eal of the ‘expense’ was just ‘bunk.’ *“Other interviews with Mr. Muma followed (at which Spellacy was not present), the opportunity being pro- Stays Put Once you apply “Murco” Liquid Paint it is on for good. It will outlast and outwear any other paint you have ever used, and the whole i of its unusually long life will be affording pro- tection to your property. i “Murco” to withstand the ravages of the ele- ments that has earned for it the name of being It is the ability of Lifelong Paint “Murco” is 100% pure—lead, turpentine, linseed oil, Japan drier—thus it gives 100% service. Any quantity; every color. E. J. Murphy Co. 710 12th St. N.W. Stein-Bloch Spring Suits op Coats Are ready for your selection; tailored in thosesmartly conserv- -ative styles which are approved by well- dressed gentlemen. Moderately Priced at $ vided without‘making special trips by my having been assigned to an al- leged lottery case In Newark, N. J. “On the mext occasion 1 saw Mr. Muma, after the time above mention- ed, he’told me with great satisfaction that he had heard that Agent N: varro had been sent on a foreign as- signment. This was correct, Nayarro having been sent to Haiti, according to what some of the New York men had told me. “On another occasion (the first, when Spellacy was present) I met Mr. Albert R. Urion. who spoke of his uaintance of about rty years with the director. He suggkst- ed that if he could be of any service to me in Washington not to hesitate to call on him; if in Washington, to look him up at his offices. 'On this same occasion Mr. Muma showed me a check for something over $2,000, drawn to his_order by Fred C. Quimby, the New York man convicted and fined for the New York violation. Mr. Muma told me that Mr. Urion had been to see Quimby and had made him ‘come across’ with the check as part of his (Muma's) share from the fight pictures: that Urion was to see him again during the day and get still another check. He remarked that the others were trying to ‘hold out’ on him. He men- tioned Mr. Urion being kept on the jump; sald he had to go back and forth’ between New York, Washing- ton, Kansas City and Chicago, “According to the information given to me by Mr. Muma, the profits of the deal were very large. * ¢ * Mr. Muma stated to me that the en- terprise had succeeded in getting into twenty-one states Bureau records as of about January 15, 1922, account for only eleven states, but show one agent moving through four states— William H. Rudolph: Texas, Louis- fana. Alabama and Georgia. “The state agents for the films are still doing a nice business, so far as 1 have been able to learn while on {yarious assignments, and a tremen. dous second boom on the films is an- ticipated if another match is made between Dempsey and Carpentier for this fall. gned) “G. 0. H." PLANS SCHOOL CHANGE. Ballou to Name Committee on Cor- relating Courses. A committee will be appointed by Superintendent of Schools Frank W. Ballou, upon the recommendation of the board of high school principals, to map out a plan for the correlation of English, mathematics and business practice courses in the ninth grade of the junior high schools and the first year of the senior high schools. The high school principals discussed the proposal yesterday afternoon. served ambassador to THE TOLMAN LAUNDRY F. W. McKenzie, Mgr. 6th and C AMES W. GERARD gained de- prominence as war-time nent among wearers of IZED collars are men whose posi- “tion in social life compels particular observance of the finer considera- tions of ‘appropriate dress. bine collar comfort with individual becomingness—TOLMANIZE. LCABINET CHIEFS S ma clic? DENY FILMPARLEY Hughes Calls Testimony False—*“Viciously Untrue,” Says New. Secretary of State Hughes Postmaster General Harry S. New, both mentioned in testimony before | the Daugherty investigating com- mittee as having witnessed the Demp- sey-Carpentier fight films and after- ward discussed plans for exhibiting them, issued vigorous denials yester- day that they were involved in any conference concerning the films. Secretary Hughes' etatement lows: “The statement that I had any | discussion or couference with H Muma or anybody else at any sither at Mr. McLean's house or else Where, with regard to the fight films is absolutely false. There is not | word of truth in it Saw Pictures Here, Postmaster General New's state- ment follows: “Any statement by anybody to the effect that there ever was a confer- ence with President Harding, in which I figured, on the subject of prize fight pictures is utterly and ridiculously untrue. I was one of those present at a dinner given at Mr. McLean's residence the night follo ing the Dempsey-Carpentier fight, at which the first pictures were shown to the surprise of every guest, go far as I know. President Harding was not even there, neither was Attorney General Daugherty. If Muma was there, I have forgotten it, but neither there nor anywhere else, at any time or place, did 1 ever mention the mat- ter of exhibiting the prize fight pic- tures to Mr. Muma or to anybody else, and the story of the conference in which President Harding: Secre- tary Hughes and 1 took i wholly and viciously untrue.” —_—_— Miss Julia Marcum, aged seventy- nine years, of Williamsburg, Ky. 18 the only woman member of the Na- tional G. A.'R. A distingwished siates- man, who depends upon the starched col- lar for his dressy day- time appearance. Germany. Promi- OLMAN- Com- Sts. NW. ROUGH DRY SERVICE You will need no urging to try this service. All the flat work returned complete ready to use. Woolens and underthings are fluffed and dried. All you do is touch up the light, dainty wearing apparel. Phone Franklin 71. 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