OIL LEASES INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 21 March 1924, Page 7

OIL LEASES INQUIRY

SOME SPECULATORS IN STOCKS UNLAWFUL EXHIBITION OF FIGHT FILMS Washington, March 19 At th’o .Senate Committee’s inquiry into the oil frauds, Hcldridgc. an exagent of the Department of Justice, testified regarding the exhibition of the Dempsey-Carpentiei; fight films by various K States against the regulations. He stated that Muma, a Japanese reporter on one of Edward McLean s papers, arranged for Mcl.ean to interview Daugherty in Minna’s behalf. Daugherty took up the matter. Muma told tbc witness that Daugherty became head of the syndicate showing the films. Re also told him that Daugherty said that there ‘ cugut io I bo a big cut in this,-’ referring to prospective profits. Muma said that Daugherty himself fixed 50 per cent, of the receipts as the share the political syndicate should get for allowing the pictures to be exhibited. Lewis Bond, an accountant of the Federal Trade Commission, testified before the Oil Committee that amongst speculators in Doheny and Sinclair s oil stocks were 11. M. Daugherty, At-torney-General, C. 13. Slemp, Secretary to President Coolidge, and Senator Curtis and Elkins. Daugherty s account was operated niKler the fictitious name of W. W. Spaeth. ’ Orr, u New York advertising agent testified that he bad often breakfasted with H. M. Daugherty and Smith, his henchman. Orr had a 20 per cent, interest in the Carpentier fight films. Ht> declared that ho made payments totalling 200.000 dollars for the release of liquor. He said that ho did not know what becainc. of the money,, except that it was for bribes to keep cases out of the law courts. He always gave such moneys to Mannington, a friend of Daugherty. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.