SCANDAL STORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 5

SCANDAL STORY

HARDING ADMINISTRATION AMAZING CHARGES MURDER, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION {United Preßs Association—By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright)

VANCOUVER. 22nd March

Amazing charges of murder, graft, and corruption linked in a most sensational scandal story of the Harding Administration, are'being examined by United States Attorney l-eo Rover. They appear in a book dictated by Gaston ..Means, a former Justice Department agent and an ex-convict. He purposes to tell the inside story of the deaths of several of Mr Ifarding's closest associates and the sudden deaths of Mr Harding and his physician, General Sawyer, in his Ohio home, while Mrs Harding was a guest, and of her death two months later.

Mr Rover is expected to decide on Saturday whether there is ground for grand jury action against Means or some of the persons accused in his book.

HARDING'S ALLEGED INTRIGUE

GANG THREATENS EXPOSURE

(Received 24th March, 9.30 p.m.) VANCOUVER, 22\id March.

According to the Washington correspondent of the ''Chicago Tribune," Gaston Means, declares that lie was secretly employed by Mrs Harding between 1921 and 1923 to establish the falsity of rumours of her husband's mesallianco with Nan Britton, also to discover how and where Mr Harding was losing large sums in stock speculations and frustrato the designs of several of his associates whom Means calls the "Ohio Gang," who were able to force compliance with their wishes by threat of exposure of an alleged intrigue with Nan Britton. Those connected with the gang, who seemed to command unlimited money, included Jess Smith, associate of former AttorneyGeneral Dougherty, who according to Means did not commit suicide as stated, but was killed to seal his lips. Three others died suddenly—T. B. Pelder, another of Dougherty's associates, after declaring that he would reveal the story ; John I. King, politician; and C. F. Hately, a Justice Department agent. Means adds: "The Ohio gang sold protection to bootleggers."