Legislative Testimony

la tueir Saturday's issue the Evening Xews in severa] places referred to the testimony of Mr. Beal while before the Legislative investigating committee as being acconipanied by a flood of tears. One of their editorials ran as follows: Yesterdav Mr. Rice A. Beal, of Ann Arbor, belng called before the investigating committee to answer a charge of having attempted to debauch certain members of the legislature.made a highly emotional speech, burst into tears, and so worked upon the teelings of the committee that the members were actually unable to sufflciently control their emotions to ask him the questions essential to bring out the facts. As far as he went he substantially confessed the charges as they have been made, and, f the committee had asked him the necessary questions the whole case would probably nave been made out. If the committee proposes to continue its work after thisfashion, ithad better adjourn at once. It was appointed to conduct an Investigation, not to enact an emotional diurna. In reply to this the same paper courteously gave place Tuesday afleruoon to the following letter: To the Editor of the Evening News : Haring something of a reputation for fighting out my battles instead of crying them out I am rather sensitivo to the charge made against me in Saturday's News of bursting into tears while a witness before the legislative committee. 1 utterly deny the charge, and so far trom the trutli is the assertioii that I attempted by this ineans to work upon the emotional feelings of the memburs and make them forget to ask necessary questions, that I announced to them previous to my going before them that I asked no favor at their hands. The best way 1 can meet your charge that if the committee had asked me the necessary questions the case would have been made out, is to afflrm to vou that if J. E. Scripps, the principal owner of The News, can think of any such question he would like to ask, or would like to have asked, and if he will appear in person before the committee, I will not fail to meet him thi-n; nt nv lm will