Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-29

is charged in an indictment returned
by the grand jury today against DIR
Francis S. Nash, meoIcal director.
United States Navy, and his wife,
Caroline r. Nash. They ARE charged
with having stored in their home.
1923 @ street northwest. a supply Of
necessaries in excess of the amount
needed for their normal use for a
period of thirty days. The value Of
the goods alleged to have been
boarded is placed in the indictment
at $1,s24.46. -.---------ss-z. ---==->-
First Hoarding Indictment.
The Indictment. the first to be re-
turned in this District for food hoard
ing. is in a single count and sets forth
that May 1. 1918. the United States
being in a state Of war with Germany,
it was essential to the national security
and defense for the successful prose-
cution of the war and for the support
and maintenance of the Army and Navy
that an adequate supply and equitable
distribution of food and foodstuffs be
maintained and that private control Of
foodstuffs locally and generally should
be prevented
So it was unlawful. the indictment
sserts. for any Individual to hoard any
food or foodstuffs in quantity in excess
of the reasonable requirements of
themselves and their dependents for
reasonable time.
1t is alleged that DIR. and Mrs. Nash
occupied a private dwelling Of three
stories and were not engaged in the
business of buying and selling food
stuffs, and only one other occupant OF
the house was dependent upon them
for food supply.
What Indictment Charges.
The indictment charges that the
two accused did "feloniously accumu-
late. hold and hoard a large quantity
of food and necessaries."
The supply said to have been found
in the Nash home is enumerated in
detail, in the indictment and aggre-
gates in value $1,924.46. The indict-
ment proceeds to characterize the
goods enumerated as neceSsaries and
the quantities as in excess of the rea-
hold Of the accused for a period Of
thirty days.
Warrants for Accused Issued.
Justice Stafford Immediately issued
bench warrants for the arrest Of the
Navy medical officer and his wife. The
United States district attorney stated
that bail in the sum Of $4,000 for each
would be demanded.
The indictments were returned un-
der section 6 of the act of August 10,
1917. relative to the national defense
q nd conservation of food and fnnd
products.
Provision Of Law.
Section provides that any person
convicted Of willfully boarding shall
be fined not to exceed 5000, or be
imprisoned for not more than two
years, or both.
Hoarding is defined under the law
as follows:
Holding, contracting or arranging
for necessaries in excess Of require
ments for domestic consumption for
a reasonable time"
First Hoarding Case in d. c.
The indictment Of DIR. Nash is the
first case of food boarding that has
been found In the District of Column
bia, and it resulted from a walk
one morning by the District food
administrator. Clarence r. Wilson
on this walk Mr.. Wilson met a
friend who told him he could tell him
where ten barrels of flour were
stored. He gave the location of a gar
age near Mr.. Wilson's Office. Mr.. Will
SON went to the garage and asked a
man who was cleaning an automobile
where the flour was.
The man told him that 1t had been
moved several days before to a gro
Gerry store on 14th street northwest.
Mr. Wilson telephoned DIR. Nash to
explain the reason for having SO
much -four. DR.. Nash came in shortly
and told Mr.. Wilson that he was hold
ing it to distribute for charitable pur-S
poses. and that he had sent six bar
rels a few days before to Philadel-
phia. He said he had sold one barrel
to the 14th street grocer and INSTRUCT
ed him to hold the remainder for dis
tribution among the poor.
Grocer Gives Information.
When Dr. Nash left Mr.. Wilson
telephoned the 14th street grocer.
When he arrived he admitted that
he was holding the flour for DR.. Nash.
and also said he had sold d.. Nash
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