The Washington times., 1921-06-07
FATHER BLAMES
CHEW'S WIFE FOR
SONS DOWNFALL
Witness Testifies Parent, En-
pIoyed in Washington, Was
ignorant of Escapades.

NEW YORK. June ASKED to give
more specific financial references than
merel ythat he was an officer of the
United States army. Capt Beverly
Grayson Chew, on trial at Governors
Island for a string OF forgeries. i'm
personating of ellow-oftcers and de
sertion, told John c. Taylor. of the
Hotel Emerson. Baltimore. to go to
hell" Mr.. Taylor testified late yes
terday.
October Is. 1920, Mr.. Taylor said,
Captain Lafferty," as Chew was
known at the Emerson Hotel, placed
q check in payment of his and Mrs.
Lsfferty's" bill of s34.s5. Informed by
Mr.. Taylor that the accused would
have 10 give some reference before IL
could be accepted, 'Isfferty" wrote
~. s. army on a card and handed II
to him.
'T told him that was a very vague
sort Of reference and that he would
have to be more definite" the witness
related. ''Whereupon the captain
threw the card down on the desk, told
me 10 Go TO HE'LL picked up his bag
gage and walked out. Later" the
witness added. "the check was re-
turned marked No funds"
CLASH BETWEEN COUNSEL.
Much of the trial session was TAX
en- up by a dispute between Capt
I Thomas L. Herman, the prosecutor,
and William E. Leahy, civilian coun-
sci for the defendant over the ad-
instability OF certain testimony con-
! cerning a conversation that passed
between Capt Sherman X. Burke.
| adjutant at Camp Meade. Maryland,
and the defendants father, George
b. Chew, on December 80, 1920 Mr..
Leahy challenged the materiality of
questions piled Captain Burke by the
prosecution, contending that evidence
relating to the private life of Mrs.
Chew. named in the specifications
against her husband as his accom-
plice. had nothing whatever to do
with the question of Chew's guilt or
innocence.
Mr.. Leshy's objections were finally
ruled out.
Captain Burke said MIR. Chew, the
father, who is a Government employe
in Washington and seventy-six years
old. told him at Camp Meade, where
Captain Chew had been stationed
prior to his arrest and indictment
with his wife in Washington for
grand larceny, that he (the fsther)
was not aware at Inal liHne ot tne
difficulties in which his son was
! involved. He told Captain Burke,
however, the witness testified. that
| he was sure Mrs. Chew was respon-
sible for them.
FATHER BLAMED MRS. CHEW.
Captain Heffernnan asked the wit
ness IL at any time Mr.. Chew had
told him that the mental condition
of his son was not as II should be.
The witness replied in the negative,
adding that the father was very
emphatic in stating that his sons
misfortunes were due to his daugh-
ter-in-law.
Max Markowitz, a barber at the
Astor Hotel, another witness, testi-
fed regarding a conversation be-
tween Captain Chew, known at the
Astor then as Captain Spslding,-
one Of his customers, and himself.
This conversation, II developed at
the trial, was OF Importance only in
further Identifying the defendant as
an impersonator OF other army Of
ficers.
Others who testified today were
Herman Becker, assistant credit
manager OF Erlebacher's women's
dress goods store, Washington, and
Harry " Ostermeyer, credit man
aser OF woodward & Lothrop. wash
ington. At both places Mrs. Chew
had accounts, and at both worthless
checks had been cashed in her name