Evening star., 1923-02-10
TESTIFY THEY PAID
ACCUSEOPREACHER
Half a Score of Witnesses
Give Evidence in Trial on
Fraud Charge.

Half score OF witnesses yesterday
told how they had paid sums rang
ing from sl25 to $500 for IN interest
in an alleged educational scheme
advertised by James H. De Pue, once
pastor of a prominent Presbyterian
church here, when the latter was
placed on trial before Justice Staf-
ford in the Supreme Court, Criminal
Division 1, charged with using
the mails to defraud.
1t is alleged that the former mil-
lister, through advertisements insert
ed in local newspapers, persuaded a
large number of persons to invest
money in a correspondence school
he was supposed to be organizing.
The plan, witnesses testified, was
painted as contemplating large offices
in all important cities. with high SAL
aried secretaries enthroned in each Of
flee.
Asked to Contribute $500.
Charles c. keim. who gave 10 New
York avenue northwest as his address,
testified he answered one Of these ad-
vertisements and received q call from
the former preacher. Upon being ask
cd to contribute $500 for a share in
the business keim said he declined
and that DePue then agreed to take
1875. OF this sum, the witness said
he gave DePue check for $275 and
spent nearly another 500 for adver
timements. Keim told how he actual
~ sold some of the correspondence
courses. but failed to get new sup
ply OF essential circulars after the
few DePue had given him ran out.
When Keim called at the former
clergyman's home and was told DePue
was not in, the witness said, he be-
came suspicious and watched from the
shelter of a nearby tree. A short time
later DePue emerged and Keim talk.
ed to him.
Gets Little Satisfaction.
IF you wait to get any money
out of me you'll sweat yourself to
death" Keim testified De Pue told
him when he demanded the return
of his investment.
Keim said De Pue had informed
him only six persons were to share
in the profits derived from the all
legged correspondence school. One day.
however, the witness testified. the de-
fendant accidentally dropped a note
on the parlor floor. Upon picking IL
up, keim said. he read the names OF
at least fifteen others who had bought
"secretaryships." and In all he learned
Of twenty-five such persons.
De Pue. the witness added. attempt
ed to engage him in two other enter
prises. one OF which was a newspa- =
per syndicate.
Invested $3.50 in Scheme.
10y P. Brodie. a stock salesman,
told how he invested $3.50 before he
discovered he could not make any
money out Of DePue's scheme. He
was attracted to the plan, Brodie
said, by an advertisement he read in
Washington newspaper. Similar
experiences were related by Fred
White. a lawyer, employed in the Of
flee of the Secretary of the Interior.
All of the witnesses testified DePue
dwelt upon his office as a Presby-
terian clergyman as Endorsement OF
his character. He also gave the
names OF half dozen United States
senators and one former Vice Pres
ident of the United States as ref
erences. the witnesses said. In the
course of the trial one former mem
ber OF the United States Senate came
into the courtroom, solemnly bowed
to Judge Stafford. shook hands with
Mr.. DePue and his attorney. bowed
once more to the court and departed.
The trial went over this afternoon
until next Tuesday.