San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-19
CONSPIRACY
CASE To JURY
FRIDAY NOON
Witness Testifies That
Crank Case Found in
Junk Pile.
THREE ON TRIAL,
StinsoaF Field Mechanics and
Soldier Charged With
Theft.
THREE ON TRIAL

AT the conclusion of two and one
half hours of argument Friday morn
ing, the airplane engine parts theft
conspiracy case, which has been on
trial since last Wednesday, went into
the hands of the jury Friday noon.
This case, in which it is charged
that Girplane engine parts and tools
were stolen from Brooks Field and
converted into private use in connec-
ton with the building of an airplane
owned by Edward Holmes at Stinson
Field. has. ~ its unusual nature, at
tractsd many Interested auditors.
liquidation of sworn statement
which he admitted he had signed i'll
the office of \. ". Crandall, spe-
cial agent Of the bureau of investi-
garion OF the Department of Justice.
was made by Charles Il. jackson, a
sergeant at Brooks Field. when he
took the witness stand in his own be-
half during the trial Thursday after
noon. Although having admitted that
he made the statement, he swore
Thursday that parts of the statement
were untrue.
Jackson. together with Holmes and
Leon j. Ofstad. a mechanic at Stin-
son Field, are defendants in the ease.
All defendants took the stand Thurs
day afternoon.
Had Borrowed Tools.
Jackson testified from the witness
stand that Agent Crandall and Sergt.
Paul w. Barker of Brooks Field had
promised him immunity if he would
come across" This statement was
fatty contradicted by Agent Crandall
and Sergeant Barker, who volunteered
the explanation that they were always
very careful not TO offer Il person
making a statement immunity from
prosecution, inasnuch rs n statement
made under those circumstances would
not be of any value when the case \
should come to trial.
BY testimony brought out by the |,
defense they endeavored 10 sho! that |
the policy OF the government was 10 J
cooperate in anything that would pro-
1note commercial flying. They cndeav-
ored to show that it was customary
for civilian flyers TO borrow tools and
parts. from government aviation fields.
Jackson upon the stand testified that
he Ind brought tools from Brooks
Field 10 Stinson Field for the purpose
al adjusting and regulating motor
10 be assembled for plane Holmes
was building. He testified that ON
one occa SION he brought n number of
tools from Brooks Field to StinSnn 4
Iield and that he had returned a nun. i,
Der of the Tools tire same day. Be-
cause he did not finish the job he
was working on, however, he left n
number of tools at Stinson Field until
the next day. During the meantime.
however, Department of Justice agents
had visited the field and seized the
fools.
| Got Ii in Junk Pile.
| jackson testified that the crank
Ease and crank shaft mentioned in
The indictment in the list of alleged
eovenment parts and tools found AT
Stinson Field, had Jeen taken by him
from a pile of Junk at Brooks Field
Vher he WIS first stationed there. He
thought that the parts had been sold ,
TO civilians who had failed to remove
them from The field. Upon this pre- ,
sumption he placed the crank case
and crank shaft on rafters above the
section of the shop at Brooks Field
over which he nad charge.
Holmes. who took the stanu follow ,
ing Jackson. testified that he had pur- :
chased the crank shaft and crank case
from Jackson. who said that he owned :,
them. His testimony regarding tools
found ut Stinson Field was IDENTICAL
with the testimony o.. red by Jack
son. Other tools and accessories found
in his foot locker. he testified. was 6
,ither part of his equipment that he
mad failed to turn in after he had
eft Kelly Field Certain instruments,
Il testified. he had brought with him
rom the University of Michigan. In !,
;frumeuts not otherwise accounted for, q
u testified he had purchased. u
One and one-half days have been I
.ons ,med in hearing testimony in the o
.ase. The defense rested late Thurs Il
Law afternoon.