Evening star., 1923-02-13
E-PAST0R'S PLEA
IN COURT REJECTED
Motion to Strike Out Testi-
mony Recorded Against
James H. De Pue Fails.
FRAUD. BY MAIL CHARGED
Witnesses Tell Of Paying Money
for Partnerships in Civil Serv-
ice Coaching Business.

A sudden effort to have danlag ing
evidence against James II. De Pue,
FORMER pastor Of a Washington Pres
byterian church. stricken from his
trial on charges of having used the
mails to dsfraud in the promotion
or correspondence school business
failed this morning when the case
was renewed in the Supreme Court
criminal division No. ]. before Justice
Stafford.
A moment after Justice Stafford
TOOK MS seat in the court Tracy l.
1Sehords. of counsel for the accused
former pastor. asked that all testi-
Inony relating to the sale of numer-
Gus partnerships In the civil service
coaching courses be stricken from
the records and held as inadmissable
IN the future. The indictment under
"alch De Pue is being tried. spe-
clncaily alleged the frauds were sup
posed to have been committed
through the sale of partnerships in
consolidated Schools, another educa-
tiohaI venture of the defendant.
Attorneys Contention.
since the indictment did not accuse
De Pue Of fraud through the sale Of
partnerships in the civil service coach
testimony relating to that business
should not be admitted. Justice Staf-
Iord ruled that the courses De Pue
used IN both Of these businesses were
.oentical. and that therefore the testi-
inony would be admitted
The government has shown that De
rue advertised for partners in at
Ieast two educational schemes. paint
ed brilliant pictures of making the
onlted states the most learned Of ma
tlons' and extracted from 500 to $500
from his alleged victims. Nearly a
score or witnesses testified they had
given the former preacher money.
with the understanding that each was
70 nave either the sole partnership
secretaryships." Investigat tfon later
developed that De Pue had engaged
scheme ' '''' '"A'e
wanted "Partner With Capftal.,
He first attracted attention nv nd.
vertising in local newspapers for a
partner with capital" Those who
es showed. received an immediate
VISIT from the pastor. They were as
sured they would be either secretary
ana treasurer or secretary in a big
distant city; De Pue made much, it
was testified. of promising to le. the
partners" handle the money. al
though he always got a check for
from 500 to $500 in advance. it was
testified.
Harry L. Dewey, who owns a small
cigar store, took the stand this morn
ing. He described how he answered
one of De Pue's advertisements and
received call from the former pas
tor. who asked him to become a part
ner in the civil service coaching
courses. The storekeeper agreed and
signed a contract, under which he was
TO pay De Pue sum Of money and re-
ceive the courses for the purpose of
sale.
Declares He Paid Money.
Did you pay the defendant in this
courtroom any money!" asked Assist
ant United States Attorney Bilbrey,
who is conducting the prosecution.
Yes, sir" answered the witness.
Il gave him two checks, one for $3.50
and another for SIS"
Did you ever do any business un-
der the contract" asked the prose-
cutor.
NO, sir. none whatever" respond
ed the witness. 81 never saw De Pue
and never heard from him, except
once that ran into him on the street,
but j did not have an opportunity to
say anything to him.
Mr.. Dewey and other witnesses have
testified throughout the trial that
DE Pue found 1t necessary to take
frequent trips to New York, and on
several OF these he wrote to some of
advances, ostensibly to cover the ex-
penses of Inserting advertisements in
New York newspapers for the sale
Of the educational courses.
Alleges Use OF Mails.
Charles White, youthful English
man. was used by the government
to show that the eX-parson had really
used the mails in his scheme. White
told how he rented post Office box
Immediately after he hau signed a
contract to become De Pue's partner.
In conducting the business, he told
how he had used this box for the
purpose of receiving inquiries regard
ing the educational courses. 1t was
three weeks, however, after he be-
gan to receive inquiries before De
Pue gave him the necessary docu-
ments to continue the business. Not
long after this the witness said he
learned that the business was I'M
profitable and that others besides
himself mad been engaged as
'ipartnern"