Evening star., 1928-12-17
designations Are Accepted
Because of Publicity Given
to Case.
CHARGES ARE DENIED
IN REPORTS TO COURT
Statements Blame Liquor Allega-
tions on Protests Made After
Arrests for Speeding.

The designations of Edward c.
Crouch and Two other members of the
District grand jury who were in an auto
mobile driven by Crouch when he was
arrested and charged with driving while
drunk. while returning from the last
at OcccQuan were accepted this after
noon by Chief Justice Walter 1. Mccoy
of the District Supreme Court.
In submitting their designations the
Jurors said they wished to relieve the
other members of the jury and the
court of any embarrassment which
might result from the publicity given
the affair
The resigning members besides
Cr&uch were William H. Ontrich, 1923
Connecticut avenue, and Carl w.
Schmidt of 801 Rittenhouse street. All
thre9 denied they had been drinking
or were under the influence of liquor
December 6, when the inspection tour
took place.
Statements Submitted.
A statement from each of the three
men together with collective state
ment from the other jurors, was sub
mitted to Chief Justice Mccoy by Fore
man James Mothershead after court
convened this afternoon.
In commenting on the written
designations, Chief Justice Mccoy said
that IN view of the publicity given the
affair he deemed it advisable to accept
all three designations.
After their arrest by Fairfax County
police, all three of the men were taken
before magistrate at Accotink. The
magistrate, however, refused to make
any charge against Mr.. Schmidt. Mr..
Ontrich paid an S18 fine when he was
charged with intoxication, while MIR.
Crouch was released under $500 bond
on charges of reckless driving, driving
while intoxicated and speeding.
Hearings Suspended.
The grand jury suspended all hear
ings this morning to investigate the
case, which was revealed yesterday in
The Star, reaching its decision shortly
after o'clock this afternoon Mr..
MotherShead said he was surprised
and shocked by the revelations in The
Stars story and insisted that the other
members of the grand jury knew abso-
lutely nothing of the occurrence until
the details we're published.
1t is not believed that the with.
Qrawal of the three members will !,
any way affect previous actions take
by the grand jury.
CrOuch's Statement.
The statement submitted by Croucl,
follows:
I drove my automobile from wash
lngton to Lorton and returned. In IL
were Mr.. Schmidt and Mr.. Ontrich.
We left Washington about 1880 am.
finished our inspection about O'Clock
ana started on the return trip. On the
road near Accotink we were stopped bv
Virginia police officer who accused ns
OF speeding. was in a state of poor
nervous health at the time and lost
my temper at the officers charge and
engaged in heated controversy with
hlm. He thereupon charged me with
reckless driving and with driving while
under the influence of liquor in addi-
tlon to the speeding charge. We were
taken Defors magistrate in Accotink
ana IN the discussion Ontrich expressed
Indignation at the charges being plac.d
against me and he was thereuDo,1
charged with intoxication and. to end
tne matter, paid the fine. which was SI8.
positively state that none of us three
men was intoxicated or under the in
nuence OF liquor on that day.
While protesting my innocence of
any misconduct on the occasion re-
tered to, / nevertheless at this time Of
fer to resign as member of the grand
Jury II such action is deemed expe-
dent or will in any way relieve the
other members of any embarrassment.
Mr.. Schmidt submitted the following
report. closely paralleling that of Mr..
Crouch:
MIR. Ontrich and I rode in Mr..
Cr0uchS automobile We arrived af
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