Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-15
IN FAIRFAX
CLEARED IN CHARGE
States Attorney Fails to Find
Irregularities in Arrest
of Official.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX, Va, October 15.-Com-
monwealth's Attorney Wilson M. Farr
yesterday held hearing to investigate
charges brought by w. z. Carson, presi-
dent of the Riverton Lime Co. and
chairman of the Virginia Conservation
and Development Commission, against
members of Fairfax County's traffic
force for alleged irregularities. These
charges were dismissed as result Of
the hearing.
On June % Miss Judith Braxton Nc
CURE, daughter of DR.. Hunter MCGUIRE
of winchester, and Lieut.. Julian Lind
say Of Fort Omaha, Nebr., passed
through Fairfax en- route from Win
chester to Washington. About a mile
and a half west of Fairfax they were
stopped by an ofncer in uniform: who
charged them with speeding, and told
them that If they wished to leave $40
with him he would allow them to pro-
coed without the formality Of going to
court. This they did, but received no
receipt or other official paper, they de-
clared.
Car In Accident.
Last July Mr.. CArson's car, driven by
H. B. Harnsberger of Washington, with
Mr.. Carson as a passenger, was in an
accident on the Little River pike near
Fairfax. The car was damaged, the cul-
vert at the entrance to the Burke road
smashed, Mr. Carson's nose injured and
a car full of colored people which was
In the act of turning into the Burke
road narrowly escaped. Harnsberger
was charged with reckless driving by
Capt. Haywood Durrer when he arrived
on the scene, and at subsequent trial
was fined $14 and costs, from which de-
c;sion Carson at first appealed to the
Circuit Court. The fine was later paid
and the appeal withdrawn.
Mr.. Carson was indignant at having
been detained and his driver arrested
and made numerous Charges through
the Richmond and Virginia press against
Fairfax County road officials, which
charges were later withdrawn.
Among other statements, he wrote to
James Hayes, commissioner Of motor
vehicles of Virginia, that the character
Of Fairfax County's road officers was
demonstrated by the fact that an Of
ficer of Fairfax County had stopped
Miss MCGUIRE and had evidently
pocketed the fee instead Of turning 1t
in to county authorities.
Unable to Identify OfIicer.
Commonwealth Attorney Farr, upon
receipt of a copy Of this letter, had
photographs of Fairfax County's trafic
officers sent to Miss Mcclure for identi-
flcation. AS this proved unsuccessful, a
hearing was held in his office yesterday
morning and Miss MCGUIRE was con-
fronted with all the members Of the
traffic force Of the county, all the
deputy sheriffs and the town sergeant
of Falls Church. Miss MCGUIRE stated
that none of these men was the Of
ficer who arrested her, whom she de-
scribed as q man with black hair, with
a scar on his face. The matter has
now been referred to Mr.. Hayes for
further investigation among members
of the State traffic Office and Fairfax
Countys road force cleared Of any sus-
picion of improper conduct.
All members of Fairfax County's traf-
fic force are required to make out dup
licate records Of fines and fees paid by
motorists arrested for trafic violations,
one copy being given as a receipt and
one filed in the ONCE Of the chief OF
the road police.