Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-17
M|STR|AL
IN PANTAGES CASE
Minister Ordered to Tell Court
How He Learned Jury Is
Already. "Hung."
BY the Associated Pre-.

BY the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, September 17.--Trial
of Mrs. Alexander Pantages orSa second
degree murder charge, growing cut OF
an automobile collision. In which Juro
Rokumoto. Japanese, was killed, faced
the prospect of temporary delay today
while Superior Judge Carlos S. Hardy
investigated charges made by Rev. Rob-
ert Shuyler, militant pastor here, that
the jury in the case already had been
hung"
Mrs. Pantages, wife of the theatrical
magnate. who is at liberty under bond,
facing charge of criminally assault
ing young dancer. is accused OF drlv-
ing her automobile into Rokumoto's
car while she was intoxicated. Defense
witnesses have testified Rokumoto turn
ed his car into the path of Mrs. Pan
tages' machine without warning. Henry
Lee, rancher, said the Japanese made
a left-hand turn without signaling ana
added that Mrs. Pantages' heavy car
demolished the smaller vehicle. Other
witnesses sought to identify Lee as the
driver of mystery car" that some
said forced Mrs. Pantages' automobile
to the left side of the street..
Breakfasts Charge.
Taking cogni1ance of asserted charges
that hung" jury was certain. Judge
Hardy ordered Shuler to appear in court
today with letters and records upon
which. the minister said, he partly based
his allegations. Shuler made his accu-
sationS in a radio speech Sunday night
and he repeated them in part late yes
terday before a committee composed oil
three members Of the Bar Association.
Shuler said he had not charged jury
tampering or corruption and insisted his
~
formation he maintained reached him
from an unknown source. Shuler said
his unknown informant claimed one of
the jurors had questionable attitude
toward liquor and women. Other intor-
nation Shuler attributed to another
minister, the Rev. Gustav Briegler, who
has been attending the trial daily.
A hint of bribery was thrown into
the proceedings yesterday by Chief
Prosecutor James P. Costello, who in
formed the court he would call as a
witness Jack B. Yellin, who, Costello
asserted, had acted as an intermediary
! to arrange meeting between Alexander
Pantages, husband of the defendant,
and John Conterno, defense witness.
The prosecutor quoted Yellin as saying
Conterno intimated plenty of dough"
might follow his aid. Conterno, recalled
to the stand, admitted knowing Yellin,
DuC QenleQ meetings WIN MIN 10 al
range an interview with Pantages.
Blames Lee for Accident.
Testifying for the defense. Mrs. Alyce
Campbell, Beverly Hills, society woman,
said Henry Lee, who was called pre-
viously. was responsible for the accident.
Lee, she said, passed her own car on
the right, scraping a fender, and then
crossed ahead of her. forcing Mrs. Pan
tages' machine to the left side of the
street Lee denied this.
Carmen Pantages, daughter OF the
defendant, denied her mother was in
toxicated when the fatal accident &C.
Cured John Considine, fiance of Miss
Pantages, made similar statement.
Should investigation of Shuler's
charges be delayed today, the defense
will continue with presentation of its
evidence. Calling of Yellin to tell of
the purported Pantages interview also
was considered probable. Attorneys de-
clined to state whether Mrs. Pantages
would be called to the stand, but it was
assumed she would not be asked to tes-
tify. The case is expected to 60 to the
jury by the end of the week.