Evening star., 1929-12-21
ARLINGTON SUIT
IS LOST BY ALLEN
Trial of $3.50 Case Against
Realty Firm Marked by
Numerous Incidents.
BY a STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.

-N@NSA+NNAAS
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, December 21.-After de-
liberating 10 minutes, jury in Cir
cult Court here last night returned a
verdict for the defendant in a suit by
Robert j. Allen, former Washington
policeman, against the Brumback Real
ty Co.. of Clarendon. Allen demanded
$480 for alleged breach of contract.
In a trial punctuated by many hu-
morous incidents, employees Of the real
estate company for which Allen work
ed as a salesman for six weeks last
Summer, attacked the character of the
former policeman in proving TO the
courts satisfaction the reason for the
dismissal of Allen from the sales staff
before the expiration of the four months
which officials set as reasonable
length of time to test Aliens ability as
a salesman.
During the proceedings, which ended
shortly after Z o'clock last night, it was
testified that Allen tore up thick tele-
phone directories to demonstrate his
strength to the Office force Of the
Brumback Co, talked to bookmakerS
over the Office telephone, sang songs,
recited poetry, told funny stories and
Grated during Office hours and disrupted
the staff of the firm by his manner
Claim for Unfinished Time.
In his claim for recovery of the $3.50,
Allen said that amount represented the
difference between the sum paid hlm
for the six weeks he worked for Brum-
hack and the amount he would nave
received had he worked the full four
months. during which he was promised
a weekly drawing account OF $40 to
offset the loss of $3950 a week from
the police force during his absence
from the department.
In his direct testimony, conducted by
his attorney, Amos c. Crounse OF
Clarendon, Allen explained to the court
that he had obtained four months
leave from the force at the suggestion
of Fred A. GoSnell, representative OF
the Brumback company, when the latter
suggested that he join the company as
a salesman. He began work two DAYS
later. he said, and at the end OF SIX
weeks the company notified him OF ms
discharge through GoSnell without as
signing any reason for so doing.
Replying to the charges of State
Senator Frank l.. Ball OF CLARENDON,
member of the defense counsel, VINO
told the jury that he would prove that
Allen had "telephoned bookmakers,
urged employees of the firm to let him
place bets for them on the races, sung
and Dragged before employees Of the
firm until the BrumbaCk company, IN
its own defense, was forced to get RID
of him" Allen admitted that on two oc-
casionS he had placed bets for woman
employe in a Clarendon lunch room.
II sang some Irish songs about the
Office, but no one ever complained ne
said. "They may have been bad, but
no one ever said So
Hard Work and No Sales.
Questioned concerning his sale of
property during his term of employ
ment by the Brumback company, Allen
said he had made no sales. Il can hon
that l never worked so hard in my
life. 1 did not have any luck in MAX
ing sales, but I showed the properties
to a thousand prospects" He later ad-
mitted this figure was exaggerated When
croSs-eXamined.
James E. Chinn, a reporter for The
Evening Star, testified that Gosnel had
approached Allen and suggested that
the latter come with Brumback last
May, when Chinn and Allen were in
specting a model home near the re-
porter's residence in Lyon Village.
Chinn said that Gosnell mentioned that
he was sure ne could arrange to obtain
Allen a $40 weekly drawing account to
be charged against his commissions and
proposed that he obtain leave from the
police force for three or four months to
try his hand at selling real estate.
Tried TO Sell Him Lot.
Chinn was not permitted to say
whether Allen ever entered the employ
ment of the Brumback company, but
did state that Allen on several occasions
tried to sell him a lot and that he had
also observed Allen showing a house to
a prospect.
Allan r. Harrison of the Brumback
Office force opened the attack on Allen
and told the court that Allen used the
telephone TO telephone bets and call
women, one OF whom he said Allen
called MARY"
When recalled 10 the stand later In
the afternoon Allen said that Mary was
woman To whom he had been trying
20 sell house. lie said he had called
her at least 100 times
Allen then volunteered the iniorma-
tion that he had almost sold the house
to iho woman hut she changed her
mind phcr she made second insree-
ton ~ the place and aot 'chlggrra IN
her leEf
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