Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-18
PORTER COMMENTS.
Declares s. J. Henry Asked Permission
10 Share Papers ON Farm.

Declares .. j. Henry ASKED permission
10 Share Papers on Farm.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BROOKVILLE, Md, November 1S.-
For nearly three months this year
nearly a score of trunks containing
papers believed to belong to the F. H
Smith Co., in Washington, reposed in
shed on the farm OF j. Rucker Porter,
near here, and were removed only fol-
lowing Mr.. Porter's continued question
ing of the officials and employees of the
company.
Mr.. Porter said today that he was not
certain as to the number OF metal
trunks which were deposited in his shed.
but the driver of the van informed him
that the whole shipment weighed about
two tons. The driver told him this
when Mr.. Porter suggested that the
trunks be put on some rafters in the
out of the way, but when told OF their
weight he directed that they be placed
In the rear of the structure.
A Federal investigator OF the De-
partment of Justice, MIR. Porter said,
called upon hinA twice within the last
couple of wceAB and questioned him
regarding the storage of the trunks.
The second time that he came the
investigator brought stenographer and
took full statement Of the circum-
stances surrounding the depositing and
removal Of the papers.
Says Henry Sought Him.
Samuel ]. Henry, president of the
F. H. Smith Co., and personal friend
and fellow huntsman of Mr.. Porters,
sought out the latter in the early
Spring, Porter said. Porter declared
that at that time he was engaged in
assisting in cleaning up the debris as
a result of the tornado which swept the
country on the vicinity of Laytonsville'
Mr. Henry, according to Mr.. Porter,
told him that he did not want to take
him away from his work, but asked If
he could place some papers in Porters
barn.
Mr.. Porter said that he informed Mr.
Henry that he would be glad to &C.
commodate him, but that the barn
could not be used. He told him he had
a shed near his dwelling which he
would be glad to let him use for this
purpose. Mr.. Henry, Porter said, was
particularly insistent that there was nc
possibility of water leaking onto the
papers.
A few days later, Porter continued, 9
small truck appeared, containing the
| trunks. Porter said that the shipment
was much larger than he anticipated
| The truck was driven by man Mr.
Porter said had been an employe OF
the Smith Co. for number of years.
It was the subsequent actions of thu
driver that caused any suspicion in the
| mind of Mr.. Porter, the latter said.
Only a day or two after the trunks
| had been delivered, Mr.. Porter said
| the driver came to the farm and sought
| him out in the field where he wa!
working. According to Mr.. Porter, HI
asked him il any one had been there
| trying to see the papers. Mr.. Porter
said he told him that he had not seer
any one, but asked the colored man al
| that time why they should be worried
| about them and told him to tell the
r. H. Smith Co. officials that If there
was anything in them that was likel!
| to involve him (Porter) in any trouble
he wanted them removed. The driVel
insisted, he said, that there was moth.
ing there which would get Mr.. Portel
into trouble. He said that they made
! several subsequent visits to ascertain
| II the trunks were intact.
Denies knowledge of Contents.
Mr.. Porter said that he again saw
| Mr.. Henry at the Bradley Farms horse
, show in May and told him at tha
| time of his fears and asked him Il
remove them. He said that few day
later the same truck came out to hi
farm and took the papers.
Mr.. Porter said that he told every,
thing to the Federal investigator, bu
added that he knew nothing of tht
contents OF the trunks nor how many
there were, as he did not examine then
while on his place He said that III
had always been a close personal frient
of Mr.. Henry.