Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-04
WARDMAN REFUSES
TO PRODUCE FIRMS
BOOKS AT HEARING
Would Constitute "Unreason-
able Search" He Tells
Blaine Subcommittee.
MAJ.LEE AND HEWITT TELL
OF LAND LE\e0NTRACT
Say They Received Down Payment
and Installment on Lots Sold in
Country Club Park.

Harry Wardman, for many years
the leading figure in the construction
field in Washington, today refused to
produce before the Blaine Subcommit-
tee of the Senate books and records
OF the Wardman Corporation which had
been subject Of Senate subpoena and
after a brief colloquy with the chair
man of the committee was warned he
would be recalled later for testimony
and asked to sign waiver of immunity.
This development occurred at the
very outset of the new series of hear
ings started this morning by the sub
committee headed by Senator Blaine,
which has been empowered to continue
its investigations of conditions in the
real estate Aand realty securities fields
here.
After Wardman had read prepared
statement saying he declined to produce
the records demanded because he was
advised 1t would constitute ''unreason-
able search" the committee turned its
attention TO affairs of the Country Club
park section, north of Silver Spring, and
questioned members of the promoting
organization.
Denies Control Over Books.
Mr.. Wardman and a number of his
associates appeared at the committee
room after Senator Blaine had read
Q partial list of subpoenaed witnesses,
and on his arrival the committee chair
man Immediately asked him II he had
produced the records of various corpo-
rations with which Wardman has
been connected. Wardman, frequently
prompted by his counsel, Judge Daniel
Thew Wright, stated that he had no
control over and did not have pos
session Of books or records of the Ward
man Realty & Construction Co., the
Wardman Real Estate Properties, Inc,
or the Wardman Real Estate Invest
ment Co.
To queries by Senator Blaine con-
corning who did have possession Ward
man responded he did not know, ex-
cept in the case Of the investment con-
Germ, the books Of which, he said, were
in possession Of Henry Robb.
When questioned as to why he had
not produced the books Of the Ward
man Mortgage & Discount Corpora
ton, Mr.. Wardman told the committee
these books are In the hands Of
trial court at Alexandria and had
been there for about so days.
Where are the books and records
Of the Wardman Corporation2" asked
Senator Blaine.
In our ONCE" responds wsrdman.
Why didn't you produce tl1em2"
Senator Blaine demanded.
Statement Read to Committee.
Turning TO his counsel, Wardman
asked II he should read to the COM
mittee the prepared statement, and
when Judge Wright aSsented Wardman
made the following statement:
II am advised by counsel that this
demand for the production of books,
records and documents, If complied
with, would constitute an unreasonable
search. which Is prohibited by those
parts Of the Federal Constitution and
the laws Of the land which protect
against unreasonable searches ana
seizures which would violate the rights
ers, which it Is the duty of corporate
officers to protect. respectfully de-
cline the production demanded"
Warned by Chairman.
AS Senator Blaine sought again to
determine just where books OF the
other corporations are located at this
JuA1Es ANU % w dA 4EHC6JCNAy Sc10
he did not know, Senator Blaine de-
clared:
'You are not under oath at this
time, Mr.. Wardman, but want to
warn you that you will be recalled at
a later date to testify under oath and
TO tell you that what you say now may
confront you at that time. When
you are again called before this COM
mittee you also will be asked TO sign
q waiver Of immunity"
Wardman told the committee that
he was no longer connected with sew
eral Of his former organizations and
therefore could not state who had pos
session Of their books, with the excep-
ton Of his own discount corporation
and the (Wardman Corporation, Of
which he still Is the head.
Appearing with Wardman were
Thomas p. Bones. Meredith M. Daubin,
(Continued on Page q Column g.