Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-20
Sentences of Pitts, AnadaIe
and Edwards Held Up Pend
ing Defense Motions.
THREE FOUND GUILTY
ON ALL FOUR COUNTS
Convicted Men Surprised by Ver-
dict Returned by Jury After
Few Hours.

Convicted of conspiracy to embezzle
S., 900 900 from the F. H. Smith Co. and
to destroy discriminating records, three
former officers of the corporation occu-
pied a cell in District Jail today while
their attorneys planned to appeal the
case.
The guilty verdict was returned in
District Supreme Court last night
against G.. Bryan Pitts. former chair
man of the Smith Co. BOARD of direc-
tors, and c. Ebert Anadale and John H
Edwards, jr., former vice presidents.
Their lawyers were the only visitors
at the District Jail today, and it was
said that they would be denied to all
other visitors until next Friday, the
regular visiting day.
Immediately after announcement OF
the verdict, which was returned after a
little more than four hours delibera-
ton, Justice William Hitz ordered the
defendants remanded to jail. This was
done over the protests of Defense Coun-
sci Wilton j. Lambert, who asked that
they be released under bond.
Sentence Held in Allegiance.
Justice Hitz will not impose sentence
until after the question of an appeal
has been settled. The defendants, how
ever, face possible prison terms of %
years each and $4,000 fine.
The conviction came as distinct
surprise to the three accused men, who
1aI ap6I1ift9l
while the jurors were determining their
verdict.
Pitts, described by the prosecution as
the master mind" of the conspirators,
stood with open mouth as Leroy
Vowel, jury foreman, announced, I'VE
find all of the defendants guilty on all
four counts of the indictment" Re-
moving his glasses, he began polishing
the lenses as he scrutinized the face
Of each juror.
Edwards and Anadale appeared over.
whelmed by the verdict. Neither moved
q muscle as the clerk Of the court polled
from Attorney Lambert. sr-
After each of the jurors had affirmed
the verdict of the foreman, however, the
three convicted men walked back to
the place in the room where their
wives were seated, and embraced them
A few minutes later they were taken
to cell on the lower floor Of the court
house.
Spent Night in Jail.
They we're joined there by their wives
and other relatives. Farewells were
said in few minutes and the prisoners
then were removed in private cars, &C
companied by deputy marshals, to the
jail.
They spent last night in a double
cell, equipped with canvas hunks. This
morning they ate breakfast with the
other prisoners.
On his way to the Jail, Edwards told
reporters: II know my wife will stand
up, but I am afraid this will be g
terrible shock for my mother. 1 will
take it the best l can Pitts anc
Afiadale would make no comment.
During the trial attorneys for the
defendants secured approximately &c
exceptions to rulings by Justice Hitz
1t is on these exceptions that theii
try for an appeal will be based. One
attorney said habeas corpus proceed
ings might be instituted to secure the
release of the men from Jail.
The conviction last night marked the
elimination of long investigation OF
the affairs Of the Smith Co. by the
Department of Justice and United
States attorneys Office.
Rise Was Meteoric.
It also at least temporarily halted
the meteoric rise of Pitts in the flnan-
cial world. Son of railroad conduc-
tor, he began life as a clerk, but in
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