Evening star., 1930-03-25
AND STAFF
CALLED BY JURY
Manager and Directors of
Rockville Independent, Sum-
moned in County Probe.
Nv q staff Correspondent of The star.

By q STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, March 26.-The
managing editor and 13 directors Of
the Rockville, Independent were called
before the grand jury today to intro
duce evidence they may have in sup
port Of charges allegedly published In
the newspaper that some Montgomery
County officials have handled county
funds In an irregular manner.
The purpose of the grand jury's in
curry is to establish the truth or fa1sity
of the published allegations. If the
charges are substantiated indictments
may be returned against certain ON
cials. If the evidence presented does
not support the charges the jury has
been asked to indict for criminal libel
the persons responsible for their pub
lication.
Jury Held Competent.
The inquiry was opened yesterday
after Judge Robert 3. Peter decided the
present grand jury was legally COM
petent to conduct the examination.
F. Barnard Welsh. attorney for the
Independent, however, contends that
any action the grand jury might take
would be illegal because E. Brooks Lee,
county Democratic leader, and members
of the county board of commissioners
we're permitted to appear before the
Jury last Wednesday. He also alleges
that the personnel of the Jury does not
conform to the standards set by law.
All of his objections. however, were
overruled by Judge Peter yesterday.
The first witness called when the
probe began was Capt. Joseph 3. Eis-
sci, COUNSEL to the board Of commits
sionerS. Capt. CiSSel, who was in the
jury room for three hours, is understood
to have been questioned IN great detail
concerning the official actions Of the
group he represents.
The only other witness yesterday was
Berry e. Clark, clerk to the county
commissioners. He was questioned ap-
proximately is minutes.
Nothing to Conceal.
''I had nothing to conceal" Mr.. Clark
said on leaving the jury room, and
me by the members of the jury"
The jury today heard w. S. Casey,
managing editor Of the Independent,
and the following directors:
Mrs. Parker Weller, Miss Vivian 3.
Simpson, George E. Bonifant, Mrs.
Thomas D. Grifith, Edward Peter, P.
Ray Souder, Edward P. Able, DR.. Bates
EtchiSon, Joseph F. Whalen, E. Barrett
Prettyman, Eugene H. McLachlen and
Enos c. Keys. Harrison B. French, a
former member of the board Of direc-
tors, also was questioned.
Having been furnished with marked
copies Of issues of the Independent
containing articles which county offi-
cials say are false, it is believed the jury
questioned the managing editor and
directors as to the source of and avail
ability Of data tending to support each
particular story.
Summonses were issued last night for
two former managing editors Of the
Independent, Morris A. Bealle and
Walter W. Liggett, who recently testi-
fled before the House judiciary COM
mittee during the hearings on prohibt-
ton. Neither of the witnesses appeared,
it being understood that Bealle was sick
and Liggett out of the jurisdiction.
The grand jury probe is being closely
followed by voters in the county, who
feel that in a sense it will determine the
relative fitness Of the regular Democrats
in power and the opposition group
known as the "antis"