Evening star., 1930-12-16
IMMUNITY ISSUE
RESULTS IN DELAY
IN REALTY INQUIRY
Clarke Valves for Himself,
but Cannot Act for Com
pany, He Ayers.
LEGALITY OF RECORDS
BEING INVESTIGATED
ouestioners Face Blank Wall Until
Majority Stockholders
Sign Waiver.

N. B. Clarke, ofdcial of Country Club
Properties Co., Inc. which Is being In
vestigated by the Blaine Subcommittee
OF the Senate, signed q waiver of i'm.
munity when he took the stand to
testify ut today's hearing, but the ses.
sion was quickly ended when he said
he did not have power to waive i'm
munity for other stockholders of the
company as required by the Chairman
OF the investigating body.
senator Blaine then ruled that Clarke,
prlnclpal promoter Of the company
which has been engaged in selling lots
IN suburban section of Montgomery
county under system of giving free
iuncneS and free lectures on psychology
TO invited guests, should not be heard
until other ofdcers authorize Clarke to
ton
Clarke protested that he had waived
immunity for himself and that he did
not have power TO do so for other
stockholders, but Senator Blaine held
tnat Clarke's testimony would be use
less TO the committee, concerned with
the activities Of the company, unless
the other oflcials also waived immunity.
Leo A. Rover. United States attorney
AOt Vic DASCICC, now Is having an
audit made OF books and records OF the
company, obtained recently under sub
poena, TO determine II there has been
any violation Of laws Of the District.
Clarke, the f1rSt and only witness
called this morning, readily signed a
waiver OF immunity for himself, but
this was torn up by Chairman Blaine
when the hearing was recessed after
Clarke said he could not waive i'm
munity Tor other oflcers of the
He was warned BY Senator Blaine
before signing the paper that what he
gave IN testimony might be used against
MIN later. in possible hearings before
the District grand Jury. Clarke. how
ever, readily signed the waiver.
Under questioning by Senator Blaine
ne replied, however, that he was but a
minority stockholder In the Country
CIuD Properties Co., Inc, and did not
nave the power to sign waivers for
them or for the company.
Senator Blaine then brought out that
the stockholders had put no money into
the company, and the witness explained
that the stockholders paid for their in
terest In service to the organization.
chairman Blaine then declared he
saw no good In proceeding with the
clarke testimony unless he would get
AAOAl JULIET StOCk0OloeIB 10
waive immunity for the company as 4
whole,
Clarke protested that he had signed
personal waiver of immunity and
asked the privilege OF giving persona9I
testimony, as had q number Of COM
Plainants who were heard at the last
two hearings. 'S
Senator Blaine ruled against this. m
less Clarke obtained the waivers OF inn
munlty from other stockholders and
the company itself, declaring st do
not want this committee TO be made a
vehicle for the continuing Of your op-
erations. W
Clarke again protested that he could
produce witness for witness" for those
VINO have complained against the ac-
tiV1ties OF members Of his ornaniZation
and volunteered TO produce docu-
mentary evidence to clear the name"
OF his organization.
You can clear your name when vo,y
get authority to waive immunity on he
half Of the other officers of the com
pany" Senator Blaine responded.
Senator Carey of Wyoming. asked nv
the chairman for an opinion on this
matter, said he felt Clarke should IL
given an opportunity to testify, but he
supported the ruling by Senator Blaine
that Clarke first should get waivers of
immunity from other ofacers of the
company.