Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-24
EX-SMITH CO. MEN
PREPARED TO SPEND
CHRISTMAS IN JAIL
Edwards Begins Sentence,
Reduced From Four Years
to Three by Court.
BAIL DENIED TWO MEN
WHO WAIT ON APPEALS
Pitts and Anadale Separated From
Former Companion, for Whom
Parole Will Be Sought.

Three former officers of the F. H.
Smith Co., convicted on conspiracy
embezzlement charges, were prepared
today to spend their Christmas in JAIL
one commencing sentence ana the
others awaiting an appeal.
John H. Edwards, jr., former vice
president of the company, is serving
the first day of tfree-year sentence
imposed by Justice William Hitz In
District Supreme Court yesterday.
The others, G. Bryan Pitts, former
chairman of the board, and G. Eioert
Anadale. former vice president, nave
appealed their convictions. They were
refused bond and must stay in jail untn
the case can reach the higher court
pitts was sentenced to serve IA years
and Anadale 8 years.
Will Be Taken to LOrtOn.
Edwards was originally sentenced 10
serve four years, but one year was cut
from the penalty when he decided hot
tn anneal his case. He will be taken
to the reformatory at Lorton FRIDAY
and put to work in one OF the prison
= His sudden change of heart with
regard to an appeal after sentence nae
been imposed gave rise to reports ILi ia
he would appear as GovernmenC VIII
ness in the trials of other charges
Aendinq against Smith company OIL
ciaIS Among these are an indictment
charging Pitts with embezzling approx
mately 81 zoo, 600 from the Smith COM
many and a mail fraud conspiracy IN,
dictrnent against Pitts, Anadale, Samuei
7 Henry. Daniel r. Crissinger, Freezer
ick N. Zihlman and H. G. MaoouX.
Edwards also was indicted on inns
charge. ,.,a,t nod
been noted by counsel for the three men,
hui, Edwards later informed Justce
Hit he had changed his mind on this
matter He was taken to the JUDGES
chambers Yesterday afternoon and, a1ter
4, prolonged discussion, his sentence was
cut.
viii Have Separate Cell.
col william L. Peake, superintendent
of the Jail. said Edwards had not peen
,1laced in the same cell with the other
two men. ot4or
He will be eligible for parole after
serving one year Of his sentence, ana
IL Is believed that every effort VIII De
made to effect his release at that time.
Pail for Pitts and Anadale was Vlg-
orously opposed by the Government
prosecutors, Nugent Dooos, special as,
sistant to the Attorney General, ana
Neil Burkinshaw, assistant United States
attorney They told Justice HitZ they
were afraid the two men would leave
the Jurisdiction.
Suit Directed Against Pitts.
Meanwhile Justice Frederick L. Sid
dons of the District Supreme Court
today directed Herbert l.. DAVIS ana
Charles w. Arth, receivers OF the Jener-
son Apartments, at Sixteenth and M
A6treets, to bring suit against Pitts 70
4 Recover rent for a 21-room apartment
occupied by Pitts from April l. 1874
to April l, 1880.
The receivers made report to the
court last month, setting forth an
alleged Indebtedness of Pitts for the
spacious apartment, for which he owed
rental of $3.50 per month and which
for the six years has exceeded 100000
Pitts. it is claimed, is also responsible
I for the rent due on two other apart
ments occupied by Anthony SeneS, his
former bodyguard, and by Miss Helen
Schneider, his secretary, in the same
building.
Henry Application Denied.
The District Court of Appeals has
denied the application Of Samuel j..
Henry, former president Of the F. H.
Smith Co., for a mandamus to compel
Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat OF the
District Supreme Court to permit him
to file a supersedeas bond which would
have stayed the execution of the order
of the chief justice removing Henry
from the position of trustee under a
bond issue secured on the Cedric
Apartments.
Chief Justice Wheat had deferred
signing an order removing Henry from
trusteeship In bond issues on three other
apartments, the Tivoli, Al-Roy and
Stanley Arms Apartments. But when the
appellate court denied the mandamus,
he signed the orders and also refused
the application Of Attorney Harry s..
Barger for supersedeas bonds pending
appeals in all four cases to the Court
Of Appeals.