Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-18
False Pretenses in Sale of
House Alleged by Fed
eraI EmpIoye.
OPERATOR is EXCUSED
FROM SENATE HEARING
Refuses to Waive Immunity From
Prosecution to Testify for
Blaine's Investigation.

Charged with making false pretenses
in the sale Of house to a Govern.
ment employe, Jacob Shapiro, president
OF the Joseph Shapiro Co., Inc, into
whose real estate operations the Sem
ate District subcommittee has started
investigations, surrendered voluntarily
to the United States attorney today
and was released on $4,000 bond.
Shapiro presented himself earlier In
the day to Mr.. Rover when the United
States attorney, acting on the complaint
of Walter S. Frisbie of 1918 irving
street, had warrant sworn ont before
Commissioner Needham C. Turnage.
Refuses to Waive Immunity.
The real estate. operator, when called
as a witness before Senator Blaines
subcommittee yesterday, had refused to
sign waiver of immunity from prose-
cution IN court. He declined on the
advice Of counsel, he told the chairman.
Senator Blaine excused him, being un-
willing to let him testify under the cir
clmstances.
There may be another department of
the Government which viii intervene in
this matter" he said, land it may be
defeated in its purpose If we permitted
you TO testify without waiver Of i'm
munity."
District Attorney Rover said today
that the transaction which Mr.. Frisbie
had with Shapiro, about two years ago,
was practically identical with that AL
legged in testimony by various complain
ants before the Senate subcommittee
regarding the discovery Of hidden
mortgage" on property purchased from
Shapiro, without certificate of title.
in Frisbie's case. the hidden trust
amounted to approximately $4,000, Mr..
Rover, said.
Expects More Complaints.
The district attorney stated that
FriSbie'S was the only complaint OF
this nature his Office had received in
volving the Shapiro firm or any other
real estate firm in the city.
But I anticipate food of similar
complaints tomorrow he added.
For this reason, Mr.. Rover explained,
he deemed it advisable to ask for bond
in the amount of $4,000.
Commissioner Turnage set Shapiro's
hearing for August 5. The real estate
operator appeared at the Commission
er's Office in the company of his at
torney, Alvin L. Newmyer, when it was
known that the warrant had been is
sued. It was sworn out by r. r. Cam
alier. an assistant United States at
torney, at the direction of Rover.
Shapiro at once furnished bond through
Milton S. Kronheim, professional bonds
man.
The warrant charges that Shapiro
falsely represented to Frisbie, purchaser
of the house at 1718 Irving street, that
the property was clear of all encum-
brances except $4,000. He concealed,
1t was charged. the existence of sec
ond lien of approximately $4,000.
Rover charges that Shapiro had been
making payments on this second lien,
and, consequently, the amount OF the
false pretense as charged in the war
rant, involved only about $500.
Frisbie Not Senate Witness.
The District Attorney revealed that
Frisbie, who is employed in the, De-
partment of Agriculture, had made the
complaint several days before the Sen
ate District subcommittee met yester-
day. The complainant was not one OF
the witnesses before the committee,
however.
I'VE have had rumors of the exist
ence of such cases." Rover said, but
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