The Washington times., 1930-06-11
HIS COUNSEL
REPUD|ATED
BYSOL.D|ER
Robert A. Allen, Ex-PoliCeman,
Fined for Contempt After
Row With States Attorney

The movement to release How
ard l.. Brewster, soldier, charged
with the murder Of Mary Baker
collapsed suddenly at the Airing.
ton county courthouse today when
Brewster repudiated his own coun.
sell.
Ex-PoIiceman Robert A. Allen
injected himself into. The case and
hired Amos c. Crounse, former
candidate for Arlington county
Commonwealth attorney, to pro
tect the interests of Brewster and
to see that he was not railroaded
into anything"
''Butted In" Is Claim
Brewster, however, told Judge
Bryan Gorden he didn't want
to have anything to do with any
one or anything in which Allen
had any connection"
Commonwealth Attorney VIII
liam C. Cloth on motion from
Crounse to arraign the defend
ant for a preliminary hearing
replied:
tT don't want to have any
one misunderstood me or think
that what am going to say
IA meant to apply to anyone
but Allen.
"Nfr. Crounse, for whom
have the greatest respect, does
not know the facts I'm this
case. Allen tried TO see Brew
ster q few days ago and when
I would not permit him TO,
said that he was representing
him.
81 asked Brewster IL this was
true and he said no, that he
didn't want to have anything
10 do with him. Allen wants
to butt i'm to this for personal
reasons.
sHe is a destroyer. He never
does anything constructive. All
0f won know what he tried to
do to Lieutenant Kelly and In
apectOr shelby, while he was
on the washington police
force. He tried to destroy
them"
''Liar," Shouts Allen
Alien who was standing in the
court room shouted:
"YOu. know you are . liar"
The court was in an uproar
as Cloth jumped up, starting to-
wards Allen and shouting:
you ret out of here. You
ret out OF this room.
Two policemen grabbed Allen
and brought him over to where
He was fined $40 for contempt
of court and apologized. Crounse
assured the court he would be
responsible for Allen, as the lat
ter did not have $40 with him.
Alien was aiso arraigned for
failure to obtain Virginia tags
for his car. The case was con-
tinued until tomorrow.
Court in Confusion.
The court was in confusion
and the baliff shouted repeatedly
for order. Judge Gordon re-
marked:
~ want this matter con-
Quoted in . legal proper man
ner."
more to Brewster. Crounse ,ex-
planned that the soldier had said
he was willing to have him as
legal counsel. Both GloG and
Judge Gordon assured Crounse
that he had acted in good faith.
Brewster seemed amused at the
tangled situation. He showed de-
cided resentment towards Allen,
who had tried to question him
on the murder in the guard room
at headquarters under the pretext
that he was an old army buddy.
AS soon as he asked him any ques-
tions about the murder Captain
Boiling, In charge Of headquarters
company, made him leave.
Allen told the court he had a
telegram from Mrs. Margaret
Tinker, of Jewett, Conn, the de-
fendant's grandmother, authoriz-
ing him to take care of Brewster's
interests.
Doesn't Want Lawyer
The upshot of today's hearing
was that Brewster can have a
lawyer when ne wants one. But
the soldier seemed to be "on
Cloths side" and showed no In
6fcation that he wanted legal
counsel.
Cloth said there is grave doubt
In his mind that Brewster IS
guilty and is holding him in case
something develops which would
corroborate his repudiated con-
fcssioI1.
1t IS pr0hlematical If Brewster's
case will 90 before the grand
Jury this session Cloth said. He
may be kept in custody until
next fall unless he retains .
lawyer to demand a preliminary
hearinS or institute habeas
esrxsas loroe~adfnas.