Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-02
DISTRICT COURT
HAD BUSY YEAR
failing of Sinclair and Con-
viction of Fall Among Out
standing Events.

Local and national events of unusual
interest mark the review of the oper-
atoms of the District Supreme Court
during 1929. Beginning with the jail
ing of Harry F. Sinclair, millionaire Oil
magnate of New York, for contempt of
the Senate and for -tampering,
continuing with the conviction of Albert
3, Fall former Secretary of the In
terror, of accepting a bride OF 100000
from Edward L. Doheny, oil magnate
of California, in connection with the
leasing of the Elk Hill naval reserve;
the indictment of Representative Fred
erick H. Zihlman for using the mails
to defraud in connection with the oper.
atoms of the r. H. Smith Co., local
investment concern, and the indictment
of Representative Edward E. Denison,
dry advocate, for possession OF liquor;
the summoning of Senator Smith w.
Brookhart of Iowa to tell grand jury
about an alleged wet party attended by
Senators and others of prominence and
the refusal of Senators Cole l.. BleaSe
and j. Thomas Heflin to appear before
a grand jury investigating the death OF
Detective Sergt. Arthur Scrivener.
Brookhart's testimony was regarded by
the grand jurors as not sufficient to
support an indictment.
Two Probes Head List.
Among the purely local events Of the
year were the Scrivener investigation,
which ended in a report that he was a
suicide; the two inquiries into the death
of Mrs. Virginia Hurley Mcpherson,
the first ending in the indictment of
her husband, Robert A. Mcpherson, jr.,
and his incarceration in Jail for sew
eral weeks until the discovery was made
that the grand jury which indicted him
was illegal because there was a woman
on it who was drawing United States
pension, and the subsequent inquiry
under Special Assistant Attorney Gen
eral John E. Laskey and report from
that grand jury that exonerated the
husband and resulted in his release
from Jail. Three newspaper reporters
refused to give desired information to
the grand jury and were adjudged in
contempt OF court by Justice Peyton
Gordon and sent to jail for As days
each. An alleged expose by the Wash
ington Times of the liquor traff1c in the
National Capital resulted in a report
by the grand jury that only out of 49
places named in the expose were found
to be in operation in violation OF the
national prohibition act. From these
four places nine persons were named
in indictments by the grand jury.
Smith Co. Indicted.
The Department of Justice undertook
transactions of the F. H. Smith Co.,
and through Special Assistant Attorney
General Nugent DoddS obtained an in
dictment charging unlawful use of the
mails against Representative Frederick
N. Zihlman of Maryland, who has since
resigned as o director of the company;
Daniel r. Crissinger, formerly control
Ter Of the currency, also director Of
the company: G. Bryan Pitts, chairman
of the board; Samuel j. Henry, presi-
dent of the company, and others. Suit
for a receiver was brought against the
Smith Co. by Attorney w. Gwynn Gar
diner on behalf of several bondholders
and owners of preferred stock of the
company, but Justice Wheat denied the
application for q temporary receiver.
The case Is still pending.
Walter I. Mccoy, fifth chief justice
Of the court, reached the age Of 70 years
and submitted his resignation to PreSi-
dent Hoover December 8. He will be en-
titled to fun pay for the rest Of his life.
The Star published an article calling
attention to the crowded condition of
the dockets of the court, and Senator
Capper introduced bill for two addi-
tional justices. which has not yet passed.
The vacancy in the office of chief jus
tice has not been filled.
New Litigation Record.
Litigation In 1929 hung UP a new rec
ord with the filing with the clerk of the
District Supreme Court of 1888 law
suits and l AIS equity proceedings, and
added greatly to the congested condition
of the court dockets. In addition there
were filed 1850 mechanics liens, los
bankruptcy cases, 40 adoptions and 81
land condemnations. The clerk also re-
ceived 383 declarations of intention to
become citizens and All applications for
final citizenship papers. New citizens to
the number of 498 were made during
the year and 80 applications were
denied.
Dan Cupid joined In the general in