Evening star., 1930-12-01
KNEW TOO MUCH
PITTS GUARD SAYS
Smith Co. Witness Testifies
He Was Discharged After
Removing Records.
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removing RECORDS.
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that in May, 1929, he was given 500
by Pitts and told to rent truck. He
said Pitts instructed him to drive the
truck himself and to change its license
plates. He said he took the license tags
from. his own machine and substituted
them for those on the truck. He de-
clared he drove the truck to the Smith
Co. Offices here, aided in loading 90
trunks and 8 packages Of the firms
records aboard.
The witness said he followed the au-
tomobile of Edwards to a farm owned
by Pitts, n ear Bradley Hills, Nd,
where the trunks were unloaded.
Denies Theft Accusation.
1t was brought out on direct examina-
ton that Senes had served term of
seven months in Sing Sing Prison in
connection with wire-tapping case.
Raichle later sought to draw from Senes
an admission that he had been con-
victed on several other occasions. The
witness denied the charges.
The defense attorney also brought out
that Senes had instituted suit against
Pitts. The witness denied he ever had
been accused by Smith Co. employees of
stealing an adding machine.
Defense counsel failed in an effort to
draw a statement from Senes in con-
firmation of the defense position that
Pitts was in Florida when Senes signed
his resignation in New York City.
Colored Man Testifies.
A uuiet-mannered colored man, speak.
ing in low tones, today gave to the jury
a vivid description of how he spent an
entire night in the Spring of>1928 burn
ing two or three large boxes of books
and papers in furnace in the base
ment of the Smith Building.
The witness was Joseph Howard, who
was brought back to the District several
weeks ago from the Florida Everglades,
where he had been living under an as
sumed name.
Howard's testimony was the most
sensational yet given in the trial OF G.
Bryan Pitts. c. Elbert Anadale and John
H. Edwards, jr., charged with a con-
spiracy to embezzle approximately S5,-
900 600 of the company's funds and to
destroy allegedly discriminating records.
Worked All Night.
The colored man said he had been
employed by Pitts as personal servant
from 1928 to 1929. Questioned by Nu-
gent Dodds, special assistant to the At
torney General, Howard described in a
colorful manner the part he played In
the burning of the books, which, the
Government charges, were important
of the Smith Co.
"One night in the Spring of 1929"
he said. "I went to the Jefferson Apart
ments, where Mr.. Pitts lived, with John
Farquahr, his private secretary. Down
in the basement we got two or three
heavy boxes of books and papers and
took them back to the basement of the
Smith Building. There we opened them
and started to work.
"Mr. Farquahr and worked for sew
eral hours, taking them out of the boxes
and burning them in the furnace. FL
nally. about o'clock. he got tired and
left, but stayed there alone until 6
or o'clock the next morning, until the
last book was burned"
Howard was unable to identify any
of the books he burned, beyond saying
that some of them resenbled a Bible,
which he picked up from the witness
stand and showed the jury.
Some of them were looSeleaf ledgers,"
he said, "and others looked like this
book here"
That's the Bible you're holding
there" Justice William Hitz interrupt
ed. They weren't Bibles. were they?"
Mr.. Dodds asked the witness why 1t
took him so long to burn the books.
well, reckon they just wouldn't
burn any faster" he answered.
Howard's description of his visit to
Florida just prior to his disappearance
in the Everglades was so colorful that
bailiffs frequently were obliged to in
terrupt the proceedings to stop the out
bursts of laughter among the spec
tators.
Stayed in Palm Beach.
'Last January" he said, 81 went to
Palm Beach, Fla, and stayed at Mr..
Pitts home. One night, when I was
feeling particularly tired, went into
the house after Mr.. Pitts had gone to
bed and the butler and took a little
shot,"
Efforts Of Mr.. Dodds to bring out
just what the witness meant by "shot"
ELECTED by degrees that it was drink"
and finally a SLUG of Bacardi rum"
The next morning." Howard con-
tinued.. Il was out in the back yard
painting a chair. got tired and went
back in for another Shot Then I
resumed my work.
Presently heard the phone ring.
Mr.. Pitts came out and said it was a
long distance call. He said somebody
was after me and that I had better
beat 1t. was right much scared at
that and went back in the house for
another Shot Then I climbed over
the back wall and beat it.
Met Sheriff on Way.
"On the way down to Palm Beach I
met the sheriff, and he asked me If
had seen Joe Howard. told him that
had not. Meeting the sheriff like that
made me feet pretty bad, so got an
other shot and went back over the
wall to see Mr.. Pitts.
Il wanted hundred dollars, but he
refused to give it to me. Finally, how
ever, he consented. I took the money
and went back downtown. I was still
feeling tired and nervous, so bought a
little liquor and stayed drunk for two
days. Then I went to a town named
Olympia on the edge of the swamps,
where lived under an assumed name.
stayed there until / learned that
there was a bench warrant out for me,
and then went back to Palm Beach"
Mr.. Dodds questioned the witness at
some length in an effort to find out
whether any money had been sent him
while he was away, and by whom it
was sent Howard admitted that he
had received money on several occa-
sions, but could not remember who
signed the accompanying letters, or
whether the envelopes were addressed
to him under his real or assumed name.
Conferred Last Night.
A statement bv the witness that he