Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-27

AGOIBluu6u EA0b 0BOsy
each of the other three neighborins and
adjoining counties.
MY testimony on the east and west
roads included the statements that this
road joined Chevy Chase and Bethesda
with Silver Spring and Takoma Park
in a new road distance of 315 miles,
whereas the previously improved routes
connecting these two Maryland areas,
each with 10000 population, required g.
mile detours either north or south. Also
that two-thirds of a mile Of the new
road between Bethesda and Silver
Spring also extends Sixteenth street to
Baltimore via Laurel or Ellicott City
and viii ultimately become the main
passenger automobile road between the
largest city in Maryland and the Ma
tional Capital.
Not Owners In Section.
81 testified that neither my father,
my brother, myself, or any company
In which I am stakeholder myself,
owned land on the new highway be-
tween Bethesda and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, q distance of over
miles out of the entire 31a miles of this
route, and that or companies In
which own stock own approximately
1000 feet of this highway east of Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad to Georgia
avenue in the business section Of the
district Of Silver Spring, which prop
erty faces both on the east and west
suburban road and the Maryland ex-
tension Of Sixteenth street to Balti-
more.
ct testified that the location on which
the Silver Spring Bethesda Highway
was built had been previously approved
by engineers of the Maryland State
Roads Commission, the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the members of the
board of county commissioners, and had
since its construction been approved as
to location and engineering by well
known city planners and numerous
Montgomery County citizens associa-
tons.
bargains Are Denied.
ct testified that the charge that tax
and assessment bargains existed In
great numbers in Montgomery County
was unqualifiedly false and that ]
knew of no citizens, property owners.
or corporations enjoying, or who had
enjoyed, an unfair or inequitable assess
ment, and, on the contrary, that each
500 worth Of property was assessed on
the same fair basis of valuation
throughout Montgomery County.
"I renewed my statement made to
the grand jury Wednesday of last week
and which had been published in news
papers that either the charges Of the
Independent, If true, furnished ground
for indictment of the county commits
sioners, county and district assessors,
and other county officials including my
self, or, if untrue, the charges consti-
tuted criminal libel against county
officials by those responsible for the
charges appearing in the Independent .
Maj. Lee was probably the last wit
ness to be examined by the grand jury
in connection with the investigation.
While no announcement has been made
from the grand jury room, the prevail
ing opinion around the courthouse is
that the grand jury will complete its
work not later than tomorrow.
Democratic Chairman Heard.
The most important witness called
yesterday was Robert c.. Hilton, chair
man Of the Democratic State commit
tee for Montgomery County.
1t Is believed the jury questioned Mr..
Hilton closely as to whether the credit
of Montgomery County had been in
jured by news stories and editorials said
to have been printed in the Rockville
Independent. He is understood to have
told the jury that some time ago he
endeavored to sell certificates of the
banker and that the latter refused to
purchase, explaining that he had read
articles in the Independence which led
him to believe the credit of the county
was not as good as 1t might be.
1t is also believed he was questioned
concerning the purchase by the county
commissioners of q site for the court
house and jail from the Farmers Bank
Ing & Trust Co. at price of $45, 900.
He is understood to have told the Jury
this price was agreed upon at meeting
of the banks board of directors, several
of whom wanted higher figure. They
finally compromised on the lower price,
he said, at the insistence of the COM
miSSioners.
Asked About Jail Site.
He is also believed to have been ques-
toned as to the purchase of another
$4,000 site from the bank, to be used
for erection of separate Jail. The
jury is said to have asked Mr.. Hilton If
any of the commissioners were finan-
cially interested in the bank. He Is be-
lieved to have answered the question Ia
the negative.
Other witnesses yesterday were DR..
BENJAMIN c. Perry, president of the
board Of commissioners: Lacy Shaw.
board member; Berry Clark, clerk to
the commissioners; Odorian D. Roby,
former commissioner, and John p. Gull
yer, clerk of the Police Court.
The exact nature of their testimony
was not learned, but It is believed they
We're questioned closely as to the truth
Of charges made to the jury Tuesday