The Washington times., 1930-11-20
6 SPRIS0NERS
UNDER QUIZ
CONFESS
Intended to Friuhten Drivers.
Into Joining Organization,
according 70 Detectives.

NttAVH sVthtt - ~ u
According to Detectives
The washington Central Labor
Union today branded as q "das-
tarcly act the attempt to poison
mix Sunday morning In q milk
racket to force drivers to join
the union.
This action was taken as the
three men taken into custody BY
police last night made formal con-
LESSONS that they. had poured 9
powerful antiseptic, the base OF
which is q deadly poison, over the
contents Of two milk wagons.
IN g formal statement the union
leaders declared that such actions
would not be countenanced or toi-
Grated by the unions and declared
they were startled to find that
union officers were implicated in
the plot.
Those arrested are: Harry
Maynard Rothgeb, ~, Of 81 Ran
dolph Pl. N. W. employe Of the
Alderney-Green MeadoW-Fa Fairfax
Farm Dairy Co., and recording
secretary OF the Milk Drivers
and Dairy Employees Local Union
No. 246.
Raymond Carr Rayford, 90,
1908 Z ST. s. E.. an officer Of
the Taxicab Drivers Union.
Richard Conte, 3S, 1414 v st.
N. w, q cab driver, but not an
officer of the drivers union.
The three men were charged to-
day with violating the District
Pharmacy Code.
Tried to Force Issue
All three Of the men made for
NAL statements to detectives stat
ing that they committed the act
for the purpose Of forcing other
drivers to .ioin the union which
has recently been losing members
daily.
Rothgeb stated that the act
WAS intended to arouse public
sentiment against the diaries and
drivers by forcing the men to re.
turn for unspoied supplies Of
milk consequently being late IN
making deliveries.
He added that he and his two
companions also intended TO
ruin the clothing Of the two
drivers so that they would be
offensive to themselves and TO
the public they served.
COnte inst Adviser
Conte. according to police,
!. acted merely In an advisory
capacity and was the one VINO
s,Icrested the antiSeptic that
would be so noticeable that no
one would be injured by drinking
of poisoned milk.
For a time 1t appeared that
the outrage would go down as
mother ursolved crime. but De.
fective Sergt. Frank Alligood, OF
tiSe automobile squad, uncovered
Information which led to the ar
rest Of the three men:
Ii was Alligood, working alone.
Who found the trail Of the three
r,er perfected the case, then
ts,rned Ii over to Detective Sergts.
T;i,ornas Nally and L. M. wilson.
Laid In Wait
nayford related how he and the
ether two men met and discussed
gavs and means of forcing more
mix wagon drivers TO JOIN Cne
There are 800 drivers here and
only about so are affiliated WIN
the organization. 80
The man said that on Satur-
day he called Rothgeb and had
the latter call at his office at
fifth and H Streets Northwest,
where plans we're discussed.
Later that night, the men said
Rayford and ,Conte called for
ROthgeb who was attending a
party, and the three then cruised
about Petworth, later going to
Connecticut and Cathedral Ave
nues to await the arrival OF the
milk wagons.
Empty Cans Found
Rayford said that Rothgeb car
ried the cans Of antiseptic to the
wagons when the drivers left to
make deliveries. He added he
did not see what tranSpired,
Conte said he saw Rothgeb
pour the poison over the milk.
Later the trio went to their
homes.
Rayford stated that on Tues
day he carried the empty cans
which had been procured at
Sears, Roebuckg and Co. to q
point near Accotillk, Md. where
he threw them in the woods.
He took detectives to- the spot
and the cans were found.
Rothgeb. the first man arrested.
was picked up at First and r.
Streets Northwest. Rayford was
later taken in custody at Four.
teenth and e Streets Northwest.
Statements by these two irnpli-
Gated Conte who was arrested at
sixth and H Streets Northwest.
technical charges Of inveStiga-
tion lodged against the trio will
probably be changed to formal
charges Of malicious mischief and,
- q - E 49, \ 80 + =