Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-04
OuSted Engineers Member,
Wife and Three Pals Held
in Assault.
LASHING CHARGES GROW
OUT OF LABOR STRIFE
Action Follows Indictment of For
mer Secretary in Alleged
Embodiment.

Mrs. Ruth Stevens her husband, Rob-
ert E. Stevens; Robert Ely, William l.
Green and Clarence B. Pockenbaugn,
were jointly indicted today By the grand
jury on a charge OF simple assault
growing out OF the horsewhipping of
Charles E. HAIRY, an official of the In
ternational Union of Operating En-
gineers, in front of the offices Of the
union at Tenth and K streets, March
81 last.
The indictment is in a single count
and alleges that the five accused per-
sons made an assault on HAIRY and
did beat, wound and ill-treat" him
against the peace and Government CT
the United States. The charge is the
outcome of an inquiry by the grand
jury into the tangled affairs of the
union. which resulted in an indictment
against Dave Evans, a former secretary
treasurer of the union, for alleged en-
beZZlements totaling several thousa nds
Of dollars.
Woman Awaits HAIRY.
Mrs. Stevens. wife of an ousted men,
Operating Engineers. waited more than
half an hour for Haury in front of the
union headquarters building at Tenth
and K streets on the afternoon of
March 81. it is alleged. The horsewhip
was concealed beneath her coat.
When HAIRY appeared on the steps
OF the building she approached him and
after few words suddenly produced the
whip and beg2n flashing the union Of
f1Ni11 4 fpn1ntn6 n ri 81
self. but one CT the men with Mrs.
Stevens struck him with his fist. This
appeared to be the signal fora free-for-
all fight. perS-ns in the nei2hborhood
of the building joining in. HAIRY final
ly escaped and re-entered the building.
whereupon Mrs. Stevens drove away in
an automobile.
On April II Mrs. Stevens, with Rob-
ert Ely. william I. Green and C. B.
Rockenbaugh, was ordered to stand
trial. after a preliminary hearing in
+Nolice Court. On April 90, however, the
case was nolle pressed by the District
Attorneys Office.
Explains NOlIe Prose-.
Wilbert l. McInerney, assistant dis
trict attorney, It'd the court at that
time that lit is not our policy to try
labor differences in his court. The case
appears to me to be about even. with
both sides having the SINE number of
witnesses. 1t would only mean a hear
ing of Workmen's grievances with Gov
eminent witnesses almost as much on
trial as the defendants
The horSewhipping incident was fol-
lowed on May 20 by an attempt by an
unidentified gunman to shoot three Of
ficialS of the International Union of
Operating Engineers while they sat at
lunch in cafeteria opposite the labor
Offices at Tenth and K streets. Frank
Langdon, 72yearold editor OF labor
publication, was seriously wounded. but
later recovered following an operation
for the removal of his eye.
Arthur NJ. Huddell, president Of the
union, who also was one of the party
fired upon, escaped injury. although a
pocketbook which stopped a bullet
aimed at his heart probably saved his
life at the time He died of pneumonia
some weeks later in Sibley Hospital
The third member of the group. John
Possehl. general secretary of the union,
was uninjured in the shooting affair,
although the gunman fired between
and. 10 shots from two revolvers. Po-
lice here never succeeded in tracing
the assailant, who escaped the scene
Of the shooting on foot through ada
cent alleys and drove away in an auto
mobile which was waiting on Massa-
u, b.