Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-27
GRAND Jury GETS
TEST PAPER THEFT
MCLaurin, CoIored Disbarred
Attorney, to Answer
School Charge.
Sylvester McLaurin. disbarred colored

Sylvester McLaurin. disbarred colored
attorney, charged with larceny from
the District in connection with the al
legged removal of an examination paper
of his niece from the files of the school
administration in the Franklin School,
was held for grand jury action under
bond of $500 by Judge Robert E. Mat
tingly in Police Court today.
A janitor testified that McLaurin
came to him several times and asked
to be allowed to enter a safe in which
are kept examination papers of candi-
dates for clerical positions with the
school administration. 1t is said that
McLaurin's niece Will NJ. McLaurin
was one of those seeking a position
Each time the colored ianitor refused
McLaurin's request, he said, and on one
occasion the attorney gave him a dol
lar, telling him to buy some cigars and
keep quiet
Captured in Trap.
Finally, after telling his employer
about the matter, the janitor was told
to give McLaurin a key to the files
He said the attorney took the key. COW
cred his hand with a handkerchief
and opened the files. He then removed
an examination paper of his niece
which he also had covered with the
handkerchief and took it to an ad-
joining room, where police. who had
secreted themselves in the building, ar
rested him.
Meanwhile. investiga ton was under
way at the Franklin School Administra-
ton Building to determine how NC
Laurin secured a copy OF the official
clerical examination papers.
1t was explained at the Franklin
Building that the examination blanks
carrying the questions and suit
able blank spaces for the writing of the
answers, are mimeographed in the
clerical service room of the school
administration Offices. Every copy run
off en- the mimeographing machine is
sent to the office of the board of
examiners together with the original
stencil. The stencil is Immediately de-
Stroyed and the examination blanks are
sent at once to the room in which the
examinations are taken. AS soon as
out further, all additional copies of the
blanks are destroyed and the filled-in
papers submitted by candidates are
filed in safe-flling cabinets.
Thought One of Originals.
Although the paper which it is be-
lieved by police McLaurin sought to
substitute for the failing examination
paper of his niece has not been final
ly identified by Howard P. Long,
examiner, as one of the official eX-
animation blanks, Mr. Long said he is
convinced it is one of the originals. He
saw it when it was taken from Nc
Laurin and he has seen it since and
says it is identical with Others of the
same issue.
According to school officials. Nc
Laurin had told Carter he'd "recog-
nize" the examination papers he sought
''as soon as he laid eyes upon them.
McLaurin, it was explained today. al
ready had appeared at the examining
board offices to protest against the low
grade his niece received, and he was
shown her papers. When Long was
about to put the papers away, McLaurin
Mr.. Crane said today, was insistent that
the rubber band which bound them to-
gether be placed in a certain way. Long
recalled this when Carter told him tina.
McLaurin said he would be able to rec
Oovy1izo tho y1aperc in tho