Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-07
CobIentz, Pitts and Edwards
to Be Arraigned Later in
F. H. Smith Co. Case.
$4,000 BAIL Is POSTED
BY TWO DEFENDANTS
Frederick Politician Issues State
ment Denying He Helped
Frame" Evidence.

Miss Helen L. Schneider, who was
private secretary to G. Bryan Pitts,
former head of the F. H. Smith Co.,
and Henry o. Hart, former accountant
for the company, were arraigned today
before Justice Gordon in District Su-
prems Court following their indictment
yesterday on charges Of aiding in the
commission of perjury at the recent
conspiracy embezzlement trial of Smith
Co. officials.
The reading of the indictment was
waived by counsel for the accused, each
of whom entered a plea Of not guilty
At the request of Assistant Attorney
General Nugent Dodds and Neil Burkin
shaw. special assistant, Justice Gordon
fixed Harris bond at $4,000 and that
for Miss Schneider at $4,000. Bond for
helm.
CobIentZ to Appear.
Emory L. Coblentz, prominent Mary
land politician and banker, also indicted
en- the same charges, is expected to ap-
psar here within day or two for ar
raignment.
Pitts now under a prison sentence,
and John H. Edwards, jr., former Smith
Co. vice president, who is serving a
term at Lcrton, Va, also we're indicted
again yesterday and will be arraigned
later.
The new indictments grow out Of au-
thorizations signed by Pitts or Coblentz
which purporJed to warrant Pitts to
take money which, the Government al
legcs, was embezZled.
From his homo in EiTpGSHrE COhlpn+Z
disclaimed any wrongdoing. and de-
clared he was surprised and shocked
by the indictment.
Explains Signature.
His statement follows: L have just
received information that my name has
been connected with an indictment by
the Federal grand jury in Washington
relating to certain evidence presented at
the trial of G. Bryan Pitts in December
last.
II was formerly interested in two
properties owned by corporations the
stock Of which Pitts subsequently pur-
chased. During my connection with
these properties it was my duty to sign
certain authorizations and papers In
connection with payments that were
actually and properly made to parties
to whom they were due.
AILeT my COIlllSCL O4l NAtii N4A-5S
properties had been terminated, 1 was
requested to sign certain of these au-
thorizations that had not been executed
before, in order to complete the cor
porste records.
Shortly before Pitts trial, I learned
for the first time that these two prop
perties wee involved in his alleged
embellishments. which occurred after
1 had terminated my connection and
he became their sole owner. l I'M
mediately communicated with both
Pitts and his counsel and insisted
that under no circumstances were these
papers to be used as evidence, and
was assured that not only would they
not be used but they actually had been
destroyed.
Says He Was Surprised.
IT was naturally astonished when
these papers were presented at the
t. ial, and since then have given to the
Department of Justice every assistance
within my power in investigating the
matter.
Il want to emphasize that I have
never received any profit, either direct
or indirectly, from these properties. l
am surprised and shocked that my
name has been used in connection with
these indictments. My conscience Is
entirely clear and ask that the public
reserve its judgment until all Of the
facts become known.
Il want it distinctly understood this
matter is entirely a personal one and
no financial institution or other cor
poration with which I am connected
or associated is in any way involved,
interested or affected"
Replying to Pitts suit to regain GUS
tody of papers seized in a vault at
Palm Bach, the Government yester-
day declared the seizure was legal and
asked that the suit be dismissed.
Hart was represented at today's ar
raignment by Attorneys Leon Tobriner
and Dozier A. Devane. Attorney Mar
tin L. O'Donohue appeared for Miss
Schneider. Counsel for each was grant,
ed 20 days in which to decide if they
would attack the indictments.