Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-14
Complaining Witness Does
Not Know if Listeners Hid
in Hotel Lobby.
HIDING STENOGRAPHER
UNDER BED DESCRIBED
Calhoun Denies He Told One of De-
PENDANTS $27o,Ooo Was Melted
by Use of Noble Design.

Employment of eavesdropping tactics
and intrigueS preceding the arrest OF
the defendants drew countless ques-
tons today at the trial of five persons
on blackmail conspiracy charges in
District Supreme Court.
Under cross-examinaticn for the sec
ond consecutive day, Capt. Clarence G.
Calhoun. complaining witness, told of
the staUoning of a stenographer be-
meath the fcur-poster bed in his Brae-
mer Forest home during a conference
with one of the defendants The wit
ness declined however, to confirm m
situations that a stenCgrapher had
been secreted beneath CT behind
divan to take down the conversation
at conferences in the lobby OF the
Washington Hotel.
Denies Nurse" Listened In.
Asked if it were true that woman
dressed in white like a nurse STOOD De-
hind a screen and listened to the ne
gotiationS at one Of the hotel meetings
Calhoun replied:
II didn't see such an operation"
Richard L. Merrick of defense coun-
Gel insisted an eavesdropper had over
heard the participants in one or more
conferences at the hotel He sought to
have Calhoun say he had arranged
for the presence of such an individual.
Failing in this, the lawyer finally sue
ceeded in extracting the statement from
Calhoun that Samuel W. Hardy, De-
partment of Justice agent, had pro-
dticed silent partner" named Smith
at one of the meetings. The witness
said he was unable to say where Smith
hid. He declared he was unable to
remember when asked whether those
present sat on divan at each OF the
conferences.
Describes Four Poster Bed.
what sort of a bed was this you
secreted a stenographer under at your
homer" Merrick inquired.
THE bed was in was a four-poster,"
Calhoun responded.
approximately what time of the day
or night was this?"
1T was some time in the afternoon"
"WaS there light under the bed?"
mo"
"Was there a table under there?"
"No."
Gould she write anything under the
bed?"
Il know I could
was there any drapery to conceal
the stenographer?"
Yes, it would conceal her to a GER
tain extent"
Was Mrs. Calhoun's Secretary.
Further questioning brought out the
stenograpfer was hidden beneath the
bed at a conference between Calhoun
and Mrs. Anna Hillenbrand in the
later part of July or the first part of
August of 1929. The woman thus con-
cealed was a secretary of Mrs. Calhoun.
Merrick inquired whether Calhoun
was interested when told by James F.
Bird, another defendant of plans w.
Clark Noble, leader of the alleged con-
spirators, for formation Of an organiza-
ton similar to the Woman's Universal
Alliance, In which the Calhouns We're
interested.
IT was interested" related Calhoun,
'in 50 far as Mr.. Bird said If this Or
ganization was completed Mr.. Noble
would make a vicious attack on me"
Calhoun denied he once told Bird
the alliance had netted between S270,-
600 and 100000 from the use Of q
drawn by Noble.
Denies Placing Trap.
Calhoun's testimony late yesterday
centered about dealings he had with
Mrs. Hillenbrand in 1929. He refuted
the defense contention that he had en-
trapped Mrs. Hillenbrand He said he
interviewed the woman on several occa-
saons, but insisted she had taken the
initiative. He said she first suggested
the payment of hush money" to pre-
vent publication Of articles defamatory
to the Calhouns.
Asked whether he had any money on
deposit at the Continental Trust Co. in
August, 1929. Calhoun replied in the
affirmative. Defense attorneys then de-
manded to know whether his account
was sufficiently large 10 cover his check
for $4,000. used in the conference
which resulted in the arrest Of the de-
PENDANTS.
Calhoun explained that while he did
not have that much money on deposit
he had arranged with Wade H Cooper,
president, TO have the bank honor the
check should it be presented for pay
ment. Defense attorneys drew from
Calhoun an admission that none of the
organiza tons with which his wife had
been affiliated had sufficient money TO
cover $4,000 check in any bank