Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-02
Four Charges of False Pre-
tense and One of Mail Fraud
Made by Grand Jury.
EARLIER INDICTMENTS
QUASHED BY GORDON
Colored Man Formally Named for
Second-Degree Murder-0thers
Are Ignored.

Jacob B. Shapiro, president of the
Shapiro Construction Co. and Of Joseph
Shapiro Co., Inc, a realty concern, was
indicted today by the grand jury on
four charges of false pretenses and one
of using the mails to defraud in con-
nection with the sales of real estate
without advising clients of the exist
ence of hidden" trusts.
The alleged fraudulent use of the
mails is new tack by the prosecution
after District Supreme Court Justice
Peyton Gordon had quashed an indict.
ment for false pretenses when Shapiro
was called for trial last December. Al
that time there were pending IL in
dictments of false pretense against
Shapiro, but United States Attorney
Leo A. Rover and Assistant United
states Attorney John w. FINELY de-
cided to resubmit some cases to the
grand jury and to reframe the charges
IN an effort to get around the decision
OF the court as to defects In the other
indictments.
Mail Fraud Charges.
The mail fraud indictment alleges
that Shapiro sent through the mail
literature in furtherance Of an alleged
scheme for soliciting and inducing per-
sons to purchase from him. either as
owner or agent for the Shapiro Con-
structlon Co. upon representations
which he would make to such persons
that the encumbrance on the real estate
was only definite figure when in truth
and in fact he well knew such encum-
orance TO be OF much greater amount.
BY this artiflce, it is alleged, purchasers
were to be induced to buy, paying an
initial sum, assuming the payment OF
the stated Indebtedness and executing
notes for the balance of the agreed pur-
chase price. when by means of deceitful
and fraudulent concealment they would
only later learn Of the hidden trust.
The charge is made that 1t was
Shapiros scheme TO keep purchasers
ignorant as long as possible of the
hidden" trust so that they would not
take steps to rectify the alleged fraud
and prevent further loss and likewise
enable Shapiro to make other sales.
Among the persons named in the in
o1ctment who are alleged to have been
.defrauded are about 80 local residents.
the four separate indictments for
false pretenSes are In connection with
sale OF 17l6 Irving street to w. S.
Frtsbie; sale of 419 Madison street to
Horace w. Hullinger, known as Happy
Walker; of premises 1874 Irving street
to Mrs. Minnie w. Reed. and Of premises
IT'S Hobart street to w. Calhoun FUR.
Indicted for Murder.
Boyd Bennett, colored, was indicted
on charge Of murder in the second
degree. He is said TO have caused the
death Of Stanley L. Jones, colored, by
shooting him In the chest March 7 in
an alley near 1924 Benning road north
east
A charge OF homicide against Merle
E. Heilman. white. and Robert Dixon.
colored, was ignored by the grand
jurors. The men were drivers of two
automobiles which were in collision
February %, last. at Third and ?
streets. One Of the machines mounted
the sidewalk and struck and killed
Elizabeth Mitchell, a pedestrian: The
grand jurors also declined to indict
Sidney Chaser, false pretenses: Ger
trude Smith, robbery, and Inez Means,
grand larceny.
Others indicted and the charges
against them include: Raymond Riggs.
Nick Macchiarello, Abe Zinberg, Adolph
r. Moder, De Witt Wilson and Horace
Bird, violating liquor law Samuel Bouk-
night, assault with dangerous weapon;
Oliver Jones. John L. Rose, William p.
Little and Marshall Rice, joy-riding;
David Weiss, assault to rob; David
Weiss, robbery; william E. Thomas and
Robert Morris. grand larceny; Maude e,
VosS, false pretenSes and embezzlement:
Max Miller, false pretenses. and Nor.
man r. Nolan, violating postal laws.