Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-13
.bLACKMA|L TRIAL
MARKED BY CLASH
OVER MEMORIAL
Calhoun Under Cross-Exam.
lnation on Sculptor Mobiles
Retention.
ARCHITECT SOUGHT
$3.50, 900 FOR WORK
Four or Five Millions Set as Monu-
ment and Education Fund
Goal.

Sharp exchanges between Capt.
Clarence c. Calhoun and Richard L.
Merrick, a defense attorney, during
cross-examination of the former stood
out today at the blackmail conspiracy
trlal OF 1ve persons in District Supreme
Court.
Merrtck sought to prove w. Clark
Noble. one OF the defendants. had been
retained to design a memorial for the
Women'S Universal Alliance, an organ
ization sponsored by Capt. and Mrs.
Calhoun. Calhoun insisted Noble had
failed to present a satisfactory design
and no agreement. to pay him anything
for his services ever had been reached.
Sought S55O.O0O Contract.
The witness said Noble negotiated
with the Calhouns in an effort to obtain
contract under which he would be
paid 900 for his design and $500, 900
for acting as the official architect and
sculptor Of the organization
If you were dissatisfied with his de-
sign, why did you continue your nego-
tiations with Mr.. Noble?" Merrick in
quired.
I'm trying to tell you Just that truth
fully and intelligently," Calhoun said.
II don't know about the latter part Of
it," Merrick remarked
Irving Goldstein, an assistant United
States attorney, objected to the reflec-
ton on the witness intelligence, and
Justice Jesse c. Adkins ordered the at
torneys statements stricken from the
record.
II pointed out" Calhoun said, chat
Mr.. Noble would have to make very
radical changes in his preliminary de-
sign, but was willing to be charitable
with him and offered to show him every
consideration.
I'VE were not willing, however. TO Gc-
cept any OF his work and told him So"
Too Much Money.
MerTick ased Calhoun who stipulated
the proposal that Noble be paid total
of $3.50 700. Calhoun said the sugges-
ton originated with Noble.
Il told him it would be criminal to
pay him any such sum-" Calhoun added.
How much money did you contem-
plate raising for the memorial?" Mer-
rick asked.
I'VE had not set any definite figures. :"
Calhoun said. I'VE planned to be guild
ed by the public response. We hoped
to raise three, four or five million dol
lars. Not al of this was to have been
used in building a motherhood memo
rial. We intended to create a fund for
the education Of mothers and expectant
mothers and create a fund for the aid
of mothers in straitened circumstances. -
Merrick inquired whether the alliance
ever had taken any steps to construct
its memorial on Massachusetts, avenue
property near the new British embassy,
known as the Elderson tract. After
Calhoun replied in the affirmative, the
defense attorney demanded to know
how much an option on this site had
cost.
Option Cost $4,000.
Mrs. Calhoun and l." the witness
replied, paid over $4,000 in our own
money for the option. The option
never was exercised"
LAS a matter of fact, wasn't it only
$S,000?" Merrick asked.
1T was not" Calhoun shouted.
Calhoun denied he ever had requested
Noble that he be retained as Mobiles
attorney IN the negotiations with the
alliance.
Calhoun identified a quantity of
literature distributed by the alliance.
Justice Adkins refused Permission for
Merrlck TO question Calhoun concern
ing property In Maryland which Mrs.
Calnoun had testified her husband gave
70 the alliance as q site for the memo
rial. The judge explained such testi-
mony had not been brought out on di-
rect examination, which made It inn
proper for discussion on cross examina-
ton. Merrick then asked for permission
10 make Calhoun his own witness at
once. After the judge ruled Calhoun
would not be permitted to testify as
Merrlcks own witness until the defense
began its case. Merrick conferred with
other defense attorneys and announced
ne probably would not seek to have
calhoun testify as defense witness.
The defendants, in addition To Noble.
are his wife, Mrs. Emile Noble: Mrs
Anna Hildenbrand, James F. Bird and
Stephen A. Armstrong. jr.
Hush Money" Act CHARGED.
Capt. Calhoun testified late yester-
day Mrs. Hildenbrand had threatened
to make public charges that he had
spent all his money" to keep his wife
out OF jail. He said Mrs Hildenbrand
voiced the warning in demanding hush
money"
The witness said Bird had warned he
would supply local newspaper with
articles defamatory to the Calhouns
unless he settled for $4,000. Calhoun
explained Bird had agreed to accept
$4,000 after previously making de-
mands as high as 100000