Evening star., 1933-11-15
Washington Lawyer Claims
He Was "Frozen Out"
of Contract.
ACTION NOW PENDING
in D. C. SUPREME COURT
Counsel Says He Failed to Obtain
Definite Reputation From
Henry Ford.

The claim that David M. Roll, held
by the Government on a charge Of de-
frauding former Senator Robert L.
Owen of Okla homa and other proni-
nent Washingtonians through an al
legged fake contract with Henry Ford
for an $88,O00.000 lease on Muscle
Shoals, has profited to the extent Of
$2,000,000 on the scheme Is made in a
suit pending in the District Supreme
Court, it was revealed today.
Roll, attorney and ex-convict, was
sued some months ago by John H. Con-
naughton, local attorney, who charged
he had been frozen out" of a contract
with Ford under which Roll, r. Hugh
Jarvis and Connaughton were to nego-
tiate with the Government for lease
on the Shoals.
Herbert S. Ward, attorney for Con-
naughton, said today he filed the suit
after he had failed to obtain from Ford
definite reputation Of the contract.
Ford and Jarvis were listed as code
PENDANTS in the suit, but Ford never
has been served in the case.
Says Suit Led to Probe.
Filing of the suit, Ward said, led to
an investigation by the Department Of
Justice. The Government, arresting
Roll yesterday afternoon on a charge
OF receiving money under false pre-
lenses, charged that the contract with
Ford Is spurious and that certain tele-
grams and letters, purportedly signed
by Ford, also are fictitious.
On the strength Of the allegedly
fraudulent Ford contract and commu-
nications, 1t Is charged, Roll induced
number Of wealthy citizens here to
give him large sums of money-either
as part interest in the commission of
5000, 900 which Roll is alleged to have
said he was to receive from Ford, or
as loans. Even though he failed to
secure the lease, the so-called contract
is alleged to have stated, Roll would be
guaranteed $250,000.
1t was said In official quarters today
that "at the present time" there Is no
intention of subpoenaing Ford to at.
tend a hearing before United States
Commissioner Needham G. TurnAge on
&>gtSfAAoSk 1oys W44cA 1bou Will DG d1-
raigned Roll appeared before Turnage
late yesterday and was released under
SIS. 900 bond. Whether Fords presence
. here win be required later, It was said,
will depend on Developments in the
case.
Agents Continue Probe.
Special Agents Louis Loebl and Z. M.
Black Of the Justice Departments d.
vision Of investigation, who took Roll
into custody yesterday at his luxurious
apartment in the Shoreham Hotel, are
continuing their investigation of the
case, which is said to have sensational
ramifications.
The Government alleges that during
the past year Roll received nearly $780,
600 from former Senator Owen, $4,000
from J. H. Wootton and 1000 from
Ward Maylor, all of this city. Other
investors were understood to be persons
prominent in Capital life who are re-
luctant to join In the prosecution be-
cause Of the attendant publicity. The
Department Of Justice Is said to know
OF investments totaling many thousands
Of dollars.
Roll, Department Of Justice records
show, served a sentence Of from five
TO seven years In the Colorado State
Penitentiary for a confidence game"
practiced In 1925 at Denver.
Roll declined to make a statement
to Division Of Investigation agents who
arrested him.