Evening star., 1933-10-27
TWO FOUND GUILTY
OF SIGMA CHI FIRE.
Prosecution DenounceS Alibi
and Jurors Convict Smith
and PARTON.

Refusing to accept the alibi evidence
offered as their defense. District Su-
preme Court jury yesterday convicted
two young members of the George
Washington University Chapter of
Sigma Chi Fraternity Of setting fire
to their chapter house at 1912 N street
at 4:20 am. on July 9.
The youths, H. Albert Smith, 26, of
Humphreys, Mo, a former president of
the chapter, and Edward J. PARTON, %,
Of Derby. Conn. were found guilty
five hours over evidence offered in a
four day trial before Justice Peyton
Gordon.
Both men were ordered committed
to the District Jail pending disposition
OF a motion for a new trial. The con-
Nction carries with 1t sentence OF
from to 10 years Imprisonment.
Full Investigation.
Assistant District Attorney John J.
Sirica presented the Governments case,
based on evidence collected during an
extensive investigation by Acting In
spector Raymond c. Roberts OF the Fire
Department and Detective Sergt. w.
r. Sager OF the second precinct. The
defense lawyers were Percy H. Marshall
and Fred J. Rice.
Fifteen Of Smith and Parlton's fra
ternity brothers narrowly escaped with
their lives. and three of them actually
were injured. when an incendiary fire
swept the four-story chapter house
early on a July Sunday morning. The
college men. sleeping on the three top
floors Of the building, awakened to find
the first floor a blazing mass OF flames.
the only stairway blocked. and a
separate fire going in the defendants
room on the fourth floor. They es-
capped by leaping out through windows
to an adjoining building and climbing
down firemen's ladders.
Immediately after the conf1agratlon
was extinguished Fire Marshall Calvin
G. LAUDER discovered evidence OF arson.
An investigation was launched jointly
by his office and by the Police Depart
ment. with Inspector Roberts and Sergt.
Sager, both well known for their work
on past arson cases, collaborating.
Gasoline Cans Found.
A .check-up was made Of gasoline
cans found in the building after the
fire and the investigators questioned all
the members of the organization living
PARTON were not to be found the day
of the fire, but returned to the house
on Sunday night.
They told a story OF a trip to York
and New Freedom Pa which they said
started shortly after 3 o'clock Sunday
morning. After further inquiry, how
thsy MeFs by Keey
ing station attendant, as the man who
bought 10 gallons Of gasoline at local
filling station at about $3.50 am. paid
a S. deposit on gasoline can which
the Government contended was the one
later found in the fraternity house, and
departed in a car answering the de-
| scription of a machine owned by Smith.
With this testimony as the keystone
of prosecution evidence. Sirica present.
ed to the jury circumstantial case
! which sought to show in an admitted
shortage in Smiths fraternity account
books partial motive for the arson; in
| timated that internal friction existed In
the chapter, involving the two defend
ants: introduced testimony that stain
found in the floor mat of Smiths car
was made by dye similar to that used
in the gasoline found in the 10-gallon
can at the fraternity house, and at
| tackled the defense story as a descrip-
ton OF flight, not an alibi."
| Defendants Testify.
Taking the stand in their own de-
fense, Smith and PARTON said they left
! Washington Ion a sudden impulse
after o'clock in the morning, de-
Gliding while in restaurant to start
on visit to friends in New Freedom,
! Pa. They said they arrived in Balti-
i more at 4:10 and a short time later
the car broke down near Gunpowder
Falls, Md. Witnesses who placed the
time Of their arrival at the point more
than 60 miles from Washington as
about dawn" and mot later than $780,
were brought into court by the defense
] Reports that some one had been
overheard mentioning to a juror the
| persecution" of the two boys inter-
rupted the trial procedure yesterday
Just after the noon recess. After a
brief conference of all counsel with
Justice Gordon in his chambers, how
ever, the case was resumed.