Evening star., 1935-11-05
ACCUSER
REFUSES ANSWERS
WHEN SUMMONED
w. |. Green Ordered to Con-
suit Attorney and Return
for Questioning.
WITNESS AROUSES IRE
OF HEARING OFFICIALS
Admits He Submitted to Hazen
a List of "a Charges Against
Building Inspector.

After refusing to answer any quess
tons when unexpectedly brought to
the witness stand today William I.
Green. who was identified as the orig.
inal complainant against the Office Of
the District building inspector. was
bruSquely ordered by Commissioned
George E Allen and H Winshi1
Wheatley to confer with his attorney
and return tonight prepared to discuss
the basis of his charges.
Green was summoned to the stand
at noon by Elwood Seal. directing
prosecution Of the charges against Col
John w. Oehmann. building inspector.
The witness admitted he had subnlit-
ted to Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen
list of "a charges from which ths
nine now being considered were see
lected.
Refuses TO Name Associates.
He refused, however, to disclose
the identity Of his associates in pre-.
pairing the accusations or to say
whether he had conferred with Capt
Hugh P. Oran, Capt H. c. White.
hurst or Chief Field Inspector J. j
Kimball, all of whom have been men.
toned as unfriendly TO Col Oehmann
Following sharp questioning BY
Wheatley, in which the witness de.
clined further answers. the order was
given that he see a lawyer and rec
turn
If I had the power, I'd compel
you to answer these questions,s
Wheatley said.
Ruled Out of Order.
An attempt by Defense Attorney w.
Gwynn Gardiner to prove that In.
spector Kimball had made a PROPOSE,
ton to licensing police officer of th4
third precinct was ruled out Of order.
The officer was George w. Lynn. Ha
testified that he knew Kimball, but 10
was decided that he need not ansWei
a question as to whether Kumball had
offered him money IN connection with
establishment of gasoline station site(
in his police territory.
Testimony as to the disrepair and
dangerous condition of the Logan Ho4
tel was offered by Richmond c. d
Hunt, builder, who was brought to the
| stand just before the session adt
| journed until 730 o'clock tonight
Hunt said he had been in the Logad
Hotel for some other purpose and had
been surprised to note the dangerous
/ sag in the floors and other featurei
OF the structure.
Ordered Special Survey.
Col Oehmann testified that he had
become seriously alarmed about tht
condition of the hotel as a result Of
persistent complaints about it from O,
L. Edwards, architect. who had been
engaged by the tenant, and had ore
dered special survey Of the Struct
ture. It was on the basis of a report
by Inspector Benninghoven that hS
had later condemned the property and
urged its evacuation.
Col. Oehmanns testimony was beA
ing offered in connection with tha
last Of nine charges of maladministra@
| ton of his Office which have been
brought against him.
The specific charge is to the effect
that Col Oehmanns Office condemned
the property when its condition did
not justify such action. In the state<
ment of the prosecutions case it was
implied that the recommendation fot
evacuation of the property had been
| greatly to the advantage of the ten.
ant in that it invalidated certain
financial obligations to the owner.
Hotel in Bad Condition.
The first witness this morning wal
| Charles A. Hall, former clerk at thd
Logan Hotel. who described it as in d
very bad structural condition in ths
years between 1928 and 1882.
During that period. Hall said, Mrs,
Manolah Brennan spent considerable
money in repairing walls. floors
plumbing and other important part4
OF the building
Following Hall on the stand was
Pincus Fox. owner of property at 2145
| I street, which was involved in the
third and fourth charges. Fox testiS
fled he had discussed with Robert
Goodman, contractor, the matter Of
repairing his property, and that hs
had received an estimate for the job
Later, he said, he had protested
against Goodman serving on a board
of survey which condemned the prop<
erty.
Ruildinr Held Danrerous