Evening star., 1935-10-08
YADEN GOT GRAFT
KNOWLEDGE FROM
ROBERTS, HE SAYS
Tells Reporters, Before
Grand Jury Appearance,
Press Was Also Source.
SUMMONED FOLLOWING
CHARGE IN ADDRESS
Peoples Counsel Declares Will
ingness to Appear Before
Inquisitorial Body.

In an appearance before the grand
fury today which followed his public
charges of graft in the District gov
eminent, James G. Yaden, president
of the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, Is said to have revealed Peoples
Counsel William A. Roberts and the
public press as the sources of his in
formation.
The two cases which he charged
s'never will be brought to trial. we're
identified as arriving from incidents
which already have been thoroughly
aired in the newspapers.
AS to his broader allegation of graft
in the District government, Yaden
said his information consisted only In
what he had read in the newspapers
concerning the current investigation
OF the building inspectors office.
Before Jury Half Hour.
Invited to tell the grand jury on
what he based his charges, made In
an address Friday night before the
Burroughs Citizens Association, Yaden
arrived at the court house promptly
at lO:30 am. For As minutes he was
kept waiting in the witness room.
During this period he told reporters
the substance of his testimony. He
was before the jury approximately a
half hour.
One of the cases concerning which
Yaden testified was the indictment
March 90 of Alfred ]. Moss, District
building employe, on charge OF
solicitation of a felony. This indict-
ment was nolle pressed May 81. The
case was presented again to the grand
Jury, which failed to indict the Sec
ond time.
United States Attorney Leslie C..
Garnett said Moss was alleged to have
agreed to waive the water charge
against property owner in return for
SIS. He said the Indictment was nolle
pressed because it was found the in
dictment had incorrectly stated the
water bill was owed by the complain
ing witness, whereas it really was
made out to his wife Garnett said
there was no statute covering the
alleged offenSe and an extended
search Of the files was necessary to
find charge which might cover the
alleged ofense.
Roberts Willing to Appear.
Roberts said he would be delighted"
to tell the grand jury what he knows
concerning the Moss affair.
II was called before the grand jury
when the case first was presented,
but not the second time" Roberts
asserted. capt. Robert E. York, the
Assistant Engineer Commissioner, and
I still are holding the SIS that was
paid, yet right now an effort Is being
made to reinstate Moss. The District
attorney never informed us that the
case was nolle pressed"
Yaden said the other case to which
he referred involved an employe of
the District Water Department. He
said he did not know the mans name
or the facts concerning him.
Garnett said he must have referred
to the indictment May % of John
Louis Wolarik on forgery charge.
Wolarik was said to have been in
volved in padding of District
pay roll. He pleaded not guilty
on June 81 and will be tried this
Fall, Garnett declared.
No Reason to Advance Trial.
"There was no reason why we
should advance the trial of this man."
said Garnett. He was at liberty on
bail There was only week between
his arraignment and the beginning of
the Summer recess, and during that
time we were making strenuous efforts
to clear up all our Jail cases"
Asked if he told Yaden of this case,
Roberts said he may have discussed it,
but that he knew nothing about 1t
except what he had read and heard in
casual discussions.
Whether Roberts would be called
before the grand jury could not be
learned early this afternoon.
The invitation to Yaden to testify
was extended by Norman E. Towson,
grand jury foreman, after conference
with Justice Daniel w. ODonoghue.
Send Letter to Yaden.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners sent
the following letter to Yaden:
"The Commissioners have noted in
the public address that you are quoted
as having made the statement that
the District government is not free
from graft and that you received this
information from the District Build
ing.
Knowing your fairness the Com
missioners feel that you should give
them the specific information you
have and the source or sources.
'The Commissioners aim has al
ways been directed toward an honest
administration of District affairs,
with absolute freedom from graft in
all departments. As they desire TO
investigate these charges at once, they
will appreciate this information as
soon as possible"
The letter was signed by Melvin c.
Hazen, as president of the board.