Evening star., 1935-01-25

FLEMINGTON, N. j., January 25.-
Forty years ago in a small town in
Russia boy was born into the House
of David, he was given the name
David" and few years later fate.
under the guidance Of his parents,
brought him to America.
His full name is David T. Wilentz.
and today he stands in bold relief
against the drab background Of Amer
ica'S currently most notorious court
room, and with smooth phrases and
soft gestures, laying word upon word
and fastening link to link, he draws
Bruno Richard Hauptmann, also for
eign-born, closer and closer to the
electric chair.
When questioned about his past,
Wilentz remarks that he knows Moth
ing of it save what he has read in the
papers, although he admits to hopes
for the future When asked what he
does out of court during this trial, he
says laughingly that he worries like
the devil" Nevertheless, though his
past career may not have been spec
tacular, David Wilentz has not been
idle in the 40 years which have inter
vened since his birth in Russia to the
time when he became chief prose-
cutor in the crime of the century,"
Reported for Education.
While he was working his way
through law school, Wilentz was a
reporter for the Plainfield Courier
News, collecting tasty items in Somer-
vile County. Through ability, through
personality and through his political
bent, he became the Democratic
county chairman in Middlesex, a
county which up until a few years
ago was strongly Republican. 1t seems
to have been shortly thereafter that
Mayor Hague, uncrowned boss of New
Jersey, whose native Hudson County
is the Democratic Gibraltar of this
State, and who, unlike his cohort Al
Smith, has managed to maintain Fed
eral favor, as well as city, county and
State leadership, began to notice the
young man.
Hague is said to have credited
Wilentz with swinging Middlesex
County to Democracy, thereby plac-
ing it democratically second only to
Hudson County, and a little over a
year ago Gov. Harry A. Moore, pos
sibly via the Hague route, appointed
David Wilentz attorney general. Or
maybe those three carding, weaving
and shipping fates had arranged all
that 10 years ago.
Whether this comes under the head
of accident, or patronage, or ability,
or personal charm, which is said to
have netted him high percentages
among the ladies, no man could have
had better break than he has had
in being prosecutor at this epochal
trial. A break, but no snap. This
is his first prosecution case, this is
his first murder trial, certainly this is
his first national appearance, and,
judging by his present excellent per-
formance, I am inclined to think that
his future triumphS will be more due
to his own push than to others pull.
Cannot Remain Static.
He is married to a charming bru-
nette, mother of his three children,
who came to court the other day to
behold her husband in action for the
first time in their married life. He
is said to be devoted to his wife and
children, domestically contented,
though professionally ambitious. Per-
haps he is right when he says that
he has had no past to speak of, but
hopes for future. Certainly he is a
man who could not remain static.
He is slight, beautifully groomed,
wearing always an immaculte though
! inconspicuous business suit, white or
blue shirt and a tie as suave as per-
feet Souff1e. His black shoes gleam,
his smooth black hair glistens, and his
sensitive hands are artistic. FIRE.
ouently he wears blue-dark blue suit,
light dull blue shirt, purple tie-and
this color combination seems to en-
phaSize the blush circle beneath his
sad, subtle, Levantine eyes.
He seldom raises his voice, in con-
trast to the bombastic Reilly, the
pompous Pope, and the logical, but
fiery, Fisher, of the defense, but by
sheer artistic suasion he Is able to
create his effects. His is the sooth-