Evening star., 1936-06-02
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Edward J. Margett became aSso-
ciated with the Townsend old-age pen
sion movement for the sole purpose of
Cleaning up" the House Investigating
Committee was told today by Capt.
Kenneth o. Cutie, Marine Corps Re-
serve. Cutie was California manager
of the Townsend organization in its
early days and knew Margett when
he joined the movement.
Margett's reputation was bad"
Cutie said.
Margett now is State manager in
California and is being sought by
United States marshal with a sub
poena to appear before the House
probers. He is believed to be one of
the real powers behind the pension Or
ganization at the present time.
With Cutie still on the stand, Com
nlittee Counsel James r. Sullivan
submitted for the record nearly 20 ex-
hibits bearing upon Marget's char
acter background. Among them were
certified copies of indictments for
grand larceny and accepting the earn
ings of prostitute. These same in
dictments we're admitted to the COM
mittee records early in the hearings.
Documents Among Exhibits.
Police and court documents were
among the other exhibits.
Representative Tolan. Democrat, of
California objected to the exhibits
as "immaterial," but was over-ruled by
Chairman Bell.
The documents indicated Margett
has been engaged in. numerous enter
prises, among them bootlegging, run
ming card games, operating a pool
room, cutting liquor, etc. Margett
used various names, including one of
Robert E. He'll, while selling rugs as a
blind for bootlegging activities.
His slogan then, according to the
documents. was:
Go to He'll for your rugs"
Margett claims birth in Boston, but
among the exhibits was a certificate
of birth in Russia.
Joined in July, 1884.
Capt. Cutie said he joined the
Townsend organization in July, 1884,
and stayed with it about eight
months. His first duties were to aid
in organizing Townsend clubs in
Northern California. 1t was here he
sought out Margett, at the direction
of DR.. Townsend.
Committee Counsel Sullivan made
the point here that Margett then was
not connected with the pension or
ganization, but Townsend, from the
earliest stages of the movemet, was
turning to Margett for cooperation.
Cutie then told how Margett
operated saloon in the building
where he provided Office space for
the Townsend headquarters.
Margett made his first active en-
trance into the movement by financing
a San Francisco mass meeting.
Margett frequently spoke of clean
ing up" on the Townsend movement
Cutie said At this time. the Wit
ness continued, he (Cuttle) was not
getting the cuts" on club member
ship to which he was entitled.
The most significant point brought
out yesterday was the estimate
of Rev. Alfred j. Wright, Ohio
State manager and one Of the di-
rectors Of Old-Age Revolving Pen
sions, Ltd, that no more than $4,000
is now available in all bank accounts
Of the organization. Just preceding
him, R. E. Clements, retired national
secretary and treasurer, had repeated
his testimony that $4,000 was avail
able when he left the organization
on April /.
Would Dust Board.
Frank L. McWade, former Roches-
ter organizer, said the movement had
fallen into the hands of racketeers."
With the exception of Dr. Wright, he
said, the present board of directors
OF o. A. R. P. is composed of birds
of a feather" and should be ami
hilated"
Wright, who testified in spite of a
telegraphed order from Townsend not
to do so, was insistent that the move
ment will be purified" at its sched-
uled national convention in Cleveland.
He claimed he could not be removed
from the organization at Townsend's
will, although he admitted he had
been taken in through no more pow
erful influence. The movement, he
said, will go on "in spite Of Dr. Town
send"