Evening star., 1936-04-01
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

concentrating his fire against the
reputation and character of Edward
j. Margett, California regional official
of the Townsend movement, James r.
Sullivan. counsel for the House In
vestigating Committee, today intro
duced certified copies of three indict-
meuts against Margett.
Brought in the State of Washington
in 1914, two of the indictments
charged Margett with grand larceny
and the third with accepting the
earnings of prostitute.
Admission of the evidence came
only after Representative Tolan, Dem
ocrat, of California had waged de-
termined battle against it and had
forced roll-call vote by the commit
tee. The indictments were accepted
by a count of 4 to 8. Margett is to
be brought before the committee later
in person.
With Robert E. Clements, who
ended his connection with the move
ment today, still on the stand, the
committee recessed at noon for two
hours.
Sought to Show Reputation.
Sullivan's purpose in introducing
the indictments. ne explained, was to
reveal the reputation and background
of Margett, who, by his own admission.
has been drawing as much as $2,500
month in commissions. Margett, how
ever, has contended much of these
funds were used for work Of the Or
ganiZation.
Sullivan was supported by Repre-
sentative Hollister, Ohio Republican,
and by Chairman Bell. Rather than
be polled openly on the questions,
however, the committee went into
executive session to settle the issue.
Returning to the hearing the COM
mittee heard Sullivan continue pound
ing at the failure Of Clements to in
vestigate Margett's background before
allowing him to supervise collection
of thousands of dollars from aged and
infirm persons in the California area.
"I inquired of people around San
Francisco" Clements testified. "One
rumor we heard was that he was con-
nected with some wholesale bootleg
ging enterprise"
One Club Spurned Margett.
1t was then disclosed that one Cali
fornia club refused to deal with Mar
gett and sent its contributions directly
to national headquarters.
II talked to some people in Oakland
who seemed to be very much upset
about Margett," Clements continued.
did you ever write to the State
penitentiary at Walla Walla, Wash,
for information?" Sullivan asked.
mo-
did you ever ask about an indict-
ment against Margett on the charge
of obtaining the earnings Of a prosti-
tute?" Sullivan asked.
mo"
Tolan objected as Sullivan offered
such an indictment in evidence.
"You learned later, did you not, that
this man had been indicted three times
and had a record of running liquor all
up and down the coast of California;"
Il saw the notes of meeting where
such accusations were made"
You wanted this man discharged
and Townsend refused, is it not SOP"
CHe referred to Dr. Francis E. Town
send, co-founder of the old-age PEN
Sion movement
''Dr. Townsend did not want to re-
place Margett," Clements countered.
"You are ready to concede, aren't
you, Mr.. Clements, that man of such
frightful background is not fit per-
son to be in a position of financial
responsibility" Representative Cav
agan, Democrat, of New York asked.
"Yes," the witness answered.
did you know" Sullivan asked,
that Margett was indicted for grand
larceny in Kings County, Wash, on
August 81, 1914?"
NO"
Tolan again objected to committee
acceptance of the indictment.
did you know Margett turned
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