Evening star., 1936-03-24
SEWER INSPECTOR
IS HELD TO Jury
Bishops Bond Set at ST., 500
at Hearing-Contractor
Under Arrest.
BY a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

BY stan correspondent OF The star.
ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE,
March 24.-Louis Bishop. 35, Arling-
ton County sewer inspector, was or
dered held for action of the grand jury
today following a preliminary hearing
before Judge B. NJ Hedrick in County
Court on charges of accepting $500
bribe.
Bishop was released under $1,000
bond, pending appearance before the
grand jury April 20.
Commonwealth Attorney Lawrence
w. Douglas called as witnesses County
Manager Roy S. Braden. County En-
gineer C. L. Kinnier and Detective
Hugh Jones.
Kinnier, under whose direction en-
gineers conducted an inspection of
the Potomac interceptor sewer line,
where Bishop was employed as county
inspector, declared the survey re-
vealed the contracting company was
overpaid as result of reports made
by Bishop, indicating the line was laid
at a greater depth than actually was
the case
Detective Jones, one of the officers
who arrested Bishop on March 6, said
that Bishop first explained his accept
ance of a $500 check from N. C.
Nickels, member of the contracting
firm, by declaring it was transaction
between Mrs. Nickels and his wife in
volvinp a diamond ring
Contractor Is Arrested.
N. C. Nickles, Erie, Pa, contractor,
was arrested on bribery charges and
presentation of the Investigating Com
mittee's report, which stated Nickles'
firm was overpaid for construction of
the 3-mile Potomac interceptor line.
Meanwhile. reports that the P. w. A.
is conducting its own investigation of
the countrywide project were con-
firmed today by its Public Relations
Department. Of1icials said they did
not know when the survey would be
complete.
Nickles presented himself at the
court house at pm. yesterday in re-
sponse to a request from Common
wealth's Attorney Lawrence w. Doug
las. He was Immediately placed under
arrest byDeputy Sheriff Leland Gaines
on a warrant sworn out by Douglas
and was released in $4,000 bail for a
preliminary hearing April 8. The
amount of bond and date of the hear
ing were set by Acting County Court
Judge Clarence r. Ahalt.
The warrant specifically charged
Nickles with giving $500 to Bishop,
with intent to influence his judgment
on a matter pending before the said
Louis Bishop in his official capacity"
Amount Being Worked Out.
The Investigating Committees re-
port, submitted to County Manager
Roy S. Bradon, stated that Bishop,
in his capacity as inspector Of the
interceptor line, has allowed depths
of cuts in excess of those found by
our investigation, which quantities
have been used in arriving at pay
ments for the contractor, Marasco g.
Nickles.
"The amount of the overpayment
is being worked ont and will be re-
ported on at a later date" the report
stated.
The discrepancies between the actual
and reported depths we're found in
the section between the Memorial
Bridge approach and point on the
Military road, 1t was said. The in
terceptor line extends from Rosslyn
to the sewerage disposal plant at
Four-Mile Run, and was constructed
at cost of approximately $4,000.
Emphasis was placed, however, on
the fact that the sewer measures up
to specifications in respect to con-
struction, elevation and grade. and
that the alleged misrepresentation Of
depth concerned only the amount
paid for the construction.
Protected From Loss.
Members of the Investigating Com
mittee, which launched its inspec-
ton March 9, include County Engi-
neer c. L. Kinnier and representa-
tives of the Sanitary Engineering De-
partment, the P. w. A., and the
Chester Engineers. the latter super
visors of the entire installation project.
At the start of the inspection, mem
bers of the County Board indicated
they would demand a more sweep
ing investigation if the interceptor
line was found to be faulty.
In the light Of the engineers find
ings, however, members today pointed
out that the county Is protected
against possible loss on the interceptor
project through bond furnished by
the contracting firm Of Marasco &
Nickles and that decision as to any
further investigation might properly
rest with officials of the Chester Engi-
naerS