Evening star., 1936-12-01
FORMER EMPL0YE
ACCUSES NOLAN
Kearney Tells Of Fear of
"Rap' at Bribery
Trial.

Because he feared he was going to
take the rap" Francis M. Kearney,
indicted with William j. Nolan for the
alleged bribery of two colored wit
nesses in a divorce case. took the wit
ness stand in District Court today and
testified against Nolan, his former en-
ployer.
Kearney's action did not come as a
surprise, since yesterday he had en-
tered plea Of "nolo contendere.
which in effect was plea of guilty.
He told the jury today how he and
Nolan discussed means of inducing the
witnesses. Charles Young and his wife.
to leave the District prior to the open
ing of a divorce suit filed against the
automobile dealer by Mrs. Alice M.
Nolan.
The Youngs had been subpoenaed in
the divorce case as witnesses for Mrs.
Nolan.
Tells Of Receiving Money.
Kearney, who was manager of the
Connecticut avenue branch of Nolan's
automobile agency, said Nolan gave
him $50 for Young. which he turned
over to the colored man, and also di-
rected that he be given two automobile
tires so Young and his wife could drive
to South Carolina before the divorce
trial opened
After bringing the Youngs back tc
Washington when the police started
looking for them. Kearney said he
told the colored man to remain ir
hiding unless he wanted to be ar.
rested. Young, however, surrendered
to the District Attorneys office
Assistant United States Attorney
Walter M. Shea then asked Kearney
whether he and Nolan had discussed
the case after the return of the
bribery indictment
Kearney replied they had discussed
their defense to the criminal charge
and had agreed ito deny everything.
Feared Conviction.
He said they persisted in their de-
nial during conversations with their
attorneys. but that he later became
worried for fear he was going to be
convicted. Desiring to discuss this
possibility, he testified, he went to
Nolan and said:
1T looks like I'm the fellow that's
going to take the rap. imagine you
will get directed verdict and that
the District attorney will apologize
for indicting you. 1 think I should
have my own lawyer and I want you
to get Leo Rover for me-
Kearney said Nolan assured him he
wouldn't 60 to Jail, but said Rover
wanted too large fee.
Before Kearney took the stand
Attorney Rudolph Yeatman.
Young admitted he had not told the
truth in two afIidavits made by him
during the divorce proceedings, but
said he had no hesitancy in telling
falsehoods on those occasions because
he had not been sworn on the Bible.
He admitted that he would swear to
anything outside Of court for a new
car If it was offered to him in rush. u
The Government contends Kearney
and Nolan let Young use q Nolan
Motor Co. car while he was allegedly
being concealed.
Young, colored janitor in an apart
ment house where Nolan allegedly
name, testified yesterday that he was
paid the $50 and given two automobile
tires to leave Washington.
Attorneys Yeatman and George D.
uorn;nO ronresentino Milan objected
to this testimony, but Justice Proctor
admitted it after Government counsel
assured him they would show 1t
tended to prove the bribery charge
against the automobile dealer.
Young said Nolan had an apart
ment in the 1900 block of Massachu-
sets avenue in 1891. when he was
janitor there. At that time, he said.
he knew Nolan as Charles Earring
ton. not learning his real name until
he went to the Nolan Motor Co. to
ttru a