Evening star., 1937-10-01
PUGH WILL RECALL
JURY IN FUND QUIZ
Puts Accountants to Work
After Four Indictments
in Montgomery.
By q Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Nd, October 1.-The
grand jury which returned embezzle-
ment indictments against two Mont
gomery County officials and two for
mer ONCE holders last night will be
recalled soon to consider additional
cases.
1t was learned today States Attor-
ney James H. Pugh has placed ac-
countants at work upon audits sug-
gested by the jurors and the Jury left
Rockville prepared to return for a
special session before its term expires
November 8.
The four defendants named in last
nights indictments are Edwin j. GRAY.
who until two weeks ago was county
building inspector; Gerald Warthen,
formerly Gray's assistant, who was
made building inspector when Gray
resigned; P. Ray Souder, supervisor Of
county aid, and Peyton Mannar, who
resigned recently as manager of the
Bethesda liquor dipensary.
All four posted bond today.
Warthen and Gray gave $500 surety,
Souder $500 and Mannar $1,000
The grand jury unanimously recon-
mended that the present incumbent
Of the Office of county accountant, and,
or county auditor. be dismissed from
office Immediately"
In other recommendations for gen.
eral improvement the jury suggested:
Abolition of the Liquor Control
Board and the transfer of its duties
to the county commissioners. It was
the second time grand Jury has
recommended the change.
Abolition Of the Office Of supervisor
OF aid and the placement OF his func-
tions in the County Welfare Board.
Installation of a modern book
keeping system in the Liquor Control
Board.
Adequate Bonding Urged.
The adequate bonding of all county
officials and employees who handle
public funds.
More careful supervision by tbs
Police Department of the places where
beer is sold and consumed on the
premises.
Appointment of purchasing agent
for the county.
The amount involved IN the four
embezzlement cases totals $1,0l6.lO.
Twenty-six indictments were re.
turned charging Gray with the en-
bezzlement of small sums aggregating
$244. Souder was accused in an In
dictment Of embezzlement of s3l.25,
said to have been a check sent by
a woman for the care of her hus.
band, an insane patient.
Mannar Resigns Job.
Mannar, who resigned from his lob
q month ago, was indicted for the
alleged embezzlement of s18885. War.
then was accused of the embezzleme1
of s552.
Warthen, who lives at Kensington
is q native of the county and was :
builder before appointment as as
sistant building inspector.
Gray was in the real estate bust.
ness before he became building In
spector. He resides at Edgemoor, is
an official Of the Edgemoor Club and
Is active in civic circles as a member
Of the Edgemoor Citizens Associa-
ton.
Souder lives at Damascus and Is a
member OF one of Montgomery's
pioneer families. He is the son of
former County Commissioner Philip
Souder.
Mannar, who resides at Potomac. is
one OF the three sons of the late DR..
Claybourne Mannar, one-time health
officer for the town of Rockville.
Hits Liquor Situation.
In its report the jury dealt at length
with the liquor situation in the county.
This grand jury has heard" its
report states, "in an astounding large
percentage Of its cases, irrefutable
evidence conclusively to prove what
our citizenry has long surmized and
believed to be true: that beer and ale
are being sold to minors without
stint, fear or caution by purveyors of
these beverages; that beer and ale can
and are being purchased In Mont
gomery County by persons not only
with impaired equilibrium induced by
alcoholic stimulants, but individuals
actually intoxicated.
Furthermore, the deaths in murder
and manslaughter cases were directly
traceable to alcoholic beverages, and
the vast majority of cases investi-
gated for alleged assault and other
criminal actions involved drunken
defendants.
More Careful Supervision.
i Therefore, the grand jury recon-
mends that the Police Department
give more careful supervision to the
places where beer is sold and con-
sumed on the premises in Montgomery
County and that the Liquor Control
Board make more stringent their regu-
lations in such manner as will obvi-
ate these conditions; and that the sale
OF beer or liquor of any kind what
ever, in any place in Montgomery
County, be prohibited on Sundays"
The report said. too, that the meth
ods OF disbursements and issuance of
court orders for Layments of unsworn
acquisitions by the Orphans Court
and register of wills Office may well
invite dishonesty and carelessness on
the part of guardian" and recon-
mended that new system that "ade-
quately and completely protects all in
dividuals" be instituted.
1t was reported by the jurors that
they investigated upon the courts
order "the migration of harassed
gamblers and racketeers into the
suburban area from Washington" and
found no evidence of gaming estab-
hshments.
1t suggested in its report that all
ofhcials, clerks and employees Of any
| nature that handle funds, directly