The Washington times., 1938-03-02
Rx CARROLL PEEKE

BY CARROLL PEEKE
It the shot which was aimed at
me in the corridor of the Grand
Jury rooms last night by Erich
Hol5ein, secretary to the Baron
Won Blau, had hit what he aimed
at
Just when we came out Of the
Grand Jury room, after Special
Prosecutor Raymond Neudecker
haG drawn the Baron further into
the net of circumstance which I
know will be his undoing, a shot
startled the whole group Of by
ISLANDERS marooned in the corri-
doris.
Blind Dick" who keeps the
stand there in the Grand Jury
corridor, had been kidnapped by
Holhein's henchmen - and the
Baron's-and Holbein had put on
dark glasses, and taken his place.
Harry Dale and Bill Baker, re-
porters from other papers, had
Suggested that we go over and
get a chocolate bar. and just as
we turned to the stand, Holbein
fired a shot right at me.
He was Immediately pounced on
by three of the special detectives
/ assigned to this case, since Satur-
days spy roundup pointed to pos
sible activities in Washington. He
| is now in custody.
The first witness who made an
appearance at last nights session
was the beautiful MarySe, Countess
Czerny, sister of the slain archi-
tect, Ronald Brooks, for whose
fictional murder the Baron Won
Blau is being held.
I was on the stand briefly
enough to augment certain in
formation I had already given Mr..
Neudecker.
Over at police headquarters
Thomas Wilton, the taxicab driver
in whose cab was found the gun
with which Brooks was slain, at
first absolutely refused to talk with
anyone. Later Detective Sullivan,
of No. / precinct, hurried to Mr..
Neudecker with information that
Wilton wanted to see him. Neu-
decker evidently felt this i'm
portant, for he rushed over to head
quarters, and came out with Will
ton who shook his hand in an ap-
parently friendly manner and left
for his home with Detective Sui
Ivan. I understand note OF
some sort was handed to Wilton
that has him badly scared and
that Detective Sullivan and other
special detail men are guarding
Wilton from threats. Neudecker
wouldn't tell me about it.
Tonight 1 know there will be
fireworks! Mr.. Neudecker tells me
Wilton is going to talk. More than
one person seems now to be in
volved in the ride to Brooks home
the night of the murder. Who was
the other person? It is ungallant-
it is a personally painful thing to
me to maintain it-but Wilton
told detectives and not in grand
jury testimony-that the other
fare he drove to Chevy Chase the
night Brooks was slain, was-Ruby
Robert!
Is THAT why she has been too
exhausted to appear? Is THAT
why she caved so suddenly-and
remained conveniently i'll after
found Wilton? Is THAT a reason
for more than mere fatigue? Why
did Hathaway write me that letter
about that insurance? It's been
on my mind ever since. Forget it!
I'm tired.
I understand that Holbein is
being subjected to questioning by
the boys. Well-it's only human
to forget ones fine sentiments at
certain moments - and I don't
mind how HARD they question
him. if it only sheds some light
on this mysterious case! But do
not believe he will ever talk-ever
tell anything that will hurt his
master-the master mind of this
amazing plot that goes far beyond
the unfortunate killing Of my
friend Brooks. He may-but ]
doubt it.