Evening star., 1938-02-24
MEMBER OF HOUSE
WILL FACE COUNT
IN ''H|T-RUN" CASE
Parsons of Illinois, Who Ad-
mits He Did Not Give
Name, Accused.
OTHER DRIVER CHARGED
ON HAND-SIGNAL COUNT
Representatives Lawyer Asserts
Case Was "Frame-up," and
Forecasts No Conviction.

Representative Claude v. Parsons,
Democrat, of Illinois, who charged q
"frame-up" against him but frankly
admitted driving his automobile away
from collision Saturday night with
out making his identity known. was
formally accused of violating the So
called "hit-and-run' driving law after
a four-hour preliminary hearing be-
fore Assistant Corporation Counsel
George D. Nelson yesterday.
Albert D. Nesbitt. Cleveland, Ohio,
attorney who was driving the car in
volved in the fender-smashing COL
lision with Mr.. Parsons machine, was
charged at the same time with pull
ing away from the Grub without CIV
ing the required hand signal.
Both cases were set tentatively for
arraignment at 1870 pm next Thurs
day, March 3. Mr.. Parsons checked
calendar to see il he could spare
the time from legislative business, and
agreed to appear voluntarily in traffic
court after his attorney, A. K. Shipe
shouted that mo judge on Gods green
earth would ever convict a Congress-
man on these grounds
"Frame-up" Charge.
Echoing charges first hurled by Mr..
Parsons, Mr.. Shipe shouted this is
pure frame-up against this Repre-
sentative in attempting to persuade
Mr.. Nelson and Matt Mahorner, an
other assistant corpora ton counsel
who collaborated with him, to throw
out the charge against Mr.. Parsons.
Despite Mr.. Shipe's vehement pro-
tests, Mr.. Nelson ruled that their
own admissions gave ample grounds
for charging both Mr.. Parsons and
Mr.. Nesbitt win violating traffic reg
ulatlons and in view of other con-
f1lctlng testimony this case can only
oe determined by judge in court"
Each driver blamed the other for
the collision, which occurred as Mr..
Nesbitt drove an automobile belonging
10 his sister, Mrs. Margaret Ellis,
away from the curb after letting her
out IN front of her home at 26O3
Connecticut avenue NV.
Parsons Didn't Give Name
They agreed that Mr.. Parsons
stopped some distance ahead. walked
back and took Mr.. Nesbitt's name.
and then returned to his car ana drove
of without telling who he was. II
was not going to let anybody engage
me in a brawl on the street" Mr..
Parsons said, insisting that he had no
intention OF running away but in
tended to report the Incident to DO
lice Monday.
Mr. Nesbitt and Mrs Ellis followed
IN her car until Mr. Parsons STONED
after driving around the rear of a
nlllng station at Connecticut avenue
and Porter street NV. There, Mrs.
Ellis said. she stepped on the running
BOARD and attempted to open the door
OF Mr.. Parsons car to ask his name
He opened the door and showed me
from the running board" she said.
However, Mr.. Parsons said "she did
not step on the running board; I did
not touch or shove her and she did
not fall from my car"
Mrs. Ellis hailed a taxicab to take
up the chase from there, while Mr..
Nesoitt continued the pursuit in her
car. They testified they drove through
Rock Creek Park at from A to 60
miles per hour, finally following Mr..
Parsons to the garage of the Broad
moor Apartments, where he lives.
Policeman Interviews Parsons.
Mrs. Ellis said she called police
when Mr.. Parsons went up to his
apartment without talking with her,
and learned only after the police inves-
tigation who he was. Eighth Precinct
Policeman Roland M. Kirby said he
talked briefly with Mr. Parsons at his
apartment and suggested that he 20
to the precinct station house that night
to file detailed report, which he did.
Mrs. Carolyn Hinckley, a milliner
and Miss Beulah Hess, secretary to
Representative James I. Farley, Demo-
crat, of Indiana, who were passengers
in Mr.. Parsons car, corroborated his
testimony.
Wendell H. Moore, a photographer,
of 1903 Connecticut avenue NV; Olin
Hill, attendant at the filling station
at Connecticut avenue and Porter
street NV, and Claude L. Austell,
driver of the taxicab engaged by Mrs.
Ellis for part of the chase, substantial
ed various parts Of the story told by
her and Mr. Nesbitt.