Evening star., 1939-04-20
MistrialRefused
In Randle Case
n
By Justice Adkins
Defendant Questioned
For Two Hours by
Prosecutor

ASAA Q. ASO0ekAyAA xtdA4OAC, VAA VI 4AA AL
District Court on q charge Of false
pretenses and allegedly taking $500
from the mother Of q young WASH
ingtonian, on the claim she could
improve his physical and mental
health, today was cross-examined
vigorously for two hours, during
which Justice Jesse c. Adkins de-
clined to grant a mistrial.
Il intend to show she is nothing
but q fraud from beginning to end, "
said Assistant United States Attor-
ney Arthur B. Caldwell, the pros
ecutor, at one stage Of the proceed
ings.
Mrs. Randle's attorney, Robert H.
McNeill. jumped to his feet and
asked the jurist for mistrial, on
the ground Of misconduct on the
part Of the prosecutor and actions
prejudicial to his client, but Justice
Adkins overruled the motion.
Mrs. Caldwell, who is trying the
case for the Government with Mrs.
Grace Brown Stiles, another as
sistant United States attorney, had
Mrs. Randle identify a book of which
she was part author, dealing with
psychology and diet, and was read
ing from advertisements which told
of having for sale orange Juice,
herbs, tree-ripened dates for
strengthening the eyes," happy
health shoes" and other things. The
book. Mrs. Caldwell read, declared
that Mrs. Randle is a doctor, but
IN explanation, she said, she is a
doctor in the ministry and not a
doctor Of medicine. She said she
got her divinity degree in Los An
geles, but couldn't remember the
street address and said the school
Is no longer in existence.
Other Cases Brought Up.
Mr.. Caldwell developed that Mrs.
Randle was convicted of practicing
medicine without a license and she
said she was forced to plead guilty
and held under exorbitant bond In
Henderson County Court, N. c. Mr.
Caldwell had the judge of that
court stand up in the courtroom
and read from an official document
that judgment was suspended on
condition Mrs. Randle refrain from
practicing as healer until she OBJ
tanned license.
Asked about a conviction In Fall
mouth. Mass, for practicing healing
without license, Mrs. Randle said
Il was railroaded." but pleaded
guilty. although she said she first
pleaded innocent. She said she
was placed on probation.
She said she took all the work
that she could at the University of
Virginia in the hours at her dis
posal: was principal of rural
school in South Carolina: attended
Columbia University In New York
City. taking sufficient courses to get
a license in Florida to teach in the
city schools there. but conceded she
never obtained a degree from Co.
lumbia.
Testifying her eyesight failed
Mrs. Randle, who is charged with
taking $500 from Mrs. Catherine H.
Reed of 1881 California street NV,
whose son Rufus was a student at
the University of Pennsylvania in
January last year, told the court and
all-male jury she had learned
Braille, or some similar system Of
reading for the blind. The prose-
cutor handed her a book in Braille
and asked her to read it to the jury,
but she could not, pleading that she
had learned the system many years
ago and wasn't sure this was the
same one.
After establishing that Mrs.
Randle had taught summer courses
at Clemson College. S. c., Mr.. Cald-
well questioned her about her hus-
band, Thomas G. Randle.
Declaring she has not seen him
for seven years and that he had
been an inspector for the Florida
State Board of Health, Mrs. Randle
said she would not say her husband
had deserted her, but that this was
required under Florida law so they
could get divorce decree.
Smith Reynolds, the late heir to
the North Carolina tobacco fortune
had trouble in adjusting himself to
life, Mrs. Randle testified, explain
ing that she taught him Christian
psychology, dietetics and philosophy