The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-25
HARRY HuSE'S
NAME BROUGHT
OUT IN TRIAL
Witness Christensen
Says Former Head
of Licensing Dept.
Threatened Him

The name of Harry c. HuSe,
former state director OF
licenses and now highway
patrol chief. crept into the
Peoples Gas & Oil mail fraud
trial here Friday.
Huse. II was brought out. made
some inquiries into the =. @. n o
activities under the original oil
land lease deal and later issued A
license when the company began
selling 'partieipations. which
came under the license department
as securities.
Oil land leases as real estate
did not require a securities license
You know that Mr.. Huse
wasn't interested in the sale OF
real estate. don't you ," asked De.
Tense Attorney George F. Wander
veer of L. S. Witness Malcolm p
Christensen. former Tacoma sales
manager. in ross-examining about
conversation the witness hao
mentioned between himself. Illus,
and Defendant Milton Simons..
Ordered stricken
Il know Mr.. Huse said he was
going to have me in jail in "a
hours quipped Christensen.
At Vanderveer's request that
was ordered stricken from the
record.
Why did you say that ?" h,
then asked the witness
Because it was the truth" said
Christensen.
Let's talk about things not per
tanning TO the lawsuit outside. .
said the veteran defense attorney
and stopped.
II took a fun hour 10 get the
trial under way Friday morning
All defense attorneys joined In a
vigorous attack on testimony OF
Christensen admitted Thursday
about statements OF Defendant
William A. Broome, charging his
fellow promoters with fraud and
the double cross
with Reservations
Judge Edward +. Cushman adj
mitted the testimony. he told them
with the understanding that the
jury consider II only in relation to
Broomes guilt. that the fact that
1t accused other defendants did
not make 1T inadmissible.
1T appeared to me a ressonsb bic
man might conclude of the de-
PENDANT Broome that II WASH the
first time he had reason TO beliey,
certain OF the other defendants
were engaged in practices injuri'
Gus to leaseholders. the jurist rca-
soned aloud. Therefore II WASH
altogether in his own interests. I,
was an admission he had known
for some time and hadn't immedi-
ately done anything 10 defeat the
ends Of conspiracy"
Ruling Deferred
He refused 10 strike all the tes-
timony Of Christensen but agreed
TO defer ruling on parts Of II
until he had a transcription BY
Court Reporter Russell Anderson
Witness Christensen continued
to emerge victor from the cross
examination. Asked by Defense
Attorney Anthony Savage II ht
told customers the oil leases were
"A gamble and speculation. only
to mlslead them. Christensen an
swered
That vas part Of the sales psy'
ehology The more you told then
IL was gamble. the more the5
bought
Christensen finally was excused
just before noon Friday and hi'
place on the stand taken by James
G. Engler also former sales
manager for +. @ & o.
lie started ms testimony against
the eight indicted California pro
moters week ago. Not all wit.
nesses will take that long and
some may be dropped the prosecu.
ton gave assurance but tbs
81 800 900 trial appeared definitely
launched on q course Of two u
three months.
Cross-examined Thursday after
noon. Christensen admitted ne had
MADE $4,000 or $4,000 IN com
Continued on Page 20 Column j.