Evening star., 1939-02-08
BIackmai| Indictment
One Of 48 Handed Up
By Grand Jury
Attorney and Auditor
Accused Of Threat in
Income Tax Case

Reuben K Millstein, attorney and
auditor, today was indicted by the
District Court grand jury on a
charge of blackmail, for allegedly
endeavoring to obtain 5000 from At
torney Harvey L. Cobb, one of the
two major stockholders of the Ar
cade Cafeteria, Inc. Forty-eight in
dictments were handed up to JUS
tice James M. Proctor in Criminal
Court No. shortly after noon.
The indictment regarding Mr.
Millstein charges him with threat
ening to accuse Mr.. Cobb of falsify-
ing tax returns Of Arcade Cafeteria,
Inc, before the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, unless he was given 5000
on January IA, 1887. Mr.. Cobb is
president and one of the majority
stockholders in the concern and has
his law oflces in the National Press
Building. Mr.. Millstein allegedly
prepared the tax returns.
Mr.. Cobb advised the authorities
that Mr.. Millstein recently had a
libel suit the latter had brought
agains the complainant dismissed
in Delaware and that a $50,O00 libel
suit against Mr. Cobb, also filed by
Mr.. Millstein. is now pending in
District Court. The facts in the
case which brought forth today S
indictment have been presented to
the Grievance Committee of the
Bar Association of the District OF
Columbia, Mr.. Cobb asserted. In
District Court Mr.. Millstein has sued
Mr.. Cobb and the manager of the
cafeteria, alleging libel.
Liquor Robbery Indictments.
The so-called shotgun bandits" 1"
which allegedly terrorized a number
OF liquor stores. were indicted today
by the grand jury. William c.
Wright, 81, and Albert E. Smith,
80. were accused of robbery for al
legedly on January S holding up
D. A. O'Connor, Inc, 214 Sixth street
NV. Wright, Smith and Carl L.
Reed. %. in another indictment,
are accused of taking $185 from the
Columbia Beverage, Wine and Liquor
Shop, 1910 Fourteenth street NV,
on December 10.
Another indictment accuses
Wright. Smith and Reed on De-
cember 9 of taking $160 from the
Retail Liquor Store, 1924 L street
NV. Yet another indictment &C
cused Wright of getting 1904, in
company with juvenile, from Cour-
embis, Inc, 1017 M street NV. on
December IS. Wright, Smith and
Reed on December 9, In another in
dictment, are charged with getting
5000 from liquor store at 261O Con-
necticut avenue NV.
Joseph J. Hasson was indicted on
a charge of false pretenses for al
legedly on December 81 getting 5000
on Western Union telegraph order,
as the result of code order from
Mount Holly, N. j., and another in
dictment charges him with getting
$3.50 on a Western Union money
order on December II from a clerk
at the Continental Hotel.
Motors Larceny Charged.
Lewis N. Martin, 54-year -old me-
chanic, is indicted on a charge Of
grand larceny and embezzlement
for allegedly taking an electric ele-
vator motor valued at SITS.
Agnes Spruell, colored, rs, and
Helen Geralds, colored, 26, were in
dicted on a charge Of robbery.
Willis r. Ledman, "a years old,
was indicted on a charge of black
mail.
Edwin w. Walker was indicted on
a charge of intent to extort 5000
from the late Richard B. Covelle,
1880 r street NV. The authorities
say that Covelle, an optician, killed
himself here recently.
Others indicted, and the charges
against them, are: Arthur Fridy,
Willie Davis, Earle Watkins and
Francis D. Carmen, housebreaking;
Ethel Masterson, housebreaking and
larceny; William Teal, housebreak-
ing and joyriding; Frank F. Hunter,
grand larceny; Swanson M. Camp
bell and Margaret L. Garflnckel,
grand larceny and receiving stolen
property; Clarence v. Williams, JOY
riding and grand larceny; Martha
Surratt, Silas Surratt and Alfred
Cochran, assault with dangerous
weapon; Frank F. Hunter, Thomas
r. Miles, Samuel T. Pumphrey, rob-
berry; Ernest L. Williams, forging
and uttering . Government check;
Ralph Copeland, bigamy: Henry
Mcdaniel, violating Liquor Taxing