Evening star., 1939-06-03
Records in Milk Inquiry
Studied for Legal Action
Bates Gives Data Concerning Faulkner
And Derrick to District Attorney Pine
Ry JAMES E. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINE.
Assistant United States Attorney
John A. Fiheliy today began an ex.
animation of certain records Of the
House Milk Investigating Commit
tee to determine If they contain any
evidence of law violations which
might justify grand jury considera-
ton.
These records relate particularly
to conversations. picked up by a die
taphone. that Whiting Faulkner il
alleged to have held with B. B. Der
rick, secretary-treasurer of the
Maryland Virginia Milk Producers
Association. Another, however, con-
tains copy of the official transcript
of Mr.. Faulkner's testimony before
the committee.
Mr.. Derrick testified about 10 days
ago that Mr.. Faulkner, postmaster
at Martinsburg. w. Va, and law
yer by profession, had offered to sell
his services to the association for
$1,000. On the witness stand, the
Martinsburg postmaster said he had
met with Mr.. Derrick on several
occasions, and offered to occupy the
usual relationship of attorney and
client, and to use his influence" In
every legitimate way possible to see
that the organization got a favor
able report
Bates and Pine Confer.
The committee records were SUBJ
mitted to United States Attorney
David A. Pine late yesterday by
Chairman Bates of the Investigat-
ing Committee and j. Edward Bur-
roughs. jr, special committee coun-
sci. These two were closeted with
Mr.. Pine at the District courthouse
for nearly half an hour. At the
close of the conference Mr.. Pine
said he assigned Mr.. Fihelly, one of
his assistants, to study the records
and report to him whether they
contained any evidence of law vio-
lations which could be presented to
the grand jury.
In response to question by news
papermen, Mr.. Bates declared I'VE
have no intention of asking the
grand jury to investigate the milk
situation"
District Attorney Pine declared
that "if there is any evidence of
violation of the law, this will be pre-
sented to the grand jury"
While declining to estimate how
long the investigation will take, Mr.
Pine asserted that it might take a
couple of days to digest the records
and map out any legal points that
might be involved Any interview
ing of witnesses would take addi-
tional time, he pointed out.
The prosecutors SHE'D away from
making public any list of witnesses
that might be interviewed.
Mr.. Bates and Mr.. Burroughs
went to the District courthouse
shortly after the close OF yester-
days milk hearing. Mr. Bates said
his decision to turn the records over
to the United States attorney was
reached after he had conferred
earlier in the day with five mem
bers of his milk investigating group
A letter which accompanied the
records, signed by Representative
Bates, follows:
MY Dear Mr.. Pine:
There is handed you herewith 8
stenographic report of the conver.
sations which took place between
one Whiting Faulkner and one B. B
Derrick of the Maryland Virgins
Milk Producers Association. These
converse tions took place in the pres
ence of other parties and were re.
corded by officers of the Metropoli.
tan Police Department. There j,
also inclosed a transcript of the
record of the testimony of Mr.
Faulkner before the subcommittee
OF the House of Representatives.
I'm view of the fact that in Mr.
Faulkners testimony before the
committee he unqualif1edly denieo
having made these statements which
are recorded in the stenographit
record, I, as chairman of the sub
committee, am submitting the mat.
ter to you for your attention fol
presentation to the grand jury If
in your opinion, such action is JUS
tilted.
Il shall be glad to furnish yo,
with the names Of all parties wht
heard the conversations and Of thu
police officers who made thu
records"
Mr.. Bates said his next move
would be to turn over to Chairman
Randolph of the District committed
for his examination a portion of thu
dlctaphone transcript reporting Ger.
tain conversations relative to effort!
to have changes made in District
street-paving specifications. Mr.
Randolph, it is understood, re.
quested an opportunity to examine
that portion of the dictaphone rec.
ords.
Excerpts Of Reported Talk.
Excerpts of some of the dicta
phone rec,0ded conversations which
were read by Mr.. Burroughs whil'
Mr.. Faulkner was on the witness
stand and his answers as taken from
copy of the official transcript
turned over to United States Attor
ney Pine, follow:
Reported dictaphone conversation
Mr.. Faulkner-I'm in position t,
get in advance, two or three days o
advance, everything that comes ou
of Burroughs Office.
Mr. Derrick - Through Mis-
Castleman?" Miss Julia Castleman
former secretary of the Milk Com
mittee. resigned several days aftel
Mr.. Faulkner testified.
Mr.. Faulkner-That's correct"
On the witness stand Mr.. Bur,
roughs asked Mr.. Faulkner II tina
conversation took place.
mo, sir" he replied.
Reported dictaphone conversation
Mr.. Derrick-Does Mr.. Burrough
give you any?
Mr.. Barbour John Barbour /.