Evening star., 1939-02-05
Thomas 10 Return
From Panama
On First Ship
Judge to Be Questioned
By U. S. Juries Probing
Monton, Coster Coses

by y. ,. JuTieS rTooIn9
Monton, Coster Coses
BACKGROUND
Charges that Federal Judge
Martin r. M0nton had accepted
loans from litigants before his
court, and an order by Attorney
General Murphy TOR a Depart
ment OF Justice Investigation
preceded the 5urist's resignation
last Monday. Judge Edtpin S.
Thomas. lDdnted for questioning
by the Federal grand jury study
ing the Mdnton case, sailed Fri-
day night for pacGtbon in
Panamd.
BY the Associat ted Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. "A radio
gram went out from the Depart
ment of Justice today to Federal
Judge Edwin S. Thomas of Con-
necticut, Panama bound on the
Grace liner Santa Barbara, ordering
his immediate return" to the United
States for questioning before two
Federal grand juries.
Judge Thomas sailed late yester-
day and missed the serving of a
subpoena issued by United States
Attorney Gregory Noonan. Mr..
Noonan Wirelessed the master of the
vessel and requested the jurist to
disembrak with the pilot. Nearly
Loft r ,lxy
that the judge was continuing his
journey.
Judge Thomas wirelessed the AS
sociated Press late today he would
return from Cristobal on the first
available ship If Mr.. Noonan so ad-
vises."
Says No Subpoena Needed.
'No subpoena at Cristobal is nee
essary," he said.
His radiogram follows:
This is third winter trip to Pana-
ma following two serious operations.
Reservations were negotiated over
six weeks ago. Had no notice, no
knowledge about subpoena. Will
respond without it. 1t was physi-
cally impossible to leave ship last
night. Wired Mr.. Noonan accord
ingly and that our reservations re-
turn us March s. Will this be sat
isfactory?
Upon receipt of word from him
will return from Cristobal on first
ship available If Mr. Noonan so ad-
vises and needs me before March 6.
No subpoena at Cristobal is neces-
sarv"
Mr.. Noonan said Judge Thomas
was wanted for questioning in con-
nection with the investigation of
the business affairs of United States
Circuit Judge Martin T. Manton,
whose resignation is effective Mon
day. and the inquiry into the sit
uation precipitated by the unmask-
ing and subsequent suicide of F.
Donald Coster-Musica, head of the
McKesson & Robbins drug Arm.
Insists on Return.
BY radiogram Brien Mcmahon,
Assistant Attorney General, ad-
vised the judge, who has been on
the Connecticut bench for IS years,
that the investigation is very i'm
portant to the administration of
justice and to you personally. I
insist on your immediate return
from the first port Of call"
At the same time Mr.. Noonan
sent subpoena to Federal author
tiles at Cristobal, Canal Zore. to
serve on the Judge wnen he touches
his first port Of call Mr. Noonan
said he failed to serve the judge
with the subpoena before the ship
sailed.
John j. Dowling, assistant United
States attorney, said he had sent
Federal agents to C ,nnecticut to
subpoena the personal business rec
ords of Jucge Thomas, including
bank account transcripts, bank
books and duplicate income tax
returns.
Mr.. Bowling said he was inter-
viewing executives of concerns in
which Judge Manton had a 1nan-
ciai interest and that a subpoena
had been issued for Judge Manton
himself to appear before the grand
jury Monday after his resignation
becomes effective.
Asked whether more Federal
judges were being investigated under
an order isued by United States
Attorney General Frank Murphy
week ago, Mr.. Noonan merely
shrugged and said, that's Govern
ment business"
Mr.. Dowling, who was assigned to
the Manton case, said. "a lot of in
teresting information is being devel-
oped. There is no telling where it
will end"
Named McKessOn Receiver.
Mr.. Bowling said he understood 1t
was Judge Thomas custom to spend
vacation at this time of year in
South America, but he added that
he was unaware of the judges plans
until sailing time. He said he un-
derstood the judge planned being
away about four weeks.
Judge Thomas last December ap-
pointed two receivers for McKes-
son & Robbins, Inc, following q re-
ceivership action which was later
dismissed. That action began the
series of developments which led to
the many sided investigations into
the drug corporations affairs.
Before his appointment to the
bench by President Wilson in 1918,
Judge Thomas for II years was Sec
retary and treasurer of the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee. He
was one-time executive secretary to
Democratic Gov. Simeon E. Baldwin.
In 1899 he was a member of the Gen.
eral Assembly.
Judge Manton, who also was ap-
pointed by President Wilson, denied
any wrong doing after District At
torney Thomas E. Dewey accused
him of accepting loans from litigants
before his court. Judge Manton has