Evening star., 1939-03-29
Grand Jury |ndicts
Oil, Former Chief
Deputy Marshal
EmbezzIement Churqes
List Property Valued
At Over $500

LIST Property Valued
At Over $500
A District Court grand jury today
Indicted Thomas E. OFT, former chief
deputy United States marshal here,
on charge of embezzlement of
property aggregating $2,910.47 that
allegedly came into his hands IN
the course Of official business. Some,
authorities asserted, came into Mr..
Otis possession as the result of
raids, but $1,000 arising in an es-
tate case Is the largest individual
item.
The indictment contains 16 counts
and charges the former official with
taking property that he obtained
between April 13, 1887, and July
Is OF last year. He was released
from the service in November,
after Department of Justice exam
iners went over his accounts and
allegedly found the property miss
ing. This resulted in q more thor
ough investigation being made. cul-
minating in today's indictment.
United States Attorney David A.
Pine has assigned Assistant United
States Attorney Howard Boyd to
conduct the case. 1t is expected
that OFT will be arraigned shortly.
The former chief deputy United
States marshal has retained At
torney Myron G. Ehrlich to defend
him, following his arrest in Ohio
on Federal warrant charging en-
bezzlement. Before United States
Commissioner Needham C. Turn
age here he pleaded innocent and
was released on bond.
Several Offenses CHARGED,
The indictment returned today to
Justice James M. Proctor In Grim
inal Court No. l. shortly after noon,
charges OFT with several takings of
property, including $44s.e8 In cash
which the Secret Service, ofIicials
said. had obtained from three coun-
terfeiters. later found guilty, and
had turned over to OFT, but of
which there is now no o1icial rec
ord.
Assistant United States Attorney
Boyd explained that the frst count
accuses OFT of taking a ring, which
was among jewelry taken by deputy
United States marshals in executing
q judgment against Mrs. E, Gene
We've Walsh. then of the Dodge Ho-
tel. But after the amount of the
judgment had been satisfied, the
prosecutor said. the surplus jewelry
was returned to the marshal's Office.
The ring mentioned is described Is
an opal with eight diamonds. Au-
thorities said Mrs. Walsh disap-
peared about that time and her
property could not be returned to
her.
The second count of the indict-
ment charges that OFT took $25286.
representing civil bond forfeiture,
after the Bureau of Internal Reve-
nue. seized an automobile which had
allegedly been used in carrying con-
traband liquor.
Taking Of Check CHARGED.
OFT is charged also with taking
a check for Sl093, the proceeds of
the sale Of gambling paraphernalia
seized IN gambling raids. This was
the third count in the indictment.
The fourth. fifth and sixth counts
charge the taking Of $32.l3, $66.l2
and $ll.62, while the seventh count
concerns the counterfeiters, and the
1888. officials said
The sum of $267 80, allegedly seized
by the police in 4 gambling raid and
turned over to Property Clerk How
ard E. Crawford Of the METROPOLITAN
Police Department, whom OFT asked
to give 1t to him, figures in the
eighth count of the indictment, ofYi-
cials said.
The sum Of s66l 80. allegedly seized
in the arrest of Carroll Bailey, re-
puted numbers king here, is the
ninth count Of the indictment, Mr..
Boyd said. The tenth count charges
the taking of $19.l9; the eleventh,
$3l l.62, the twelfth, $5978, the thir-
teenth. $l3.02, the fourteenth, $l4.34,
the fifteenth, s19-all allegedly
money seized in raids of which there
is no of11cial record now-and the
last count charges the embezzling
of $1,000.
Mr.. Boyd explained that the $1,000
arose out Of an estate in litigation.
The prosecutor said the court mad
directed the assets Of this estate
to be turned in by the litigants to
the marshal to be kept by him until
the termination of the litigation.
In accordance with these instruc-
tions, 1880 was taken into custody,
but no oflcial record was made on
the books Of the marshals ONCE,
according to Mr.. Boyd.
OFT went on his first vacation in
four years. Mr.. Boyd said, when the
man entitled to the $2,600 obtained
a court order for the property and
presented 1t to the narshals once,
but this sum could not be found.
But In the safe In Mr.. Otis ONCE,
an envelope was found containing
1000 and this was given to the
owner, but the balance OF $1,000
has never been located, the prosecu-
tor declared.