Evening star., 1942-06-30
; Business Firms
Tell Of Buying Tires
From Hund|ey
Dealer on TrioI Charged
With Violating OPA
Rotionine Regulations

Representative of three business
concerns which bought tires from
Hiram Ben Hundley today related
the circumstances of the purchases
at the District Court trial Of the tire
dealer who Is accused of selling the
tires and falsifying records in viola
ton of OPA rationing regulations.
The concerns are The Evening
Star Newspaper Co. and the Premier
and Diamond Service Companies
buying agents for taxi companies.
The defense contends the tires were
were change overs'-tires traded in
by car owners-and marked by Dis
trict inspectors acting for the OPA
as used stock and therefore sale
able.
Herman s. Cole. assistant super
intendent of The Star, said the pur-
chases were made from Mr.. Hundley
in February as part OF a buying pro-
gram that had been in progress since
the end of the year. Mr.. Hundley
showed him the supplies he had for
sale, Mr.. Cole said, and said they
had been marked as 20. K" for sale
by a Government inspector. Assist
ant United States Attorney John L.
Laskey asked what had been said
about the mileage and condition Of
the tires:
That was subject not discussed"
the witness said.
ROre Yellow Mark,
w. c. Jefferis, garage superintend-
ent for The Star. said he had
checked the tires at the Hundley
establishment and sent truck after
them. Both witnesses said that the
tires bore a yellow mark "Okay,
J. M. c." which, the defense con-
tended, was put on the tires by the
inspector. The prosecution contends
there was no authority in law for the
purported inspection. and Mr.. Cole
was asked if any inquiry had been
made of the District Rationing
Board as to the validity OF the
marking. He said no
"You Just bought the tires?" De-
fense Counsel Henry I. Quinn said.
The witness answered Eyes"
The Premier company purchases,
testimony developed. were negoti-
ated through the Radio Cab Co.
Premier, it was brought out, was not
doing business directly with Humid
lev. and Radio bought the tires and
then resold them to Premier. This
transaction was negotiated, 1t was
testified, by Harry Trainor, who was
general manager of the Radio Cab
and is now in the Navy.
John Albert Frederick, service
manager for Premier, and John A.
Rover, the president, were the wit
nesses who testified for that COM
pany.
Purchased 400 Tires.
Mr.. Roger said that all he did was
sign the check for the transaction.
Mr.. Frederick did not remember
whether the "okay j. M. c." was on
the tires but he recalled that there
was a yellow chalk mark"
Edward j. Abner, service manager
of the Diamond Service Co., told OF
the purchase of about 400 tires from
Hundley, which he said were
change overs" and were marked
"okay ]. M. c." The representa-
tives of both cab concerns said they
had resold tires to their drivers.
Taking the stand late yesterday
as the Government presentation
started. Edward H. Schneider OF 412
Greenwood street, Takoma Park,
Md, who described himself as stock
man" for Mr.. Hundley, said he had
counted tires on hand and prepared
the report to the Government cover
ing supplies that were frozen" De-
cember IL. He did not recall what
oflcial of the tire concern had
directed him to make the report, but