Evening star., 1942-07-07
Hund|ey Admits Tires
He Sold Don Look
Like 1,000.MiIers
Dealer Denies FoIsifyine
Report to Government
On transactions r.

Tires which he is accused of SELL
ing in violation of Federal rationing
regulations don't look like" they
had been run 1000 miles, the mile
age at which they could lawfully be
sold as used" tires, Hiram Ben
Hundley conceded today at his Dis
trict Court trial.
"But I just don't know" Mr..
Hundley continued, explaining 1t
was dificult to determine the mile
age --.-- ----
Mr.. Hundley's statement came in
the course of lengthy cross-exam-
ination by Assistant District Attor-
ney John L. Lasky, which was
continuation Of questioning begun
yesterday afternoon.
According to the defense, the
tires-some of which are in tho
courtroom-were okayed for sale by
inspectors working under the direc-
ton of Eugene T. Brady, former as
sistant executive secretary OF the
District Rationing Board.
Says Tires Were ChangeOvers.
Mr.. Hundley said the tires sold
were "changeovers" tires traded in.
His comment on the condition of
those in the courtroom was brought
out by Mr.. Lasky's questioning as
to whether they looked as though
they had gone the required mileage.
The witness also admitted on the
stand today that he had been
late in filing q return to the Gov
ernment covering stocks on hand
when tires were frozen on Decem-
Der IL, but insisted there was
nothing wrong with the report the
Government charges was falsified to
hide new tire transactions.
For an hour and half yesterday
afternoon, Mr.. Hundley. questioned
by Henry I. Quinn of defense coun-
sci, gave the jury the background
of the transactions on which the
Government charges are based
Mr.. Hundley also recounted the
circumstances OF sale shown by
his books to the defunct Walton
Tire Co. Of Philadelphia which the
Government alleges was "coverup''
to hide unlawful transactions, de-
claring the tires were bought by q
man representing himself as acting
for Walton. Tire sales between
companies are permitted by the law
Tells Of Talk With Brady.
The witness had just been taken
over for cross s-examination by Mr.
Laskey when court was recessed until
this morning by Justice T. Alan
Goldsborough.
Mr.. Hundley said that Mr. Brady
called him on January 10 and asked
if he had any "changeovers," ex-
planning that he wanted some fol
friends at the White House" The
witness said that he responded that
'the regulations are changing SC
fast" that he was in doubt as tc
what he could sell and that II Mr.
Brady would come over and o. K
them he would sell.
A few days later. he said. Mr.
Brady came to his place with j. M
Cawood, District motor vehicle in
spector, who put an o. K. on 80 tt
100 tires which could be sold Al
used" under OPA regulations be-
cause they were assumed to have
travelled 1000 miles. Three or foul
similar inspections, he said, were
made at his place by Mr.. Cawood
and James E. Clement, another
District inspector.
The Government contends the Law
makes no provision for such an in
spection.
Testifies on Walton. Deal.
On the subject of the reputed
Walton sale, Mr.. Hundley said that
transaction in February was with 9
Frank Ehlenfeldt of Philadelphia
with whom he had other business
dealings. Mr.. Ehlenfeldt, he said
explained that Walton was "one o1
his connections" and the witness
said that he was not aware that
Walton had gone out of business
until his indictment in April.
Discovering this situation, the wit
ness said, he phoned Mr.. Ehienfeldi
in Philadelphia. and asked him tt
come to Washington and get the
matter Strengthened out. Eventually
he said, Mr.. Ehlenfeldt came here
and, at his request, called on At
torney Louis Gutenberg, also a mem
ber of defense counsel. The lawyer
he continued, urged the Philadel-