The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-30

Witnesses for the defense-the
first 70 be heard AZ any tine dur
ing the long and sensational mail
fraud proceedings against execu-
uve1 Of the Peoples Gas 4 on CO.
were testifying Thursday IN fed
eral court here for DR. II. Harry
Meyers, dapper and elderly pro-
moter who is accused Of being the
mastermind and purported angel
Of the complex speculative venture
Meyers had no witnesses in
his defense At his first trial
here more than three years
ago. which resulted In = hung
jury.
Neither were there any wit
nesses called at that time IN de-
tense Of William A. Markowitz and
Joshua r. Simons. who committed
suicide after being convicted and
sentenced 10 eight years in prison
and fined $4,000 each; nor for
Samuel Markowitz. who is cur
rently in prison to serve a three
year term with his $1,000 fine stin
unpaid: nor for William A. Broome.
Maurice Pat Robbins. Louis
Roth and Milton Simons. all Of
whom won .aequittals.
Although the defense had earlier
indicated that John S. swenson.
veteran postal inspector credited
with breaking" the P. G. & o.
swindle, would be the chief tar
get for defensive ammunition. ini-
tial witnesses confined their testi-
mony late Wednesday and Thurs
day To establishment Of Meyers
character.
Among the first witnesses called
in Meyers behalf was Samuel A.
Perkins, nationally prominent Ia
coma capitalist.
Perkins said he had been
acquainted with Meyers for
some rs years, and had bush
ness conferences with him In
New York, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and the national
capital. He said he knew no
evil Of Meyers reputation.
Perkins. onetime secretary TO
Mark Hanna national political
boss during McKinley's admin
istration), also told of his guber-
material appointment to the Cas-
cade tunnel commission in 1927
Membership Described
Edgar Snyder, veteran Seattle
attorney and political figure, also
took the stand in Meyers behalf
and described in great detail the
history and his membership of the
same commission, of which he was
secretary.
He told Of Meyers interest
In the proposed Cascade tun-
mel. and said that Meyers had
offered TO pay personally for
half the $4,000 cost of a pre-
liminary survey of the project.
The tunnel, to be built at ar
estimated cost of some $50. 900. 900,
was the ultimate objective of
Meyers career, Snyder said.
1t was established earlier in
the trial that Meyers interest in
the p. G. & o. venture was pri'
marily for development of eastern
Washington oil fields to create
economic justification for the tun
mel project, and that Meyers mo
tives in the p G & o scheme wer'
publicized with great success il
the sales campaign.
Causes Mild Sensation
Snyder caused a mild sensation
with testimony that Meyers ant
Joseph b. Strauss, chief enginee
Of the Golden Gate bridge. ha,
attended a public dinner in Seattl
in 1881, at which time Strauss ha,
said that IF II were not 70
Meyers. the Golden Gate bridg
would never have been realized"
The government had ear
lier introduced a letter from
Strauss TO Inspector Swenson,
In which he repudiated his as
sociation with Meyers in con-
nection with the span.
Strauss had been present at tn
tunnel associations dinner meet
ing, Snyder said, as Meyers col
league because of their interest i
the construction project.
Other witnesses summoned I
Meyers defense so far includ
Bernard Priteea, Seattle architec'
who told of his acquaintance wit
Meyers and the latter,s plan 70
building a super medical center a
al T~fta.a .asA