Evening star., 1945-12-30
Continued From Page ca

tCOnLlQueQ from rage C-4J
States Attorney and was a Special AS
sistant to the Attorney General in
clearing titles to real estate along the
waterfront here. He prosecuted the
Chinese Mission murders, involving the
famous Wan case.
Twice Justice Proctor made a come
back in the practice of law, for as a
father in World War he needed the
call Of country and gave up his pro-
fession. Then after the war, he re-
built his legal practice to where it
came to the attention of the White
House and his elevation to the judiciary.
This former major who served In
the Army in France is a native Wash
city. He is deliberate, has a fine choice
Of language and is considerate of coun-
sci and Jurors, as well as the witnesses
who testify in his court. For a long
time he was the only justice of District
Court who regularly attended sessions
OF the Bar Association of the District
of Columbia.
Justice Proctor for number of years
delighted in sailing his own craft along
the Potomac and the Chesapeake. He
has been one Of the foremost pro-
ponents of new home for District
Court and has taught law at night at
National University. He is partial to
bow ties.
The prosecutors in the current mail
fraud trial are Special Assistant to
the Attorney General william A. Pals
ley, Navy veteran of World War I,
who served in the transport service,
comes from Tennessee and practiced
law for some time in Florida, and Spe-
cial Assistant to the Attorney General
John Kelley, jr., who is from Buffalo,
N. Y.
William Leahy
One of the leaders at the bar here,
William E. Leahy, who Is from Massa-
chusetts himself, is defending Repre-
sentative Curley, assisted by one Of the
barrister's longtime associates, Mich
olas j. Chase, who knows the case like
the proverbial book, inasmuch as he
keeps play by play" account of it.
William A. Gallagher, former As
sistant United States Attorney, is de-
Tending Mr.. Smith; Arthur j. Hilland
appears for Mr.. Underwood; the for
mer Mississippi member of the House,
jeff Busby, represents Mr.. Hall, while
Attorney T. Emmett Mckenzie repre-
sents Mr.. Fuller, aided at times by his
associate, Attorney John T. Bonner
One of the interesting points of the
trial came when Mr.. Leahy, who is the
Districts director of selective service
took the Government to task for pick
ing up Mr.. Fuller on charge of violat-
ing the Selective Service Act, for al
legedly failing to keep Board No.
here advised of his change of address
when he was arrested in Jamaica, N. Y.
and prosecuting him on bad check
charge. The Government contends that
when Engineers Group, Inc, crashed
about March /, 1912, and the Truman
Committee seized its records, Mr.. Fuller
fed to Mexico. The New York arrest
came much later.
Running like thread through the
trial is the defense objection of "in-
competent, irrelevant and immateriap'
leveled at Government evidence.
Shortly before adjournment for the
Christmas recess, Mr.. Leahy complained
to Justice Proctor: This kangaroo
prosecution leaps from one thing to
another and the first thing you know,
It's out the door,"
An Eventful Case
Since the indictment was returned, a
sixth defendant died, lawyer withdrew
from representing Mr.. Fuller, after the
case started; a juror took i'll and had to
be replaced by one Of the two spares
and Mr.. Mckenzie had to quit one aft
ernoon, because he felt dizzy and ILL.,
Sitting up late at night to digest the
evidence; attempting to anticipate the
next move of the opposition and putting
last-minute polish on their cases, coun-
sci welcomed the Christmas recess.
Briefs, motions, oral arguments, exam
ination and cross-examination have
worn them down. A stack of evidence
letters, kilograms, blueprints, agree
ments-confronts Judge, jury and coun-
sci.
The District Court jury Of nine men,
one Of them colored. and three women