Evening star., 1946-12-31
=Hough Freed on Bono
To Await Extradifion
By Prince Georges
Bv Miriam Gutenberg

: was arrested as ne started TO aQ-
dress a meeting of veterans he
promised homes, was free under
$1,000 bond today as the ma
chinery started rolling to return
: him to Maryland.
The 40-year-old builder is wanted
In Prince Georges County on three
warrants charging he obtained
money under false pretenses in con-
nection with his homes-for-veterans
project.
Judge Thomas Dewey Quinn of
Municipal Court, before whom
Hough appeared today, granted the
Government a months continuance
on fugitive from justice hearing
in order to give Maryland time to
send extradition papers here.
Hough Faces Decision.
If Hough refuses to waive extra
dition to Maryland when he appears
again in Municipal Court, he will be
given an extradition hearing before
Chief Justice Bolitha j. Laws in
District Court.
These were the latest developments
in the fast-moving Hough case:
/. Despite Hough's threat to take
the lid off" and tell his side OF the
story of his unfinished housing prof.
ect today, his lawyer, Charles E.
Ford, said Hough would make no
statements until Mr.. Ford has had
chance to 60 over the case.
2. Edward R. Carr, president Of
the Home Builders Association OF
the Metropolitan Area, announced
his association would do what it
could to rescue the veterans who
made down payments on homes
promised by Hough. Mr.. Carr said
these veterans either would get
homes at reduced costs or an effort
will be made to finish the Hough
homes-whicheve seems the better
solution after the association has
investigated.
The small, slight builder was taken
from the District Veterans Service
Center by Detectives c. r. Wine
miller and S. B. Tillett of No. /
precinct last night after his wife had
Bitterly assailed one of the COM
planning witnesses and Center Di-
rector Waldron Leonard had plead
ed for Hough to be allowed a few
minutes to address the veterans he
called to the center.
Hough was given his chance to
talk and then was taken to police
headquarters where he was booked
as a fugitive from justice and re-
leased under $1,000 bond.
Complainants See Arrest.
On hand to watch Hough taken
into custody were the three men
who had sworn out the warrants
Fred j. AXE, No. precinct private
Of 65 Bryant street NV; Rudolph
w. Olup, Navy chief petty officer, OF
Potomac Heights, Md. and D. r.
Wilson, also Navy chief, of Poto-
mac Heights.
I'm not worried about being con-
victed," Hough said today.
Hough, who heads the Virginia
Construction Co., is the second
builder in two weeks to get public
airing of his difficulties in complet-
ing the homes he promised veterans.
He was preceded by George H. Will
liams, who accepted more than
$105,000 in veterans deposits but
failed to complete the homes or re-
turn the deposits and is now bank
rupt.
Before he was led away last night,
Hough made the point that, unlike
Williams, he was willing to face the
veterans. Twenty eight veterans
made down payments OF around
$500 each on homes in Hough
Park, near Oxon Hill, Md. Only
II of the homes have been started.
After Hough's departure for police
headquarters, the veterans voted to
ask Mr.. Carr to investigate the
Hough project or have it inves-
tigated by committee of builders
to find out what can be done about
completing the homes.
The builders group has already
offered to come to the rescue Of the
Williams depositors by sponsoring
program to provide homes at re-
duced cost for the veterans who put
$500 or 81 900 deposits into promised
WulldIIlS llOIIlcS.
Given Chance to Talk.
Hough was in the midst of state
nent to reporters explaining his
difficulties when the detectives ar
rived. Mr. Leonard then prevailed
on the detectives to give Hough a
chance to talk.
"It looks as though I've got |
limited time" Hough started his
talk, glancing at the detectives wait
ing in the doorway.
He said that before he started
selling property, he went to the
Hyattsville Loan Association with
his blueprints and got an agreement
that they would make construc-
ton loan. Peter J. Hagen, Veter-
ans Administration-app ap-
praiser, appraised the proposed
homes at $10,500, he added.
Mr.. Hough said he sold the first
two proposed homes for $1,000, the
next few at $3.50 and the remain
ing ones for $4,000. When he first
started dealing with the Hyattsville1
Loan Association, he continued,
nothing was said about completion
bond. Later, he added, after the
veterans refused to pay commit
nent fee of more than $500 to the
loan association, the association de-
manded the bond.
Can't Get Bond.
Hough related other efforts to get
a bond, and then he told the vet
erans:
It can't get bond. I made
mistake Is years ago. I have a
record with the police. When it was
investigated, no one would bond me.
AS far as my getting bond is con-
cerned, that's out"
according to police records
Stanley Paxson Hough was con-
. .victed here in 1925 on larceny
Z, after trust charge and was given
= a three-year suspended sentence.