Evening star., 1946-12-21


could keep more than
200 veterans, their wives and even
q few of their children away from
the County Service Building in Hy-
Md, last night.
They all had one thing in COM
mon: George H. Williams, the real
estate operator, owed them money,
and they wanted TO find out what he
was going to do about it.
Long before the 8 o'clock meeting
time; every seat Ii the room was
filed. Most Of the men were young,
and their wives were younger. Their
faces were grim.
There was very little talking In
the room before the meeting started
because all Of them knew each 9TH
er's story. They had put money down
on homes Williams had prom
sed to build. They didn't have the
homes, and they didn't have the
money.
Attorney Takes Floor.
j. r. Lillard, one Of Williams
attorney, started of by explaining
briefly that the real estate man had
come to him Tuesday with de-
scription of his financial dificul-
ties" that Mr.. Lillard had fled q
deed of assignment for the benefit
of the creditors and that now the
case was taken out of his hands by
the petitions filed for involuntary
bankruptcy.
There was ia moment of silence and
then j. william Wingo, 1843 Calvert
street NV, took the floor.
I'm hooked to the tune Of 5000,
he said. williams was sales agent
for my place. All he was entitled te
was his commission on the sale. The
title company asked him to settle
five weeks ago, but he never showed
up. If I have anything to do with
it the - is going to jail"
Mr.. Wingo sat down to round o1
applause.
"Was Kearney Crank n. Kear-
ney, originally assigned as trustee
Of the Williams aSsets) former
partner or Williams?" asked . vet.
eran.
Questioned About Loan.
sNo," responded Mr.. Lillard.
ibid you know about the $35, ,00t
williams turned over to bank tc
secure $16, 900 loan?"
I'VE had nothing to do with it.
answered Mr.. Lillard. II knew moth.
ing about It,"
sDoes williams own his own
house?"
"He claims to be buying it under
a contract of SALE said Mr.. Lillard
when did he get rid of his Silver
Spring liquor store?" shouted vet.
eran in the rear.
"I didn't know he had one,"' re-
piled the lawyer.
"Well, you know it now"
L. l.. Brunner got the floor. HI
said he had put down a deposit and
he had also worked for williams
Mr.. Lillard invited him to come tx
the front and address the group.
OpVOSSS O8llAE uVsCys
Frankly, I don't believe bank.
ruptcy would be a good thing fol
u.s." Mr.. Drummer began.
If williams Properties, Inc, were
put into the hands Of receivers, hi
said, the homes could be built II
six months or q year. He said HI
was sure MIR. Kearney could put tht
work through to completion. H,
warned them that If the bankruptc,
action went through, they'd only ge
10 cents on the dollar.
A wave Of uncertainty hoveret
over the room. Then some one aske.
Henry s. Goodman's opinion. MI
Goodman represents some Of th,
veterans who filed the bankruptc,
petition.
"The only salvation you've got /
bankruptcy" Mr.. Goodman toll
them.
After that Mr.. Drummer Wa
shouted down.
The veteran who got the hoo
asked II MFR. williams owned til
three developments on which tn
veterans had made deposits TO
homes.
Two Tracts Under Contract.
Mr.. Lillard told them VIII
! liams owns the land at Gwyn
Park near Clinton, Nd, that h
lhad contracts for the land at Rige
min Manor and Oakton, Md, br
l"of course he has no money to pa
flor it"
In other words the vetera
went on, she didn't own the Ian
when he took our deposits.
into the shocked silence that fol
lowed came q woman,s voice.