Evening star., 1946-02-05
.ArbuckIe Accuses
Senator Byrd Of Bias
In Theft Charges

Z 4
William w. Arbuckle. so, accused
OF embezzling 81 .0s0 from the Senate
restaurant, told a District court
jury today that Senator Byrd, DEM
,ocrat, Of Virginia. wapts to get
him for political reasons.
The yelled accusation OF the for
mer manager Of the restaurant high
lighted today's testimony in the re-
trial of Arbuckle before Justice
Jennings Bailey on a charge Of
dating back to September, 1888.
In tears, the defendant complain-
ed that Senator Byrd pressed the
charges because Of political con-
test between the Virginian and for
mer Senator Neely, Democrat, OF
West Virginia, who appointed Ar
buckle.
Succeeds Neely as Chairman.
Senator Byrd succeeded Senator
Nicely as chairman of the Rules
Committee, which controls the Sem
ate restaurant, after the West Vir-
ginian resigned his seat to become
Governor of his State. Mr.. Nicely
now is a member of the House.
Byrd promised on three occa-
sions that due to the perilous condi-
ton of my wife's health that he
wouldn't give this to the press,
Arbuckle testified. Instead of keep
ing the confidence, he waited until
the contest was about to come up in
the Senate and sprung this on me. y
At this point, Assistant United
States Attorney Ray L. jenkins
questioned Arbuckle about his poll
tical interests. Mr.. Jenkins read
into the record a statement by Ar
buckle before the Senate Rules
Committee July IA, 1941, admitting
he used half Of $500 he borrowed
from the restaurant for postage.
The Rules Committee record quoted
Arbuckle as explaining that the
postage was used to send sealed
ballots back to the State" Mr.,
Jenkins failed, however, to get Ar
buckle to admit this morning that
he used the money for political pur-
poses.
Says He Returned $500.
Arbuckle testified that he re-
turned the $500 to E. H. King, res
taurant treasurer, without asking
for the return of the lou slips he
had given as security. The record
of proceedings before the Rules
Committee, however, read in court
by Mr.. jenkins, showed that Ar
buckle had said that from time to
time / would ask him (King) for
one of the slips and pay him" The
prosecutor also pointed out that Ar
buckle told the Rules Committee in
1941 that the IOUs still outstanding
when he left the restaurant job
amounted to $4,000.
The defense brought out today
that while Arbuckle is charged with
embezzling funds only In September
1898. a shortage of $11,636.42 piled
up in the restaurant account be-
tween July, 1898, and April, 1899.
Arbuckle has testified that he had
nothing to do with the finances oi
the restaurant except for the one
month when Mr. King was away
on vacation.
Defense Attorney Warren Magee
said he expected to call severa
members Of Congress as character
witnesses this afternoon and hopee
to complete his case today.
Arbuckle yesterday told the couf
that Senator Byrd protested to hin
over the dismissal of two employees
one Of whom came from Virginia
Describes Byrd as Angry.
Another controversy arose, hi
said, when Senator Byrd sent 9
dairy salesman to see him. Arbuckls
said he asked the salesman II hi.
dairy was located in Virginia, but
the salesman, misquoting him, tolc
Senator Byrd he had asked II Sen.
ator Byrd had a financial interest
in the dairy.
Senator Byrd called me in to his
office. His face was brilliantly red
and he was very, very angry at me
He said he would report the matter
to Senator Neely," Arbuckle testi-
fed.
Senator Byrd testified for the
prosecution last Wednesday that
Arbuckle offered to settle his &C.
count with the restaurant in Feb.
ruary. 1941, for $500. Arbuckle re.
torted that he already had paie