Evening star., 1947-04-25
Henry Carson OK 1
Draft Cashed by May,
EmpIoye Iesiifies
By Robert K. Walsh

- 8 {. 3
Henry M. Carson, head OF q
$78 ,O0O, 900 wartime munitions
combine, personally approved
payment of a $500 bank draft
allegedly cashed by former Rep
#resentatiye Andrew j. May, q
Carson company official testi-
fled In District Court today.
The testimony came during the
trial of May, Carson, his brother
Murray Carson, and Joseph f..
Freeman, the Garsson's S Washington
representative, on charges of con-
spiracy to defraud the United
States.
L. w. Arthur, former controller
of the Batavia Metal Products Co.
OF Batavia, Ill.,, Carson afnliate,
identified a draft drawn by the
Cumberland Lumber Co. OF Ken
lucky on the Batavia Co. He said
payment by the Batavia Co. was
! "okayed by H. M. g." That was
written on the draft when 1t subse-
quently was returned to the COM
pany for payment, he said. The
witness identified H. M. G.' as
Henry M. Carson.
A Kentucky banker testified yes
terday that May obtained cash on
the draft when he presented 1t to
the First National Bank Of Prestons-
burg, KY.
Illinois Cashier Testifies.
Mr.. Arthur and Edward r. Nelson,
cashier of the First National Bank
! in Batavia, H., were the first wit
nesses today. Washington and Ken
lucky bankers were also scheduled
to take the stand as the Government
sought to show that May personally
used money, from officials or af-
filiated companies of the Carson
wartime interests. May, who is II
formerly was chairman of the House
Military Affairs Committee.
Mr.. Nelson identified the 1880
bank draft which was returned to
the Batavia bank through the Fed
eral Reserve Bank after it had been
cashed in Kentucky. He said he
obtained authority from Mr.. Arthur,
as an official of the Batavia Co., to
pay the amount from the company's
account in his bank.
| j. E. Stanley, a clerk in the First
National Bank at Prestonsburg
identified three checks totaling &c.
634, which, according to Govern
ment prosecutors, were sent to the
Cumberland Lumber Co. by the
Garssons but deposited In Mays
personal bank account.
Three Checks Identified.
The three checks were identified
yesterday as having been deposited
between December, 1914, and July,
1945, in Mays account.
The witness yesterday, Glenn
Spradlin, former vice president and
cashier of the First National at
Prestonsburg, also identified records
indicating May made at least seven
Withdrawals totaling $7,437 during a
corresponding period.
0ClcllSC COullScl COIltStlU6O May
spent Carson money solely on the
lumber company. May claims he
was Kentucky agent for the Cars
sons. Until the defense presents
its own case at the conclusion of
the Government s, the defense will
have no opportunity to ask wit
nesses how May actually spent the
lmeney he Withdrew from Ids per-
tSpaaal ACCOUNT Justice Henry A..
fschweinhaaat ruled.
Special Prosecutor William A.
Paisley declared such questioning
at this time would amount to let
ting the defense put on its direct
case in the gtlise of cross-examina-
tion while the Governments case
was still in progress.
Alden Slated to Testify.
John Alden, a vice president
of the National Bank Of Wash
ington; Edgar Ewell, an employe
Of that bank, and j. e. Stanley and
Russell Hagewood,. officials of the
Prestonsburg bank were scheduled
to be Government witnesses today.