Evening star., 1947-05-30
Henry Carson 70 Tell
OF Dealings With May
On Return 10 Stand

On Return 10 Stand
Henry M. Carson. described by
defense counsel as a genius mind, :"
will return TO the witness stand
Monday in District Court to ex-
plain his wartime association with
former Representative Andrew J.
May.
He is expected to testify for at
least three days next week concern
ing operations of the $4,000, 900
Carson munitions combine and the
business relations he and his
brother. Murray, had with the IL
year-old former chairman OF the
House Military Affairs Committe.
The Government charges the Cars
sons and May conspired to defraud
the United states by means OF
more than $4,000 in bribes alleged
ly taken by May in return for get
ting favors for the munitions
making brothers.
Lists C0liege degrees.
Henry Carson told the jury he
was so years old, permanent resi-
dent OF Far Rockaway, N. Y, and
q wartime resident OF Evanston,
Ill. He said he had several college
and university degrees, including
those of doctor of juridical science,
bachelor OF laws, master of science
and bachelor OF business admins
tration. He invented a process for
hardening steel. he said.
He described the formation of the
Batavia Metal Products, Inc. and
Erie Basin Metal Products, Inc, in
Illinois. He owned 80 per cent OF
the Erie Basin stock during the war
and obtained control Of the Bata-
via concern, Of which he was presi-
dent. He testified he disposed Of his
holdings in both companies last
summer.
Carson took the stand follow
ing several defense witnesses who
included a Washington woman who
was clerk for nine years with
the Military Affairs Committee, an
Illinois man who was controller
of the Batavia Metal Products,
Inc, Carson affiliate; Represen-
tative Robson, Republican, of Ken
lucky. The latter two witnesses
testified that Mays reputation was
good
Tells of Furlough Request.
Mrs. Julia Watterson, the former
House committee clerk, now is en-
ployed by the Joint Comrnitte on
Atomic Energy Control, told how
she telephoned Gen. Miles Reber
chief OF the War. Department legis-
lative and liaison division, in 1914
concerning the possibility of a fur
Tough for Sergt. Alfred Freeman,
son of Joseph F. Freeman, the
Washington agent for the Cars
sons.
Mrs. Watterson said May was in
Kentucky when Freeman called to
ask what cosld be done about bring
ing the soldier home for the funeral
of his mother. The witness said
she made the call to the War De-
partment as j routine matter"
She also testified that she did not
remember having. seen Murray
Carson very often" at Mays Office
and seldom If ever saw Henry
Carson there. A Government wit
ness, Miss Billie May Hagans of
Lexington, KY, testified several
weeks ago that, while she was a
clerk In the same office, she fire.
Quently saw Murray Carson and
Joseph r. Freeman in the Office.
Advance Payments Made.
Leslie w. Arthur, the Batavia
company controller, testified the
concern often made advance pay
ments to other companies for lum-
Der and other materials. Some
times, he said. the materials were not
delivered. At other times the COM
pany waited from six to eight
months for deliveries, he said.
The prosecution has attempted to
prove the Garssons made payments
to May through the Cumberland
Lumber Co. in Kentucky by ad-
vancing large sums of money for
lumber never produced.
Mr.. Arthur declared the Batavia
company made total advance pay
ments Of 100000 to the Bethlehem
Steel Co.
Gen. Eisenhower, Army Chief of
staff. testified earlier yesterday
concerning letters May wrote to him
In 1s45 concerning the court martial
Of Capt. Joseph Carson. Murray
Garsson's son. Gen. Eisenhower
Identified two letters in which May
asked him to intervene.
Action Not Revealed.
Justice Henry A. Schweinhaut.
however. sustained objections by
Government Prosecutor William A.
Paisley and told Gen. Eisenhower
not to answer defense counsel ques-
tions concerning action taken on
Mays letters.
The Army Chief of Staff also
gave substantially the same testi-
nony as that of Secretary of State
Marshall the previous day. He said
great cutbacks were made on am
munition contracts in l945. May
had protested to the War Depart
ment On cutbacks on Carson shell
contracts that year. He said such
cutbacks were unfair because Gen.
Eisenhower was screaming for
shells" st the time.
Gen. Eisenhower declared yester-
day he sent no message requesting
more shells in the spring of l945
when our war there was nearly
won"