Evening star., 1947-06-25
Sentence
Set for JuIy2o
In Homes Fraud
Builder Found Guilty
On Four Counts in
81 Housing Deal

Stanley P. Hough, 40, Washington
area builder. was found guilty on
four separate counts yesterday OF
using the mails to defraud in con-
nection with homes he accepted
payments for but failed to complete.
The guilty verdict was returned
by 12-man jury In Federal Court
IN Alexandria after 65 minutes de-
Liberation. The trial lasted two
days.
Assistant United States Attorney
George r. Humrickhouse, who pros
ecuted the case, said after the trial
that Hough faced maximum sen.
tence Of 90 years imprisonment and
"a SIC, 900 fine. Judge A. D. Barks-
dale set the time for sentencing at
noon. July 20, at the Alexandra
court.
Exception Noted.
Defense Attorney John A. K.
Donovan noted an exception to the
verdict and made a motion to have
1T set aside on the ground that it
was contrary to law and evidence.
He reserved his right to appeal
pending ruling on the motion.
One OF the five original counts in
the indictment was ruled out by
Judge Barksdale when the defense
pointed out that the Government
did not produce a postmarked let
ter to support its claim that the
mails had been used in this instance
to defraud.
The four counts on which Hough
was convicted involved letters to
Claude H. Leer, 1900 Rusk street,
Kenilworth; Walter A. Penf1eld, IT.,
1904 North Columbus street, Arling-
ton, and Col. Fred L. Green, 3640
Greenway drive Sc. Mr.. Leer re-
ceived two letters.
Hough Signed Letters.
Letters to these veterans, which
were introduced as evidence by the
Government, all were signed by
Hough. Tn varying language, the
letters explained to the veterans
purported reasons why construction
was being held up on Hough's Oxon
Hill tMd) housing project. Among
the reasons outlined in the letters
were that he was unable to receive
materials and that the National
Housing Agency had informed him
homes had to be built in the same
order as priorities were applied for
by the veterans.
The Government produced wit
nesseS to show Hough did not make
valid attempts to obtain materials
and that there was no record of
any inquiries or transactions he
had with MIA.
When Hough was cross examined
After taking the stand in his own
defense yesterday, he admitted re-
ceiving $4,000 from veterans for
houses and lots he said he planned
to build at Hough Park, his Oxon
Hill development. He said, how
ever, that he had re-invested $685.
900 in the project and was forced
to stop construction for lack Of
funds because the Hyattsville Build
ing & Loan Association failed to
go through with CT construction
loans he claimed the association
had agreed to grant.
Veterans Testify.
A number of veterans who made
payments to Hough for homes in
the project took the stand in his
defense yesterday to support his
claim that the loan association first
promised to furnish construction
loans but later turned these loans
down on the grounds that Hough
failed to furnish completion bond.
/ Mr.. Donovan claimed in his clos.
ing argument that "Hough's only
crime" was to start digging base
ments as soon as he did. He ex-
Iplained the loan association didn't
want to go ahead with the loans
when they found Easements dug
because of the possibility of liens
against the properties for this work.
| Three auto theft convictions
against Hough were brought out at
the trial yesterday during cross
examination of the defendant by
Mr. Humrickhouse.
But have been converted to
the Lord Jesus Christ since that
time" Hough said.
He claimed that about seven years
ago he had been ordained Baptist
minister and had served as d
preacher about four years.
II have served my debt to society
my slate is clean up there" he
said, pointing upward. &C
Judge Barksdale continued Hougil's
$500 bond pending imposition OF
sentence next month.