Evening star., 1947-06-13
I6arssopC Counsel Plans
To Quiz Mead tuesday
AS Trial /; Resumed
By Robert K. WoIsh

l y
The May-Garsson war bribe con-
spiracy trial was in recess today
until Tuesday morning in District
Court, when it is to head into the
home stretch, with final arguments
expected to begin next Thursday or
Friday.
Former Senator James M. Mead
OF New York will take the stand
/ Tuesday as soon as he arrives IN
response to a subpoena sent yes
terday, according to Charles j. Mar
giotti, chief counsel for Henry and
Murray Carson.
Joseph F. Freeman, wartime
Washington agent for the Carson
munitions combine, then will re-
sumo testimony he began yester-
day afternoon to tell how he and
the Carson brothers often CON
tacted" former Representative An
drew j. May as chairman Of the
House Military Affairs Committee.
May and Carson are on trial
before Justice Henry A. Schweln-
haut and a jury on charges OF con-
spiracy to defraud the United States.
Government prosecutors nave at
tempted to prove the munition-
making brothers bribed the 71-year-
old Kentuekiar by payments total
ing more than $4,000, mostly
through the Cumberland Lumber
| Co., in return for wartime services.
!
When the defense calls the last
of its witnesses, possibly late Tues
day. Government Special Prosecu-
tor William A. Paisley may have a
few rebuttal witnesses. He said to-
day the rebuttal IS well as cross
examination of Freeman will be
brief.
| Meanwhile, Mr.. Margiotti, former
attorney general of Pennsylvania,
will take part in United States
Court of Appeals hearing on another
case Monday in Philadelphia. JUS
tice Schweinhaut, at the request OF
the chief justice of that court, per-
mitted postponement of the May
Carson trial to enable Mr.. Mar
giotti to prepare for the Philadel-
phia session.
Freeman, who was indicted last
January % with May and the Cars
sons, appeared as witness instead
Of defendant yesterday, because JUS
tice Schweinhaut directed judg-
ment of acquittal for him several
weeks ago. The court ruled the
Government had not made prima
facie conspiracy case against him.
Tells Of Contracting May.
Freeman coughed frequently and
perspired constantly in the air-con-
ditioned courtroom. He explained
to the court this was caused by
throat ailment and not by being
worried about testifying."
Murray Carson, he said. was
really the head of the Washington
office. Freeman declared that, be-
cause of Garsson's Ill health, he
himself did most of the contact
ing" of May. He added that he
turned to May in behalf of Carson
wartime production problems only
after we exhausted every other re-
source in Washington.
Il lived at the same hotel with
May" he said in reply to question
about his friendship for the former
Representative. I'VE established a
very pleasant relationship. 1t was
one OF mutual respect"
Asked how ne happened to go
to May in the first place in be-
half of the Garssons, Freeman said
the problems were related to mill
tary production and so he went
to the House Military Affairs Com
mittee.
IF We had had anything in con-
nectlon with the Navy, / would
have gone to the Naval Affairs
Committee, he explained. But We
never did"
| Contacts Mostly About Lumber.
Freeman told how he first be-
came acquainted with MAY in con-
nection with a West Virginia man
ganese development a year or two
before the war He and Murray
Carson purchased the property
from May and associates, ne said.
During the war and while he
was employed as Washington agent
for the Garssons, Freeman said, he
visited Mays Office only six or eight
times on matters affecting Illinois
companies in the Carson chain and
about IS times in connection with
getting lumber for the Garssons.
I Before Freeman took the stand.
DR.. John Archer of Prestonsburg,
KY. Mays personal physician, tes-
tified that May was stricken by
a heart ailment on the eve of
scheduled appearance before the
Senate War Investigating Commit
tee last July He said Mays serious
illness at the time prevented him