Evening star., 1947-02-10
Woman Reveals
Hesse
Jewels 10 U. 5.
Durunt Cove Package
To Her, Cautioned
Secrecy, She Sweurs
ARMY REVEALS site where Hesse
jewels were buried in Fairfax
County. Page B-1
PICTURES OF CACHE site and of
gems at trial today. Page B-1
By w. n. Shippen. Jr.

The pretty, former secretary of
Col. Jack w. Durant today told
the court-martial trying him in
connection with the looting of
the Hesse crown jewels how she
met the defendant in a London
hotel last February and accepted
a quantity of jewelry which she
brought back to the United
States and later returned to him.
The star witness of the prosecu-
ton at the opening session in the
Pentagon was 21-year-old MS.
Martha o. Evans of Old Dominion
drive, Alexandria, bride of only
few months. Her husband was
granted special permission to sit
near her as she testified because she
was nervous"
Maj. Joseph S. Robinson, the trial
judge advocate, told the 9Th Army
co1onels from the European theater
sitting on the board that his young
witness was appearing despite the
alleged attempt of the defendants
brother, James E. Durant, a council
man Of Falls Church, Va, to prevent
her from testifying.
Remark Is Stricken.
On motion of defense counsel,
Maj. Joseph D. Bryan, this remark
by the prosecutor was ordered
stricken from the records by the
senior member of the board.
The attractive brunette, who was
wearing a smart green suit and
brown hat, testified before a crowd
ed courtroom in such a low voice
that only those nearest her could
get all of her words. These had to
be repeated by the examining at
torney to make them clear to the
colonels on the board and the ste
nographers.
Col. Durant, former employe OF
the Interior Department here and
a graduate of Georgetown Law
School, leaned forward in his chair
and followed Mrs. Evans words with
intent interest. He appeared pale
but remained calm. Defense counsel
had asked for recess on the
grounds that he needed immediate
medical attention.
After Mrs. Evans told her story,
the trial was recessed until 8 am.
! Wednesday to permit medical at
tention for Col. Durant and to
allow defense attorneys additional
time to prepare the Washington
section of their case. The trial
opened in Germany just before
Christmas and was transferred to
washington by airplane to hear
witnesses on this side of the At
lantic.
Met Durant in Washington.
Mrs. Evans said she met Col.
Durant in April, 1914, in Washing
ton while both were in the Army
Air Forces personnel office. Later
that same year, she added, she be-
came Col. Durant's secretary.
In the fall of 1914, Mrs. Evans
said, she transferred to the State
Department as a secretary for
United Nations official. She went
to London more than a year ago
and, some time later, was telephoned
at her hotel there by Col. Durant
from Frankfurt, she said.
The colonel said he was coming
to London and the two met at Mrs.
Evans hotel.
what happened with regard to
certain jewels which were turned
over to you by him?" Mrs. Evans
was asked.
Voice Almost Fails.
"We talked for while OF old
times" the witness replied in a
voice almost inaudible, then he
asked me to bring back some arti-
cles. I didn't know what to do so
asked"
At this juncture, the members OF
the board objected they could not
hear and Mrs. Evans continued in
tone scarcely more audible.
4 didn't know what to say
or do. I looked at the articles. I
took them from him after he took
them from a pocket of his battle
jacket"
What did he say?"
"He just asked me to bring the
l