Evening star., 1947-01-09
Two Held Under Bond
On Conspiracy Count
In Auto Deal Case

United States Commissioner Need
ham G. Turnage today had under
advisement case involving two
District professional men charged
with oonsplracEstQsco commit false
pretenses In connection with an
automobile Hdeaass The men are
charged with failing to deliver a
1946 Cadillac to- iailothers Washing
ton man after receiving a total OF
$3,557 for its purchase.
Free under $500 bond each on
the charge are Irwin Barnes, 81,
a colored attorney living in the
3700 block of Hayes street NE, and
the Rev. Charles E. Moore, colored,
a Methodist minister living in. the
100 block of P street S.W. They
appeared for preliminary hearing
yesterday in the Office of the COM
missioner, after arraignment on De-
cember 16, 1916.
Eight witnesses. testified at the
hearing. The complaining witness,
Carl E. Travis, colored, liquor store
owner who lives nfthe 1900 block OF
r street NV, said he had given
Barnes a $50 deposit on new
Cadillac in the lawyar's office last
October He testified he was told
later by Barnes to go to Detroit
to get his car. |
Paid Another $500.
Mr.. Travis told the commissioner
he then went to Detroit hotel,
where he met Barnes and paid him
$500 additional toward purchase of
the car on october 10. He added
that after several days delay in de-
livery of the promised Cadillac, he
finally paid Moore total of $3,057
to complete the purchase.
) He testified that on one occasion
after that he saw Cadillac In
which Moore appeared with De-
troit man identified as Nick Walker.
Although this was to have been his
car, according to Moores statement
at the time, Mr.. Travis said it was
driven off by Walker and Moore and
that he never saw it again"
Other witnesses who said they
made the Detroit trip for new cars
on the same date testified Mr.
Travis gave large sums of money to
Barnes and Moore. on different oc-
casions in Detroit.
Advertisement Cited.
Oliver B. CasseH. one of the wit
nesses. testified he went to Detroit
after giving Barnes a $50 deposit
here for a new Chevrolet. He added,
however, that when he reached De-
troit he paid $1,700 to. Moore for
what he described as used Pontiac.
When the car was delivered, ne sale,
the speedometer registered 1,10O
miles, despite an alleged agreement
with the defendants that the car
would be new and selling at OPA
ceiling price.
Louis White of the advertising de-
partment of the Washington Afro
American was called to the stand
to display advertisements pought
by Moore and which appeared three
days in September. The advertise
ments specified new cars could be
bought at ceiling prices on payment
of a cash deposit. 1t was brought
out during his testimony that the
telephone number in the advertise
ment was that of Barnes.
Told of Overceiling Prices.
Proctor E. Butler Of the 600 block
of Kenyon street NV. testified he
paid ST 400 for a Chevrolet, an over
ceiling price, and DR.. Peter john
son of the 140e block of S street
NV. testified he paid $1,750 for a
Pontiac, also an over-ceiling price.
The cars, they added, showed mile
ages up to LOCO.
Attorneys for the defense, Leon
ard Hayes and Wesley Williams,
pleaded their clients had been vic
Tins of a-dupe" at the hands OF the
contact man" Mr.. Hayes, who
represented Barnes, declared his
client later showed good faith by
returning the $50 deposits to those
who did not receive their cars.
Detective Sergt. Reuben R. Mich
OILS of the robbery squad testified
Barnes had shown him 27 Cancelled
checks written for $50 each to the
lawyers account. Sergt. Nichols
said Barnes identified these as rep
resenting the returned deposits.