Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-30
Counsel Accept
Ian 10 Shorten
Williams Trial
Records Admission
To End Need for
Several Witnesses

SSNSt0f NNtNbbSSSSS
Counsel for the defense and Gov
eminent reached an agreement to-
day that is expected to shorten the
District Court trial of George H.
Williams, bankrupt real estate man
charged with sending forged checks
in interstate commerce and using
the mails to defraud veterans.
Cecil Hef1in, assistant United
States attorney, said he agreed at q
meeting today with Robert w. Nc
Cullough, defense counsel, to admit
financial statements which will
make the appearance of several
scheduled witnesses unnecessary.
These records, Mr.. Heflin said, will
include statements of bank officials
from several States that will iden-
tify checks which the Government
claims Williams forged.
Session Delayed.
Justice Alexander Holtzoff de-
layed today's session until II am.
so that the attorneys could confer.
Government prosecutors said,
he wever, their presentation will re-
quire at least three or four more
days, even if time is saved in ques-
tioning of witnesses.
Witnesses yesterday included seven
veterans who testified they deposited
$500 or $1,000 with the williams
company in 1916, when he promised
to build houses for them within six
months in Prince Georges County.
They declared the houses were not
completed and their deposits were
not returned.
They also said they were told by
Williams company statesmen that
the Williams projects, known as
oakton, Riggs Hill Manor and
Gwynn Park had been approved by
the Veterans Administration as ell
gible for financing by CT loans. Five
other veterans testified to the same
effect when the trial opened We'd
nesday.
Loan Officer Testifies.
Morgan B. Callahan, veterans
loan officer for the Washington area
of VA, testified earlier yesterday
that Williams never received such
approval and never applied for it by
submitting necessary plans or speci-
fications to the agency.
Veterans who took the stand were
Philip Schroer of Alexandria, Va,
now Government Printing ONCE
employe; William Durding, 1000
Grace court, Silver Spring, Md;
Wayland j. Coston, 1885 Van Ness
street NV, a student at the Uni
versity of Maryland; James C. AID
ridge, 4708 Fifty eighth place, De-
tense Heights, Md; Joseph B. Rath-
burn, 1882 Fourteenth street NE:
Keller j. Reece, Adams street
NV, and Van Buren, Sullins, IT.,
4703 Ravenswood road, Riverdale,
Md.
Other witnesses were Arthur r,
CLOS Forty -second place,
Hyattsville; Burvle Ramsey, 1851
Biltmore street NV, and Hans
Peterson of Carolina Beach, N. c.,
all OF whom were statesmen for the
Williams company in 1916; Howard
L. Wooten of Bladensburg, Md, who
was hired by Williams to direct
construction of the housing devel-
opments; Mrs. Lila r. Edlavich, 642O
Forty-third avenue. Cottage City,
Md, and William NJ Harris, auditor
at the Lincoln National Bank.
Say Instructions Followed.
The former statesmen said they
acted on instructions from Williams
or other company officers in telling
prospective buyers the deposits
would be refunded and that the
projects had VA approval for loan
financing.
Mr.. Harris was called to the stand
to identify checks Williams had de-
posted in the. real estate company's
account in the Seat Pleasant Md
Bank. The latter bank sent those
checks to the Lincoln National
Bank, which cleared them with
banks in various other States. The
Government charges Williams wrote
fictitious names on the checks drawn
on non-existent accounts in distant
States. Witnesses testified Wednes-
day he made good to the Seat Pleas
ant Bank when the checks were re-
jected by the other banks.
Mrs. Edlavich related yesterday
how she listed her Prince Georges
County property with the Williams
company in 1916 and was given a
contract bearing the signature
Howard L. Wootten,' whom she
assumed to be buyer. She Cancelled
the deal when no money was forth
coming, she said.
Mr.. Wootten declared his name on
the contract was not in his hand
writing. He said he did not know
who wrote it.