Evening star., 1949-08-26
k>aragon Won't Talk at Hearing;
Probers Told He Put $4,000
In Bank Listed $4,000 Income
Lawyer at Elbow
Advises Witness
To Stand on Rights
BULLETIN

To-Day, Cne senate uVe-per-
center" inquiry was recessed
until Tuesday. when Gen.
Vaughan is scheduled to be the
first witness. Gen. Vaughan
will be followed by former War
Assets Administrator Jess Lar
son, who will probably be the
last witness at the current
hearings.
MARAGON EXPENSES in Greece
Paid by State Department and
Perfume Company. Senators
Hear. Page AS.
MARAGON Described as "Nui-
sance" by Former Head OF
Greek Mission. Page A-6.
By Miriom Gutenberg
The Senate "five-percenter" in
ouiry was told today that John
Maragon deposited nearly $l20,000
in three banks during a f1ve-year
period when he reported annual
earnings averaging $4,000 year.
Committee Accountant Carmine
Bellino, who gave this account OF
Mr.. Maragon's finances, also said
the mysterious man-about- Wash
ington obviously did not report
funds received from various
sources" on his income-tax return
and the committee has so in
formed the Bureau Of Internal
Revenue.
He said that in a closed ses-
sion, Mr.. Maragon repeatedly had
said he had no accounts except
here in Washington. Yet. Mr..
Bellino said, deposits tn three
bank accounts including one in
San Antonio and two in Washing
ton. added up to $119,6o8.61 dur
ing the fve-year period from ls43
to 1948.
Maragon Stands on Rights.
Called to the witness stand
himself, Mr.. Maragon stood on
his Constitutional rights and re-
fused to talk about his finances
and almost everything else.
He maintained his refusal on
grounds his answers might tend
to incriminate him, even when
Senator Mundt. Republican. OF
South Dakota. told him his silence
was much more incriminating
than anything you could say"
Senator Mundt pointed out to
the witness that an income tax
fraud case might be brought
against him. The Senator also
declared that this is a clear-cut
case of perjury unless Mr.. Mar
agon can clear things up in his
testimony"
But MI. Maragon simply refused
to talk. In one of the few times
he broke his silence he admitted
he knew Maj. Gen. Harry H.
Vaughan. President Truman's mil
itary aide. That was no news to
the committee, which has evidence
of letters written by Gen. Vaughan
describing Mr.. Maragon as my
good friend"
Following Counsel's Advice.
When Senator Mccarthy, Re-
publican, of Wisconsin asked Mr..
Maragon if he had ever been asso-
ciated with Gen. Vaughan in any
activity, Mr.. Maragon resumed his
role of the reticent witness and
refused to answer the question.
THAT leaves me with the i'm
preston that you and the general
have been engaged in some activi-
ties which are incriminating,"
broke in Senator Mundt.
Mr.. Maragon. obviously troubled
by what the Senator said, replied
that Il leave no implication when
TN following what my counsel
advises"
Senator Mccarthy repeatedly
tried to get the witness to say
whether or not he had boasted
that he had helped formulate the
Truman program for Greece. Mr..
Maragon denied that one.
Mr.. Bellino testified that after
Mr.. Maragon declared under oath
that he had no bank account out
side of Washington, the commit
tee discovered an account in the
National Bank of Commerce at
San Antonio. Mr.. Bellino said Mr..
Maragon told him he could recall
only a $4,000 deposit there. The
accountant said Mr.. Maragon in
dicated that he had either for
(See FIVE-PERCENTERS, A-6.)