Evening star., 1949-12-01
Thomas Plea Closes
All Hope Of Appeal;
House Seat in Doubt
BY w. H. Shippen, jL.

BY w. n. ShlpPen, j..
When Representative j. Parnell
Thomas comes up for sentencing
December 8 for padding Con-
gressional payrolls, he will have
no choice but to accept any
penalties the Judge may i'm
pose within the limits Of the law.
Defense as well as Government
counsel were agreed today that
Thomas action in throwing
himself on the mercy Of the court
deprives him of the right Of appeal.
Maximum sentences under the
four counts of the indictment add
up to 80 years in prison and $40.-
900 in fines.
Several House members de-
clared Thomas ought to resign
Immediately.
Called Embarrassing.
IT should think he would have
to resign" Representative Wicker
sham, Democrat, of Oklahoma de-
clared. THAT would be best. I
think all the other members would
feel that way"
Representative Blatnik. Demo-
crat, Of Minnesota commented 1t
would make it very embarrassing
for the House" If Thomas did not
resign. Another House member
added "the House certainly
couldn't keep on its membership
list any one who has been SEN
fenced as criminal"
A Republican member who
asked that his name not be used
said that IF it were me I would
resign Immediately"
Thomas himself said nothing
except that he was going home to
Allendale. N. j., and would come
back next week.
Congressional parliamentarians
said the Representative will re-
sign his seat as a Republican
member from New Jersey. II he
follows precedent. In the event
he does not resign. the House
alone can judge his qualifications,
although convicted OF a felony
while in Office.
Trial Ends Dramatically.
The three day trial ended
dramatically yesterday in the
middle of the Governments case
against Thomas and his former
secretary, Miss Helen Campbell,
"a. Defense Counsel announced
Unexpectedly that his client
pleaded "nolo contendere," mean
ing he had withdrawn his not
guilty plea and would no longer
contest the Governments charges.
Judge Alexander Holtzoff then
dismissed the charge of conspiracy
against Miss Campbell.
For three days the prosecution
had offered documentary evidence
and testimony to trace to Thomas
a total of $8,872 in Federal pay
roll checks made out in the names
of three women employees" of his
Office and the House Un-American
Activities Committee.
Checks, bank statements, ledger
sheets. deposit slips and payroll
sheets were produced, along with
experts to identify them and the
testimony of an FBI accountant
to the effect that Miss Campbell
had made a complete. voluntary
statement to him as to the work
ings of the kick-back racket.
Three Waited to Testify.
Little remained Of the Govern
ment's case except the testimony
of the three women "employes,"
when Defense Counsel William H.
Collins announced his client would
no longer contest the charges.
The witnesses were to have been
Mrs. Myra Midkiff Chilson, Miss
Campbell's niece; Miss Annette
Minor. Miss Campbell's maid, and
Mrs. Jacqueline Hill. The Gov
ernment charged they did nothing
to earn the money "kicked-back"
to Thomas, and that he knew this
at the time.
The Judge suggested that the
Government move to dismiss the
charge against Miss Campbell in
view of the testimony that she
acted merely as an employe, did
not profit from the fraud, and
made a "free, frank and full"
statement of how the racket oper-
ated.
District Attorney George Nor
ris Fay agreed to the suggestion
and the case was dismissed. He
and his assistant, John w. Fihelly,
previously had agreed to accept
the nolo contendere" plea in be-
half of Thomas. Miss Campbell
was represented by Attorney John
Fitzpatrick.
Testifies on Records.
Frederick D. Vechery, an FBI
accountant attached to the Wash
ington field Office, testified that
his examination Of Federal pay
rolls, bank records and witnesses
confirmed in detail the version of
the racket given voluntarily by
Miss Campbell during September,
1948.
Mr.. Vechery said so checks
LOST.
ALLIGATOR BAG, Kennedy mr.. North Cap
itol. Keep money, but return bxg and
rosary. CARR. 5516 No. Capitol st. NV"
RA GAIA II