Evening star., 1949-11-29
3 Vouchers Bearing Signature
OfThomos Listed as Fraudulent
By w. H. Shippen, Jr.

ut 1On10S IISI(
By W. H. Shippen, Jr.
Three allegedly fraudulent
vouchers signed by Representa-
tive j. Parnell Thomas while he
was chairman of the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activities
were introduced today at the trial
of the New Jersey Republican on
charges of padding congressional
payrolls.
The prosecution also offered
evidence to show that Mr.. Thomas
committee at the time had re-
ceived $500, 900 in three appropria-
tions for expenses which must be
authorized by the chairman. The
54-year- defendant headed the
committee during Republican con-
troll of the House.
Vouchers Identified.
J. c. Shanks, an official of the
House disbursing office, identified
three salary vouchers which the
Government contends were fraud
ulently listed by Mr.. Thomas to
Jacqueline B. Hill for $500 for
three months salary.
The District Court jury of six
men and six women has been told
the Government will offer evidence
later to show that Mr.. Thomas re-
ceived kickbacks from this sum.
knowing that no work had been
performed for the Government.
The prosecution estimated that
the congressional payroll checks
issued to women listed as en-
ployes in Mr.. Thomas Office to-
tailed more than $4,000. The
three allegedly fraudulent payroll
vouchers totaled $3.50. The Gov
ernment has indicated that testi-
mony will be offered later on
kickbacks on additional checks
totaling about $1,000.
The three counts in the indict-
ment charging collections on
Fraudulent vouchers are punish
txbls by up to 40 years in prison
each with maximum fines of $10,-
1000 each.
Tried With Ex- Secretary.
l The representative is being tried
t1oirtiy on another count of con-
Ispiracy with his former secretary,
Miss Helen Campbell, 81. Counsel
for Miss Campbell told the jury
lat the opening session yesterday
that his client did what she did
under coercion" through the re-
lationship Of employe to employer.
He insisted Miss Campbell went
to the Justice Department in Sep
tember of 1948 and voluntarily
told all she knew about the case.
Mr.. shanks testified that the
salary vouchers for Jacqueline Hill
covered her salary for the months
of December, 1947, and January
and February, 1948. He explained
the vouchers were signed by Mr..
Thomas as chairman Of the Un-
American Activities Committee
and identified the checks issued to
the clerk-typist on the basis Of the
vol1chers.
Earlier Mr.. shanks identified a
series Of checks issued to Myra
Midkiff, q niece Of Miss Camp
bells, from January /, 1910,
through January Of 1915.
Over Five-year Period.
The Government charges that
Miss Midkiff, who Is now Mrs.
Rean D. Chilson, received some
5000 at a salary rate Of 500
to $40 a month and turned all
of the chec.1S back to Miss Camp
bell.
Miss c ..npbell, it was charged,
deposited them in her personal
account here and later trans
ferred the same amounts by per-
sonal checks which she sent to
Allandale, N. j.. with instructions
that they be deposited to Mr..
Thomas credit. The Govern
ment also contends that for sew
eral months during the latter
part of the conspiracy. Arnett
Minor, Miss Campbell's maid. was
placed on Mr.. Thomas staff and
likewise kicked back. her salary.
Checks issued to the three wom-
en- over a period Of almost five
years were identified by Mr..
Shanks by comparison between
their serial numbers and those
recorded on his payroll sheets.
Signatures Conceded.
Mr.. Shanks was followed to the
stand by Frank ]. Specht, East
Orange, N. j., who was an &C
counts official Of the. Committee
on House Administration at the
time Mr.. Thomas signed the three
salary vouchers. He said he had
seen Mr.. Thomas name signed to
various documents and that the
signatures appeared to be the
same"
Defense Counsel William H.
Collins, who represents Mr..
Thomas, stipulated at this point
that the signatures on the vouch-
ers were genuine. after a confer
ence at the bench between oppoS-
ing attorneys. Judge Alexander
Holtzoff told the jury that the
defense was in agreement with the