Evening star., 1949-12-01

| DROUGHT tlCI1MS AlDED-l
water from Fire Chief Mark I
An emergency supply was truck
of the town, 80 miles southwes
drawn in the name Of the former
Miss Myra Midkiff totaled $6.149
from January of 1910 to January
of 1945. Three checks were issued
in the name of Miss Minor during
1914 for a total of $375, he said,
while checks in Mrs. Hills name
totaled 81, ,467 during 1947.
At that time Mrs. Hill was listed
as an employe in the Representa-
tive's Office.
Later, it was testified. a total OF
$3.50 was conveyed in Mrs. Hills
name as an employe of the House
Un-American Activities Commit
tee. The Representative signed
the vouchers on which the checks
were based while chairman OF the
powerful committee during Re-
publican control of the House.
Congress had granted the COM
mittee 100000 to spend during
this period, it was testified.
Charges on Vouchers.
The most serious penalties fac
ing the Representative are car
ried by the three charges of issu-
ing fraudulent vouchers as COM
mittee chairman. Conviction on
any one count bears a maximum
of 10 years in prison and a $4,000
! fine.
Mr.. Vechery said records Of
Miss Campbell's bank, the East
Capitol branch of City Bank here.
and of the First National Bank at
Allendale. confirmed the secre-
tary's story. Payroll checks
indorsed by the employees" and
deposited to Miss Campbell's per-
sonal account approximated the
Withdrawals she made and sent
for deposit in Thomas account at
Allendale. the witness said.
The final witness, Edward
Hamilton, cashier of the First
National Bank at Allendale, was
identifying the checks sent to the
bank by Miss Campbell when the
court declared a mid-morning
recess. The defense plea was en-
tered when the judge and oppos-
ing counsel returned to court, and
before the jury has been sum-
moned.
Leaves Court With Wife.
Thomas, released on his pre-
vious bond of $1,000. left the court
Immediately with his wife, who
had attended the trial since it
opened Monday. He referred all
questions as to his future plans
to his attorney.
Miss Campbell was quoted at
the trial as having charged that
Thomas kept a 71-year-old, bed
ridden aunt of his wife's on his
payroll for many months, along
with a daughter -in-law living in
New Jersey.
Thomas was elected to his sew
enth term from Northern New
Jersey on November 2, 1948, al
though the fact that a Federal
grand jury here was investigating
the "kick-back" charges against
him had been widely publicized.
In September of that year IT at
torneys in Thomas Congressional
District had petitioned the JUS
tice Department to investigate
charges of the racket published
by Columnist Drew Pearson.
Resigned as Secretary.
Miss Campbell, Government in
vestigators said, resigned as
Thomas secretary in August after
many years in his service. FBI
agents interviewed her at her
home in the TOO block of Lyman
place, NE, during September
and later while she was visiting in
New Orleans. .
When the FBI, and later the
grand jury. took up an investiga-
ton of payroll padding charges,
Thomas declared he welcomed"
the inquiry which, he said, was
inspired by cheap Pendergast
politics"
He demanded an opportunity of
being heard before the grand jury.
Although citizens enjoy no such
right" under the law. the grand
jury invited Thomas to appear.
He went before the jury two days
after his election, but remained
only five minutes. Later Mr.. Collins
said he had stood on his Constitu-
tional rights and refused to answer
questions.
The grand jury returned the in
dictment week after Thomas was
reelected,
In Hospital for Months.
Following the indictment,
Thomas was confined to the hos
pital for many months with a
stomach ailment which required
surgery. He had suffered a serious
illness months prior to his indict-
ment.
Judge Holtzof finally ordered
the case to trial on the basis Of the
report of two physicians, who ex-
amined the defendant in October
and decided he was strong enough
to attend the hearings.
Mr.. Collins told reporters the
decision to enter a "nolo con-
tendere" plea was made partly as
a means OF sparing the defendant
la long-drawn-out battle in court
Thomas status as a Represen-
tatlves will be. up to the House
when 1T conyenes on January s
unless he resigns sooner.
DroNnInnf Rnr DA.s~~ss~~