Evening star., 1949-09-19
2Men Indicted
On Charges Of
Arson at Grill
Grand Jury Returns
IS Other True Bills
In District Cases

Richard R. Baker, 46, proprietor
+of Tex's Grill, 1861 H street NE,
was indicted today, along with a
grill employe. on charges of arson
in connection with a fire at the
restaurant on July 5.
The employe was William p.
Corley, 10, of the 500 block Of
K street NE.
Police said Corley told them
Baker offered him $50 a week as
long as the grill remained closed
and also a partnership in a place
to be opened in Baltimore If Cor
ley would set fire to the grill.
Police added that the place was
insured for some $500. They
estimate damage at $1,000.
Trail Led to Corley.
The trail led to Corley when a
night admitting clerk at Casualty
Hospital became suspicious of his
explanation of gasoline burns on
his arms after the fire. He told
her he was unemployed and gave
varying accounts of how he was
burned.
Suspicious also were aroused
when several friends called at the
hospital to visit him. They said
they were employed at the same
restaurant with Corley, which re-
called the grill fire to hospital
workers. They notified police.
Corley later admitted to police
he used gasoline and peanut oil
to get the fire under way, they
said.
The indictment does not mem
ton insurance but accuses both
men of burning the building and
doing it to defraud and injure
others.
36 Indictments Returned.
The indictment was among SO
returned today by the grand jury
before Chief District Court Judge
Bolitha j. Laws.
Joseph F. Burgess, 80, colored.
OF the 900 block of French street
INV, was indicted on a charge
Of f1rst-degree murder. He is ac-
cused of fatally stabbing Helen
Coplin, 33, colored, 14O0 block of
S street NV. August 26 during
an argument at the French street
address. The woman was stabbed
a total of % times, police said.
Navy, Inc, and Fred L. Gack)
Robinson, 80, of Norfolk, Va,
owner and publisher of Navy
Pictorial News, were indicted on
charges of making false state
ments as to the mailing Of the
publication ini the eighth postal
zone.
The statements, authorities said,
were made in connection with zone
analysis for secend-class mail. The
indictment accuses Robinson of
stating that no copies of Navy
Pictorial News were mailed to sub
scribers residing in the eighth
postal zone when he allegedly knew
that copies were mailed to SUBJ
scribers in that zone. The zone
covers certain Western States and
foreign countries, it was said at
the United States Attorneys office.
Accused of $1O0 Robbery.
Among others indicted were
Luther Barnhardt, 80, Raleigh,
N. c., who. was accused of robbing
the Blue Bell Restaurant at 14O2
Park road NV. of $100 in May,
1947.
John H. Franham, 10, 1000 block
of c street S.W., was indicted on a
charge of taking a ring and wrist
watch from a woman, whom police
quoted as stating that the de-
fendant had volunteered to escort
her home.
Two men were indicted on
gambling charges accusing them
of promoting the numbers racket,
They were Owen j. Washington
and Russell Enscore, for whom no
ages or addresses were listed.
The grand jury ignored a rape
charge against Robert L. Harkins,
jr., 20, colored, 600 block of Kastle
place NV. The grand jury's
action in ignoring the charge
exonerateS Harkins.