Evening star., 1949-07-09
Cafe Operator Free
Under $1,000 Bond
On Arson Charges

On Arson charges
Richard Roy Baker, 46, today
was under $4,000 bond, held for
the grand jury on arson and at
tempted fraud charges. resulting
from an 1000 fire last Tuesday
at Tex's Grill, 1861 H street NE.
Baker, proprietor Of the cafe,
was bound over to the grand Jury
late yesterday after being held
earlier under 10000 bond and
granted a continuance by United
States Commissioner Cyril s. Law
renee.
Following this action. and after
police and other witnesses had
left, Attorney Harold Hawken
came to the commissioners Office,
announced he represented Baker.
and waived q hearing. Mr.. Haw-
ken's request for reduced bond was
granted by Commissioner Law
renee. and the defendant was re-
leased when a bondsman posted
the necessary amount.
Calls Client '1nnocent."
Attorney Hawken declared his
client "is just as innocent as can
be" and added there is no arson
in this case" He told the COM
missioner in asking for a lower
bond that he has known Baker for
10 years and would vouch for the
defendants presence In court
whenever summoned.
In the original proceedings,
Baker was charged along with a
19-year-old employe, now in very
serious" condition at Gallinger
Hospital with second and third
degree burns. The complaint al
leges arson alone and arson with
intent to defraud certain insur-
ance companies. Both face maxi
mum sentences totaling Is years.
Co-defendant with the proprie-
tor is William P. Corley Of the
500 block of K street NE. who,
police charge, actually started the
fire under an agreement whereby
he would receive $500 down and
$50 a week as we'll as a partner
ship in a new business with Baker.
Under Guard in Hospital.
corley is under police guard at
Gallinger, suffering severe burns
about the head and upper body.
Detective Sergts. Keith Gosman
and Irving Lubore reported the
youth said he was burned when
he lit a match In the basement Of
the cafe, all floors of which had
been spattered with gasoline, ker-
osene and peanut oil.
The detectives added that Cor
ley. from his hospital bed, ad-
mitted his part in the fire and i'm
plicated his employer.
Two other persons involved in
the case also appeared yester-
day before Commissioner Law
renee. Marion Neal Baker, SO,
who described herself to the COM
missioner as Bakers wife" al
though both are married to other
spouses, was released under $500
bond as a Government witness.
Charles M. Thorne, "a. of the
1900 block Of U street Sc, also
was listed as a Government wit
ness but was not required to post
bond. Police identified him as
a friend of Corley's, who was
present with the youth part of
the night of the fire.
Hospital Employe Credited.
Police credited the work of the
Casualty Hospital night admitting
clerk with supplying information
that led to the arrest Of Baker and
Corley.
She is Mrs. Agnes Campbell, 40,
Of 402 Sixth street Sc. She told
police that Corley. when first ad-
mitted to Casualty, told her, as
she made the official admitting
records, that he was unemployed.
He was later transferred to GAL
linger.
Mrs. Campbell also said that
Corley did not give coherent &C
count Of how he was burned as
she attempted to compile a case
history.
"At first he said his car caught
fire as he was working on it. When
inquired again a little later he
said he couldn't remember how
he was burned" she said.
Visitors Stirred Suspicious.
On the patients admitting card
she wrote: Patient apparently
burned by gasoline explosion. Un-
able to get history"
She later read about the grill
fire in the newspapers and noted
that arson was suspected.
Still later, she said, two young
men and a girl called at the hos
pital to ask about Corley's condi-
ton and told her that they worked
with him at the grill.
Her suspicious aroused. Mrs.
Campbell relayed the information
to detectives when they called at
the hospital on another case.
Deputy Fire Marshall Earl Atze-
rott reported that Baker carried
business insurance totaling more
than 100000 on the cafe. Police
RESORTS.
WILDWOOD, N. j.
WildWood, n. J-Emerson. 23z e.. Juniper.
Nice roems and 2 meals PEI. day, S33
week Der person, 2 In room. Near beAeh.
nETII NV RN IN nEf,