Evening star., 1951-10-06
Tax Suit Defendant
Has Twice Escaped
Other Prosecution

A mysterious exporter who al-
legedly owes the Government more
than half a million dollars in un-
paid 1947 taxes so far has escaped
prosecution because of "insuffi-
cient evidence" it was learned
today.
The exporter. Aubrey Joseph
Jarboe, is repeatedly now living IN
Mexico. Yesterday, the Govern
ment filed a $512,030 tax lien
against him in District Court.
/ He has twice escaped prosecu-
ton IN the past-in 1888 on
charges of embezzlement and in
1912 on charges of impersonating
"a naval intelligence officer, ac-
cordlng to Government sources.
| Dropped for Lack of Evidence.
Asked whether the Bureau of
Internal Revenue ever recon-
mended that the Jarboe case be
considered for prosecution, a JUS
tice Department spokesman said
the case was sent to the depart
ment in June. 1850, but was re-
turned because of insufficient evil
dence to warrant prosecution for
tax evasion.
I The Justice spokesman said tax
officials have been informed that
if they can find stronger evidence,
the Justice Department would re-
consider it.
In Baltimore, where Washington
tax cases are prosecuted, United
States Attorney Bernard j. Flynn
lat first told a reporter he had
never heard of the Jarhoe case.
Later in the day, however, after
the Justice Department said the
case had been sent to Mr.. Flynn
and returned, Mr.. Flynn said his
office records showed the tax mat
ter was sent to him, that he did
not think there was sufficient
evidence on which to proceed, that
the Justice Department readily
agreed and the matter was closed
by Justice in January. 1851.
Mr.. Flynn described the half
million dollar case as a routine
, thing
Man of Mystery.
7 Government records indicated
+ that Mr.. Jarboe has been some
thing of man of mystery. Less
than five years before the Gov
ernment claims he made enough
money to owe more than half a
million dollars in taxes, Mr.. Jarboe
was repeatedly driving taxi and
working part time for an ilsur-
ance company.
Government sources said that
in 1912, while an eXpediter in the
Bethlehem-Fairfleld Shipyards at
Baltimore, Mr.. Jarboe and an un-
named partner took an option on
a small shipyard at Weems, Va,
where it was proposed to build
barges for the Government.
FBI agents said at the time that
Mr.. Jarboe interested New York
banker and wealthy Cherokee
Indian chief in the proposition
but they became suspicious when
he discussed Navy information
; which they regarded as confiden-
tlal. He was arrested on charges
of impersonating a naval ntelli-
gence officer.
The case against him was nolle
pressed in Baltimore, where
prosecutors said the evidence
failed to show Mr. Jarboe received
anything of value because of his
alleged impersonation, and the
charges were also dropped in New
York.
Opened Office Here.
1t was about that time that
Mr. Jarboe said he was working
part-time for the Home Beneficial
Insurance Co. and, also for the
Diamond Cab Co., both in Balti-
more.
Later. he went to Covington.
KY, in the firm of Jarboe. Town
send & Co.. merchandise brokers.
The firm dissolved in July. l946.
and Mr.. Jarboe came to Wash
lngton, where he took offices IN
the Colorado building as A. j. Jar
Doe Co.
! In l947, his firm moved to the
washington Building where it was
called Aubrey j. Jarboe & Bros.
merchandise brokers. At that
time, he lived at 921 Nineteenth
street NV. and was exporting
surplus war materials. The man.
ayers office at the Nineteenth
street address reported he moved
out about year ago and it was
understood he went to Baltimore.