Evening star., 1951-10-01
Verbal Sparriing
Marks Action
In Pearson Suit
Lawyers Clash Over
Questions About
Times-HeroId Policies


in Columnist Drew Pearson's $5.1
million damage suit developed into
verbal sparring match today
over how policies were set for the
Washington Times-Herald and
who set them.
The newspaper is one of II de-
PENDANTS in the suit, which seeks
also specific damages of $500, 900
from Senator Mccarthy, Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin on two counts.
On two other counts the defend
ants are charged with pre-
conceived scheme to hold the
columnist up to public ridicule
and run him out of business.
Frank C. Waldrop, Times
Herald executive editor, appeared
to give his deposition today in the
law Offices of Mr.. Pearson's attor-
ney, William A. Roberts.
Personal Connections.
The questioning revolved almost
entirely around Mr.. Waldrop's S
personal connection to policy OF
the newspaper, although he is not
named specifically in the suit.
The verbal sparring took place
between Mr.. Roberts and Times
Herald Attorney Louis Caldwell,
who persistently challenged the
relevancy of Mr.. Roberts ques-
tions. Time after time, he broke
in to instruct Mr.. Waldrop not to
answer, setting off personal ex-
changes with Mr.. Roberts in al
most every instance.
Mr.. Caldwell said he wanted to
make sure today's hearing brings
out pertinent information so Mr..
Roberts would not be able to claim
later he was not able to get what
he wanted.
Roberts Denies Limitation.
my purpose is to get informa-
tion," Mr.. Roberts said. "I've
given no limitation to the court
as to the extent of my dispositions
and you know it."
Mr.. Roberts went back to the
1e30s to question Mr.. Waldror
about his associations with the
Times-Herald and any part he has
had in setting it's policies. Mr.
Caldwell registered an objection
early, when Mr.. Roberts asked
Mr.. Waldrop If he had "to any
degree" initiated editorial policy
while serving as assistant to Mrs
Eleanor Patterson, owner OF the
paper until her death in July
1948.
Mr.. Caldwell said there has been
no charge that Mrs. Patterson was
a party to the alleged conspiracy
and declared that I'm trying to
keep this from running out of all
bounds" He next advised the
witness not to answer several
other questions about connections
with Times Herald policies during
the 1940s.
"As of the date of the death o1
Mrs. Patterson, what was youl
position?" Mr.. Roberts asked.
Assistant to Owner.
"I don't know if you could give
it an exact title. I guess I was ar
assistant to Mrs. Patterson" Mr.
Waldrop replied. He said his jot
was to carry out instructions giver
him.
He said that after Mrs. Patter'
sons death. his relationship wa
that of a hopeful prospective
owner" Mr.. Waldrop and si1
other employees were left the news
paper under terms of Mrs. Patter'
sons will. Upon her death, Mr.
Waldrop, Joseph w. Brooks anc
William C. Shelton became execu'
tors of the newspaper and tht
Riggs National Bank became
court-appointed collector of tht
estate.
The employees incorporated thu
newspaper in June, 1949. and helc
its entire stock until it was sole
to the Chicago Tribune Co. in Au'
gust of that year.
Shortly after Mrs. Patterson
death, Mr.. Waldrop became editor
in chief. The witness refused tt
say what his salary was and alsc
was advised not to answer whit
appointed him as editor.
I'm objecting in an attempt tt
end this irrelevancy and an at.
tempt to get to the purpose fol
which we came here" Mr.. Cald-
well interjected.
Roberts Charges Obstruction.
"The purpose for which you
came here is to obstruct tht
deposition, Mr.. Caldwell" Mr.
Roberts replied.
Mr.. Caldwell then recalled tha
the Times-Herald attempted las
week to have the taking of deposi.
tions made in closed session ane
contended the question placed
Mr.. Waldrop in an unfair posi-
ton. He said he was willing tt
have Mr.. Waldrop answer ques'
tions if Mr.. Roberts would de-
clare recess and ask them in {
closed meeting.
Mr.. Roberts said he would no
declare recess, and added, CIV
never known the power of ap
pointing an editor in chief wa
a secret matter"
The attorney said the relevanc.
of his questions had to do will
employees who prepared article
relative to the complaint" VIII,
wrote editorials, who assignee
writer's to certain articles "an'
to determine whether they wer
rejecting policies of owners o
the Times-Herald."
The line of questioning thel
shifted to Mr.. Shelton who MI
Waldrop said was appointed b
the Riggs Bank as its agent il
1949 to manage the newspaper
He added he supposed he wa
subordinate" to Mr.. Shelton dur
ing the period of collectorShip.