Evening star., 1952-11-21
Bethesda Man Indicted
In Conspiracy 10 Ship
Plane Paris 10 Reds

1zcIHy AIOyU CAIllSIlC, dCtOIIlSy
and head of Bethesda firm, was
under indictment today on
charges of conspiring to ship air.
craft parts behind the Communist
Iron Curtain.
| In papers returned by Federal
Grand jury in Baltimore, Knight
and two other defendants and
five named as co-conspirators are
charged with attempting to ship
$50,000 worth of parts to Poland
by setting up a dummy pur-
chaser" in France.
The indictment was returned
November S but not publicly re-
ported until yesterday when
Knight. returning from a South
American trip. appeared before
United States Commissioner Archie
Meatyard, jr., in Bethesda. He
was released in $4,000 bond
pending trial in Baltimore.
Talking to newsmen in his of
flee today. Knight entered an
emphatic denial of the fantastic
theme alleged by the Govern
ment," said he had not been in
Ivited to appear before the grand
jury and that he welcomed an op-
portunity to present a defense
against the charges.
Named as co-defendants were
Air Union, Inc. of Bethesda, of
which Knight is listed as general
manager and secretary-treasurer,
and Aladar 2. Balkany of Paris
and Hungary.
5 Named as CO-COnspiratOrs.
Named as co-conspirators were
these others. all believed to be out
of the country:
Philippe Louis Marie Charles de
Bourbon. described as a citizen of
the United States and Uruguay;
Robert Lemoine of Paris, director
OF Societe de Fabrication d'Ex-
ploitations de Brevets ct de Ger
ances, commonly known as Sofra-
dex; Jean Landy of Paris, manag-
ing director of a firm known as
Vitraine: Apollin Makowski of
Poland. and a man identified only
as Maksymowicz of Poland.
Eight Shipments Involved.
Assistant United States Attor-
iney Paul c. Wolman, jr., of Bal
timore said the charges involved
"a conspiracy to violate the Neu-
trality Act with eight shipments
of parts between July, 1948, and
December, 1949
The alleged offenses followed an
unsuccessful effort by Knight and
Air Union in 1948 to obtain a
license to ship airplane engine
parts to the Polish government
air line. Lotnicze, the indictment
said.
Then scheme was concocted
whereby SofradeX would receive
the goods in France as the
lostensible purchaser, while the
parts actually were forwarded to
Poland, the Indictment charged.
Coded Account Used.
1t further alleged that the con-
signment reached lie Havre,
France, after false and fradu-
lent" shippers export declarations
were made to the New York Gus
toms collector. a. ~
From France it was arranged
to have the goods, arriving at
different times. shipped to Poland
either through the Paris Batig-
nolles custom house or directly
from LIE Havre, it. was charged.
The indictment said payment
for the parts was not made to Air
Union, but to a code name ac-
count called Molly Robert" con-
trolled by Balkany in Zurich
(Switzerland) bank.
Knight said today he was not
even acquainted with several of
the persons listed as co-conspira-
tors.
Associated With Balkany.
He said the co-defendant,
Balkany, had been associated with
him for several years, and was a
financial backer of Air Union
when it was organized in 1944.
AS to the account, "Molly-Rob-
ert" named in the indictment,
Balkany had maintained that sew
eral years before the alleged Of
fense, for the sake Of his two chill
dren, Knight added.
It was customary for Air Union
to pay Balkany his fees through
the account. he said.
About the business, Knight said
he held 80 per cent of the stock.
but that the presidency was titu-
larly held by a person he did not
name. who held the other 10 per
cent.
He accepted full responsibility
for all corporate acts of the COM
pany. Knight said.
Tracing his career, Knight said
he was graduated from West Point
in 1929 and served in the Army
until learning he did not like
Army life.
A member of the District Bar
and entitled to practice before
the Supreme Court. he was once
counsel for the NRA.