Evening star., 1952-02-08

ne asked Cne surprised eIlgl1leeE.
And in the next breath he added
irascibly:
'.Move that locomotive. I'm go.
ing fox hunting"
P. S.-The locomotive moved
Mr.. Johnson went.
4 teachers Fined s.
For Applause as Jury
Clears GrabarkieWicz
Kasmer P. Grabarkiewicz, sus-
pended director of maintenance
for Montgomery County schools
was acquitted of larceny last night
by a Circuit Court jury in Rock
vile.
The jury of II men and one
woman brought in the verdict at
8 pm, after so minutes of delib-
Grafton. Grabarklewicz was ac-
cused of the theft Of a refrigera-
tor, valued at $125. from the
school board.
An outburst Of applause at the
prompted Judge Charles
w. Woodward to find four women
observers in contempt of court.
The women, all principals in
elementary schools, were
fined SIS each and warned that a
courtroom "is not show, not a
theater." They were Mrs. Elsie
Bosley of Lynnbrook School, Mrs
Hazel Mcnamara of Westbrook
Mrs. Isabelle Luneski of Highland
and Mrs. Grace A. Zeller of Park
side.
Faces Other Charges.
Grabarkiewicz still faces three
indictments charging malfeasance
and the alleged larceny of a six
by-six foot tool shed. Motions fol
dismissal of all three indictments
will be heard by Judge Woodward
on February Is.
Final arguments were high
lighted by States Attorney Walter
w. Dawson's statement to the
jury that they were sole judges OF
"how the taxpayers money is go
ing to be spent" He asked them
if they wanted the School Board
to be run the way it's being run
down there"
Grabarkiewicz was one of three
school employees indicated by a
grand jury last November q on
charges of malfeasance. Melvin
F. Nicholson, former carpenters
foreman, was acquitted January
IL, and a few days later the in
dictment against Arthur w. Saun-
ders, jr., ex-electricians' foreman
was dismissed.
Witnesses Trace Refrigerator.
Mr.. Saunders testimony figured
strongly in yesterdays trial o1
Grabarkiewicz.
In rapid succession, witnesses
for the State traced the path oi
the refrigerator from its purchase
by the School Board in November
1916, to the basement of Gra.
barkiewicz' home in Rockville II
the spring of 1850.
State witnesses testified the re-
frigerator was in use at the Ger
mantown Negro School until il
was closed in March,. 1850.
William L. White, School Board
electrician, told the court the re-
frigerator then was taken to the
boards warehouse in Rockville
but disappeared after about siz
weeks. He said he later saw it in
Grabarkiewicz' basement.
Detective Sergts. Frank Griggs
and James Anderson testified they
had seen the refrigerator in Gra-
barkiewicz' home and, through it,
serial numbers, determined it be.
longed to the School Board.
Grabarkiewicz, who drew from
Mr.. Dawson an assertion that HI
was the most honest defendant
he ever had on witness stand
admitted the refrigerator wa
School Board property. He addee
that he learned this only recently
There When He Moved.
According to Grabarkiewicz, th'
refrigerator had been placed il
his basement before he had movet
into the house. He said he haC
been on a trip at the time it wa
placed there.
Grabarkiewicz said he though
the refrigerator had come from
Mr.. Saunders. He said Mr.. Saun'
ders had asked him if he woulC
like to have his old refrigerator
since he was getting a new one
Mr.. Saunders testified he hac
talked with Grabarkiewicz on thu
matter and had helped move thu
School Board refrigerator into Mr.
Grabarkiewicz's basement. HI
added, however, he did not knoy
at the time that it belonged tt
the board. Mr.. Saunders said h
had sold his old refrigerator II
another school employe for $40
Defense Attorneys Joseph 3
Simpson, jr., and Miss Vivian v
Simpson paraded nine characte
witnesses to the stand, including
IDr. Edwin w. Broome, superin
Itendent of schools. and a numbe
of other school employees. princi
pals and friends Of Grabarkiewicz
Assisting In presentation Of tn
IState's case was Thomas M. An
derson, deputy States attorney.
/