Evening star., 1953-10-23
Woman Is Convicted
OF Violating District
Baby Brokerage Law

Mrs. Reva Walker was con-
victed in Municipal Court yes
terday of violating the Districts
baby brokerage law.
Judge Milton S. Kronheim. jr.,
referred her case to the Proba-
ton Office for a report, pending
sentence on November S. At the
same time, he declared there
were a number of points regard
ing her illegal transfer of an
other woman's baby last April
that were not disclosed during
the trial.
Mrs. Walker, a tall 41-year-old
platinum blond. who now lives
in the 340O block of University
lane, College Park. was accused
by Mrs. Gladys Hinkle Of taking
her baby and transferring it to
New York couple.
No Baby Sale Ring.
At the same time, District Of
ficials indicated there is no large
scale baby-brokerage ring here
as previously reported.
Assistant United States At
torney Kenneth D. Wood, who
yesterday began investigating
placing possible kidnapping
charge against somebody" in the
case, later decided no such action
could be taken.
Last week Mrs. Hinkle, of the
1900 block of Tenth street NV,
approached authorities and COM
planned that she had never been
paid for her baby, which she said
she had sold through Mrs. Walker
and Charles LawrenSon, 20. also
of the University lane address,
last spring.
She told police she was then
living with Mrs. Walker and
LawrenSon at a home in the 1900
block of Delafield place NE.
while she was separted from her
husband.
Wants Baby Back.
At the time, she said, she
could not afford to support the
child. Last month, however. she
was reconciled with her husband
and in a position to take care
of the baby. she added.
Police quoted her last week as
saying that she was to get $400
for the baby and that a New
York couple had agreed to pay
$500, but she had never seen
any of the money.
Mrs. Hlnkle'sl testimony in
court yesterday did not confirm
that any financial transaction
had been agreed upon. She said,
instead, that the Walker woman
and Lawrenson, who has not, been
arrested because he is still in
Maryland, tricked her out of her
baby and then had her sign an
adoption paper she was not per-
mitted to see.
Ordered From Stand.
During the heated trial yes
terday, a defense witness, who
identified himself as Abe Fry
bush, an attorney and an ac-
cuuntant with an Office in the
1000 block of Vermont avenue
N. W.. was ordered by the judge
to leave the stand to protect"
his rights.
Mr.. Frybush testified that Mrs.
Walker brought Mrs. Hinkle to
his si1ome so Mrs. Hinkle could
have the adoption paper nota-
rized. He denied Mrs. Walker
did anything but make arrange
ments for the notarization and
drive the young mother there.
Mr.. Frybush emphasized he ac-
cepted no fee, told Mrs. Hinkle
that it was an adoption paper
diIO GO1O 1lCI ClloG AZ Woo q cSAA-
Gus thing to do.
Twice Judge Kronheim warned
Mr.. F1ybush that he, as an at
torney, should know he need not
testify in the case if he didn't
want to. Finally Judge Kron-
helm declared:
IF this person doesn't know
enough about protecting his own
rights, I'm going to protect them
for him. I refuse to permit him
to testify further"
Mrs. Walker was arrested last
week when she appeared at a
rooming house she ran in the
1400 block of Euclid street NV.
LaWrenson cannot be arrested on
the brokerage charge unless he
should enter the District.