Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-29
Police Question
Las Vegas Pair
In Union Killing
Suspects Accused
Of 'KiIl-for-Hire'
Mission IN District

two men held by Metropolitan
police on charges Of conspiring
to murder q union official here.
b Police say arrest Of the pair
yesterday eliminates a union
labor quarrel which has reached
across the Nation from Los AM
geles. The two were booked as:
Sheldon Rich. So a Las Vegas
sheet metal worker, and John
Georgacakis. IS. a Las Vegas
gambler.
They are accused of plotting
to kill for hire. 51-year-old Ed
ward Carlough. general secre-
tary and treasurer Of the Sheet
Metal Workers international
Association with Offices In the
Transportation Building. Seven
teenth and H streets NV.
Held in. $4,000 Bond.
They were held on $4,000
bond each late yesterday when
brought before Municipal Court ;,
Judge Nadine Gallagher.
The sheriff of Las Vegas tele-
phoned police here today, asking
them to question both men in
the death last February Of James
Hartley. a union worker, whose
bullet-riddled body was found in
the desert so miles from Las
Vegas. Rich was questioned at
the time, but released.
Before Judge Gallagher. As
sistant United States Attorney
Leonard Braman asked for q
reasonable delay" saying he be-
lieved the case to be one "na-
tional in scope that originated
in California and Nevada and
had its elimination here"
Came Here Monday.
The bizarre story began Mon
day. Mr.. Braman said, when Rich
and Georgacakis checked into
the Hamilton Hotel. The follow
ing day. Rich contacted Robert
Byron, 71-year-old president
general of the union, at his Office
in the Transportation Building.
Rich, according to Mr.. Byron.
said he had been paid $500 to
find q trigger man" to kill the
internationars secretary treas
urer. The sheet metal worker
said he had been hired by q
former Las Vegas union official,
who was deposed for nalfeasance
of Office.
Wanted $4,000.
In his statement to Mr.. Bra
man and police. Mr.. Byron said
Rich, an convict. offered to
drop the plan. If the president
would give him and his accom-
plice $4,000 of the unions funds.
The union president said Rich
| further offered. in return for q
good union job. to doublecross
the man who hired him and to
act as an informer against him
| in any matters that might In
terest the international Office.
Mr.. Byron said Rich. whom
he has known for many years as
| good mechanic" told him
that, if given the money. he
would return the 5000 to the
man who hired him.
The president general quoted
the sheet metal worker as saying
Rich would return to Las Vegas
with the report Mr.. Carlough.
an Alexandrian, was too closely
guarded for the assassin to act.
Mr.. Byron rejected the pro-
posals.
Given Police Protection.
He alerted Mr.. Carlough and
both reported to police. They
we're given police protection.
Meanwhile. a lookout for the
pair, who had checked out Of
the hotel. was broadcast by po-
lice. and warrants were obtained.
Rich was arrested yesterday az
he entered the lobby Of the
Transportation Building. From
him, Mr.. Braman said, police
learned the name Of his accom-
plice.
Georgacakis was picked UP by
Detective Sergt. Jack Frost and
Star Reporter c. Steed Evans
| as he sat in b car bearing Nevada
tags parked under the union
office.
In the trunk of the auto. po-
lice found a .22-caliber rifle. o
.38-caliber revolver and a box
of shells for each weapon.
Admits Prison Terms.
| At headquarters, Rich admitted
he had "done time" in San Quen-
tin and Folsom prisons.
Mr.. Braman said police also
recovered from the pocket Of
one of the pair. note bearing
several names. Those Of Hartley.
Mr.. Carlough and a man named
Dunn" Of Chicago were heavily
UNDERSIGNED in pencil.
4 Carlough Recalls Testifying.
/ Mr.. Carlough told police he
had testified at q union hearing
against the man who Rich said
wanted the secretary-treasurer
killed. Police here said Mr..
| Carlough was under 24-hour
! police protection while In Cali
fornia for the hearing.
4 Earlier this month, a Los
Angeles local Of the union ac-
cused the international associa-
ton Of attempting to rig .
union eiectl0n 10 De neld AZ o
| convention beginning August 16,
| IN Montreal. Canada.
The local filed suit In the
| q. s. District Court for the Dis
trict Of Columbia for an injunc-
ton naming Mr.. Byron and Mr..
Carlough specifically. It alleged