Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-10
Minte Fails 10 Appear
Al Painters Probe;
Sought by MarshaIs
Ford and Lowry Testify
As Jury Opens Inquiry
Into Union Controversy
By Miriom Gutenberg

Robert E. Minte, Washington
contractor who said he gave
$1,000 to painters union officials,
today failed to show up before a
Federal grand jury investigating
the payment and deputy mar
shals were dispatched to find
him.
Assistant United States Attor-
ney E. Riley Casey said Mr..
Minte had not been served per-
sonally with a subpoena but that
copies had been left at his Office
here and on his boat in the
South River at Annapolis yes
terday.
The deputy marshals were in
structed to bring him before the
jury Immediately as that body
opened it's first case in an after
math of the House Anti
Racketeering hearings. The jury
is looking for possible violations
of the Taft-Hartley Act.
Admits Splitting Brides.
Key figures in the investiga-
ton are Robert C. Lowry. secre-
tary-treasurer of District Coun-
Gil No. 81, Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paper
hangers of America, AFL. and
Archie B. Moore, ousted business
agent of the council who has
said he split brides with Mr..
Lowry to get evidence against
Mr.. Lowry.
Mr.. Lowry spent only a few
minutes before the grand jury.
Asked if he stood on his con-
stitutional rights, Mr.. Lowry's
attorney, Charles E. Ford, said
Mr.. Lowry had done so.
Mr.. Moore, however, said he
would sign waiver of immunity.
II have nothing to hide" Mr..
Moore said. 1--WE told the truth
all the way through and I'm
going to continue to tell it. I'm
just interested in cleaning up the
union"
Mr.. Moore said he understood
that he could get indicted If the
grand jury acted against Mr..
Lowry. but he said his cause
was important enough to take
the risk.
Records Are Subpoenaed.
Mr.. Ford was the first witness.
He had been subpoenaed to bring
all records of the organization Of
the District Council from June,
1851 to 1852, all records and min
utes of the council relating to the
application made by Mr.. Minte's
company to use spray paint at
Forest Glen Hospital; records re-
lating to the denial of the Minte
application, Mr.. Minte's reappli-
cation and the granting Of the
permit.
The subpoena also called for
all records and minutes Of the
charges brought by Mr.. Moore
against Mr.. Lowry and the coun-
ellis action on the charges. as
we'll as all charges brought
against Mr.. Moore and the &C
ton stemming from them.
Mr.. Ford, when asked by re-
porters if he would produce the
records, said that there had been
question of privilege between
lawyer and client involved, but
he said the council, through MIR.
Lowry and Local 1868 of the
union. through Ernest Fontana,
the local president. authorized
him to appear and bring the
records and give his full Coop
Grafton to the United States At
torney and the grand jury.
Waiting to appear were John
Troy. who was president Of Local
1858 and a delegate to the Dis
trict Council at the time charges
and counter charges were flying
through the union. and Earl F..
Sodeman, who was secretary of
the Edward w. Minte Co., and
estimator for the company at
tie time of the Forest Glen Hos
pital painting job in 1851. Rob-
ert E. Minte is president Of the
kMinte company. I