Evening star., 1955-07-12
DuPreLawyer
Sees DC. Men
In Land Sales

An attorney for Ben Du Pre-,
Maryland Roads Commission
oficial under suspension on
charges Of misconduct. was in
Washington today interviewing
real estate men connected with
his clients case.
The attorney, Walter r. Tab
Ter, jr. Of Baltimore, said he
was not at liberty to disclose
the names of the real estate
men.
Mr.. Tabler came to Washing
ton with Mr.. Du Pre- after they
had filed a formal request with
the Maryland commissioner of
personnel for a public hear
ing on the charges against
Mr.. Du Pre-. who was as
sistant right-of-way engineer
for new Route 240. the inter-
county belt freeway and two
other roads projects in nearby
Maryland. Mr.. Du Pre- lives in
Bethesda.
Hearing May Come in Week
The personnel commissioner,
Russell S. Davis. said he will
try to arrange the hearing for
sometime next week. He will de-
eide whether Mr.. Du Pre- should
be dismissed or reinstated.
Mr.. Tabler's hearing request
also contained, he said. a gen.
eral denial Of the three specific
counts listed against Mr.. Du Pre-
in formal charges sent to the
personnel commissioner by the
roads commission yesterday.
The roads commission bases
part Of its charge on a state
ment by Dyke Cullum, of Ger
mantown, Md, that Mr.. Du Pre-
on several occasions during the
last three years had suggested
that they pool together and buy
up land to resell to the State
at a profit.
The commission, in it's second
count, accuses Mr.. Du Pre- of not
exercising property judgment
in handling purchase for $26, SOC
of a lot at 1914 Connecticut ave-
nut from Mr.. and Mrs. John B
Hudson of Hyattsville. The COM
mission last month filed suit
against the Hudsons accusing
them of misrepresenting the price
they said they paid for the lot.
Share in Profits Charged
The third count is based on
allegations of Francis D. Alex
ander. former Washington real
estate man. that Mr. Du Pre- CO.
operated with land spectators
here and shared in the profits
from sale of right-of to the
State in Montgomery County.
Mr.. Alexander said Mr.. Du Pre-
delivered maps and right-of way
information to the Basile Realty
Co. of Washington, owned by
John Basiliko. during 1852 and
1853 when Mr.. Alexander worked
as a salesman for that firm.
The following is a text of the
denials submitted on behalf of
Mr.. Du Pre- by Mr.. Tabler:
LAS to specification No. /, re-
garding the accusation of one
Dyke Cullum of Montgomery
County. Mr.. Du Pre- categorically
denies having had any converse
tions with Mr.. Cullum during
which proposals of such un-
ethical conduct were either made
or even discussed.
GAS to specification No. 2, re-
garding the Hudson property,
although Mr.. Du Pre- did par
ticipate, on behalf of the State
Roads Commission. with the
Hudsons regarding the taking of
an option on the property in
question, he did so strictly in
accordance with the procedures
of the State Roads Commission
and in an effort to protect the
best interests of the commission
and the State of Maryland. He
admits that present indications
are now to the effect of his hav-
ing been given false information
by the Hudsons. but under the
circumstances that existed at
the time the option was given,
he feels that his actions indi-
Gated proper Judgment and i'm
plicitly good faith.
Denies Advance Information
"As to specification No. 8. Mr.
Du Pre- admits having visited the
offices of a number of men who
were we'll informed of real estate
values. transactions and trends
In the Montgomery County area
of the Washington metropolitan
districts and did so in an effort
to validate certain studies he
was making regarding these
problems. The visits to all oi
these Offices were usually made
in the company of other State
Roads Commission employees anc
were in no way secretive.
I'm the past. information re-
ceived from such interviews, has
materially benefited the State
Roads Commission and the State
of Maryland, both in making Il
possible to have accurate ;nfor-
nation as a part of the study
being made and as to the bring
ing about in certain instances a
saving of State funds allotted to
the commission.
Mr.. Du Pre- denies that there
was ever any advance informa-
ton given to any of these real
tors which. during his tenure OF
Office as assistant right of way
engineer. was used for improper
speculative purposes; he further
denies that there was ever any
conversation with any of these
men regarding transactions into
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