Evening star., 1961-07-28

LICENSES
Probe of District Officials
In Auto Deals WIDENING
Continued From First Page

I1C dO0C0 J1Id6 U1lC NOlt1I1llS-
sioners feel that Something
other than the uncorroborated,
though sworn, statement of an
interested witness will be
required before action is indi-
Gated"
Mcmillan Checking
Meanwhile, Representative
Mcmillan, Democrat of South
Carolina, said he has staff
members checking into report
ed irregularities" in District
Departments.
Mr.. PappaS said in a state
ment that on November 16,
1860. Mr.. Cardano had called
and asked if he were interested
in buying a 1869 Thunderoird
harotop owned by Mr.. Noting
ham.
When he agreed to look at
the car. Mr.. Pappas said. Mr..
Cardana drove the car to his
lot and said Mr.. Noting ham
wanted $4,000 for the auto.
II said I wouldn't be inter-
ested at that price," Mr.. Pappas
said. I'VE offered $3,100 for
the car or agreed he could
leave the car on consignment
for $4,000.
mfr. Cardano called the Of
flee and Mr.. Nottingham said
he needed cash to buy a new
car. I agreed to buy the car
for $3,100. When the car was
sold, if / made enough, I would
give him an additional 5000"
Mr.. PappaS said he then gave
Mr.. Cardano a check for 3.100
and got the title to the car.
On December 10, Mr.. Pappas
said, Mr.. Cardano called to
ask if the car had been sold.
Mr.. Pappas said 1t had not
been. He added that Mr.. Car
dano then said that Mr.. Not
tingham would like to square
the deal away because he
needed 5000 by Christmas.
Mr.. Pappas said that he
made out a check for $500 and
that someone from the Depart
ment of Licenses and Inspec-
tions had picked the check up
later.
Mr.. Pappas said he finally
sold the car last March 20 for
$4,000 cash.
Bonner Writes CardanO
Meanwhile, John Bonner, at
torney for Ross Rosenberg,
the used car dealer who has
accused Mr.. Cardano of solic-
iting and accepting bribes, re-
leased a letter he wrote today
to Mr.. Nottingham.
The letter said, in part:
'The implications of the
newspaper articles dealing with
your purchase of automobiles
are most distressig to me.
1T would appear from these
completely misleading stories
that it is perfectly proper for
the average citizen to buy a
new car at $50, SIS or $100
over the dealers cost that when
a person of some prominence or
a public official does the same
thing, it then becomes a scam
dalous matter.
1.-THE car which I am pres
emily driving 1 bought from a
new car dealer who was a COM
plete stranger to me. bought
the car for $65 over his cost.
Due to the competitive posi-
ton of the automobile indus
try, any person who wishes to
shop around can do the same
thing.
II feel very badly that a case
in which I am interested. Ross
Rosenberg's, could have led to
a reflection, even by innuendo,
on you. You and I have been
friends virtually since child
hood.
You know that from my
practice of law, I have been in
an inside position to learn of
any rumors of payoffs to public
officials. I would like to en-
phatically state that there has
never been a breath of scam
dal linked to your name"
Mr.. Nottingham, who says he
has bought two new De Sotos
and three new Thunderbirds
since January, 1857, gave a diff
ferent version Of his transac-
tion with Nation Wide on the
sale of the 1860 Thunderbird.
Nottingham Gives Details
When asked how he could
afford to buy all these cars on
his $12.000-a-year salary from
the District Government, Mr..
Nottingham said his total in
come is about $25 900 a year.
Mr.. Nottingham, who has
been working for the District
Government for 80 years, ex-
planned that he receives an
additional $4,000 a year from
real estate investments, finders
fees and his position as vice
president of Guardian Federal
Savings & Loan Association.
The District official said he
conducts these other activities
on week ends and at night.
Discussing the sale of his
1860 Thunderbird, Mr.. Noting
ham said that when the 1861
Thunderbird came out he de-
cided he would like to get one.
Il ordered a 1861 Thunder
bird, but it came sooner than 1
had expected" Mr.. Nottingham
said. Il was embarrassed finan-