Show RETIRED JUDGE GOES ON TRIAL PHILADELPHIA ELPHIA May 19 p- p pA A defense maneuver aimed at challenging indictments returned against Judge J J. Warren Davis retired jurist of the Third district court of was overruled Monday and he immediately was placed on trial in federal court courton on criminal charges As the case was called earlier earlie counsel for Davis and Morgan S S. Kaufman Scranton Pa attorney petitioned District Judge Robert Rober N. N Pollard Richmond Va to permit permit permit per per- mit them to withdraw pleas of innocent innocent innocent in in- and to file demurrers cha challenging challenging chal- chal validity of the indictments Ex Film Leader Named Davis Kaufman and William S S. S Fox bankrupt movie magnate magnat were indicted March 28 23 on charges charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice justic and defraud the United States Fo Foat Fox at once pleaded guilty and is js await await- awaitIng awaiting ing sentence Allows Plea Withdrawal Judge Pollard Monday permitted permit permit- ted Davis and Kaufman to withdraw withdraw with with- draw their pleas of innocent but bu he denied their motions for a de de- demurrer de- de Both defendants Immediately were and both again agai pleaded innocent Judge Pollard had recessed th the trial to consider the petitions H He was especially appointed by Chief Chie Justice Hughes to hear the case- case second time in the nations nation's history a federal jurist has been held on criminal criminal- charges Davis year old Lawrenceville Lawrence Lawrence- ville N. N J. J man was appointed to the bench in 1920 by President Wilson The grand jury which received instructions from Attorney General General General Gen Gen- eral Robert H. H Jackson reported it had found evidence Davis ha had accepted sums of money from Fox ox and Kaufman in return for action favorable to the year 62 old movie producer who was involved involved involved in in- in jn bankruptcy proceedings before the circuit court while Davis Davis Davis Da Da- Da- Da vis was still on the bench He re retired retired re- re retired tired two years ago Panel of Drawn A special panel of venire venire- men was drawn for selection of the he jury and two alternates Val Wai Walter Waiter Valter ter H. H Gahagan Jr special assistant assistant assistant assist assist- ant to the attorney general has said aid the governments government's case might tak take ake two or nr three weeks 1 n n. n or even even nn tak take ake two or nr three weeks 1 n n. n or even even nn longer longer The page 17 federal indictment charged Davis accepted from rom Fox in 1936 that Kaufman I accepted from Fox in the same ame year and that later the attorney attorney at- at torney orney turned over to Davis a aum sum um of money |