Judge in Hughes Casit Calls Witness a 'Liar'

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Judge in Hughes Casit Calls Witness a 'Liar' SFehron icle JAN 2 i= 1977 "When I first saw it, it was on the back bar (counter) of the Judge in Hughes Casit station," Dummar said. "A man drove in and started talking about `wouldn't it be nice if I were in it (the will).' I thought he was off his Calls Witness a 'Liar' rocker." Las Vegas Dummar said the mystery man showed up at his station about 10 District Judge Keith Hayes suddenly lashed out yesterday at witness a.m. that day. Melvin Dummar, calling him a "liar" and threatening to "have a piece of your hide" if he fails to tell the truth about his involvement with the so- "What did I think of Howard called "Mormon will" of Howard Hughes. Hughes dying? — I remember him saying that," Dummar said. "I also "Brother Dummar," said the, . remember him saying he had been judge, who is a Mormon, in a looking for me. traditional religious greeting to a fellow Mormon, "I want the truth., "I remember him saying `Wouldn't it be nice if a guy like me Where did it (the will) come from?" were in Howard Hughes' will." "A man brought it to the station," Dummar, a Utah gas sta- Dummar said he recalled tell- tion operator, responded. ing the man the story about picking up a disheveled old man in the "Do you know who wrote it?" Nevada desert, giving him a quart- the judge asked. "I do not," the witness replied. er and taking him to Las Vegas "Did you participate in its where the man identified himself preparation in any way?" as Hughes. "I did not." "I don't remember what he The judge's sudden admonition said," Dummar said. "I wasn't inter- followed Dummar's testimony that ested." he first saw an envelope containing Dummar said that after the Back Page Col. 1 man, whom he described as be- tween 40 and 50, neatly dressed and about 5-foot-10, left his station he noticed the envelope had been left near some of his schoolbooks. "I picked it up and read it and From Page 1 it has been a nightmare ever since," he said. the purported will—which be- queathed one-sixteenth of Hughes' Dummar recalled that the en- $2.5 billion fortune to Dummar—on velope containing the will was a counter of his station on the sealed originally. morning of April 27, 1976. "I will , make it my specific project to recommend you do pris- "I steamed it open," he said. "I Dummar said a man apparent- on time," the judge told Dummar. read the will. Then I put it back into ly left it there. "If you are convicted of perjury or some of my books. I opened it Hayes called to Dummar on the any other crime (in this courtroom), several times and sealed it back up witness stand, "Turn your chair you will go to the Nevada state so nobody would know it had been around and face me! prison. It's not a country club." opened. I put it back in my notebook." "You have been examined by Dummar testified in the morn- Harold Rhoden whom I consider to ing session that after finding the The 31-year-old gas station op- be a competent attorney. The ma- envelope containing the will, he erator from Willard, Utah, said it jority of your testimony is that "steamed" it open to read its was a couple of hours before his you're a liar. You have now contents and was startled to learn wife, Bonnie, came home. Then he launched into your third story. drove to Salt Lake City, about 40 "We are here seeking the that he had been cut in for a share miles away, and went to the visi- truth. Mr. Dummar, I think you are of Hughes' fortune. tor's center in the Mormon church complex. lying now. If I were to ask for a Hughes died on April 5 on an raise of hands in this room, you emergency medical flight from would be astonished at how many Dummar testified that he went people here think you are lying." Acapulco to Houston. to the 25th floor of the church Before Dummar testified, at- office building and asked to see The judge allowed Rhoden to torney Rhoden, who has probated Spencer W. Kimball, president of proceed with his examination of the will for executor Noah Dietrich, the Church, He was told Kimball Dummar, but only after further warned Dummar: was tied up and couldn't see him. chiding: "I'm going to nk you where "There are a few things that "I then went down the hall. I you got the will and the envelope. If asked where the restroom was. are valuable. Personal freedom is you lie, you will feel the wrath of valuable. Good health. Love and That's when I got to thinking I this court." respect of your family and your didn't want to do anything." own self-respect. I don't believe Dummar, whose thumbprint you. There is a saying that, Toth it was found on the envelope contain- Dummar said he placed the profit a man if he gains the whole ing the will, has been granted envelope that contained the will world and loses his soul?' immunity from arrest while testify- inside another envelope and "wrote ing here, but could be held in a note as best as I could remember "I'm not concerned about your contempt if he perjures himself. what the man had said to me. I put soul. I'm concerned about your Before the thumbprint was found it on a desk and left." hide. You better be concerned he had denied having had anything about your hide. I will make it my to do with the will. duty to have a piece of your hide." On April 27, church officials found the envelope and came to The judge then instructed the Las Vegas to file it with the court. attorney general's office to "prose- cute if he is proven to be lying." United Press MELVIN DUMMAR (RIGHT) AND LAWYER, ROGER DUTSON In Las Vegas court, before testimony on Hughes will .
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