The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-04-05
Drug Sales
at Prisons
Are Alleged
Witnesses Tell Committee
of Penitentiary Paroles and
Liquor Deliveries at
Little Green House.
Former Warden on Stand

FORMER w arden on Diana
Washington, April A wide array
of new charges was thrown into the
already crowded records OF the senate
Daugherty investigating committee
today.
Witnesses spoke Of drug selling and
paroles at federal penitentsries. re-
ferred to bootlegging investigations in
New York. crossed the continent to
tell OF munitions being furnished revo-
Ilutionists in lower California. and
came back to relate alleged instances
OF liquor supplies being brought 10
the little green house on K street
in Washington, mentioned many timee
as rendezvous OF high government
officials
The committee. already deeply oc-
cupied with executive session inquir-
les into war contracts questions, ee
cided TO recess until Monday.
THE investigation is directing ss.
rather than US directing it," Chair
man Brookhart remarked.
BANK Inquiry flanne0.
The committee decided 10 send ewo
OF It's members, Senator Wheeler,
democrat. Montana. its prosecutor.
and Senator Moses. republican New
Hampshire, TO Washington Court
house. O.. with power 10 hold either
open or executive investigation into
the affairs of the Midland National
bank. operated by NJ s. DAugherty.
brother of the former attorney gen
eral.
Two letters were received by the
committee today. one from Secretary
Weeks transmitting War depart.
ment records of investigation into
war contracts for the service. which
ii examined behind closed doors, and
one from Acting Attorney General
Beck asking delay in complying with
requests for files OF the bureau of in
vestigation bearing upon records Of
drug investigations at the Atlanta
federal prison and saying that Preei-
dent Coolidge desired first TO obtain
the opinion Of his new attorney gen
eral on the question.
fofmer warden 1eSt1fieS.
Witnesses today included J. E.
Dyche. once warden of the Atlanta
prison: W. J. Burns, director of the
bureau OF investigation of the De-
partment OF Justice and Daniel
Smith. former butler at "the lIttls
green house on * street"
Dyche declared that he had inst
tuted an investigation into extensive
supplies OF narcotic drugs to convict..
obtained the aid OF under cover
men" from the Department Of Jus
uee. and had four prison guards IN
dicted. Heber V. yotaw, federal su-
perintendent OF prisons. ordered the
investigation and suspended Dyche.
adding that later he received . hint
to resign. and did 90. subsequently
accepting an appointment in the pro-
hibition service.
Senator Wheeler flashed On pychs
a photostatic copy Of what purpcrt>1
TO be letter from Charles Vincent
or Baltimore, transmitting note
for $4,000 payable to E. II. Mcrtf.
mer. In case OF vincent's release from
'-%-e ~ sentence 0f Af-
lanta for violation OF the prohibition
law. Mortimer has been named IN re-
cent investigations affecting Charles
r. Forbes, former head Of the yeter-
ans bureau and others. and Mrs. Nor
timer stepped out OF the COMMITTEES
room audience 10 identify her hue-
bands signature on the document.
Prison Talk" on ReIeasA
Dyche said Vincent served out his
term, Notwithstanding, bot named
one Dykes" who he said was a con
victed Buffalo drug seller, as having
been paroled and there was prison
talk" that he had paid s2.5oo or 5000
FOR release. The witness expressed
himself a. having been "aumfound-
led" when Superintendent votaw
Ihrother.in.law OF the late President
Harding. suspended the drug invest.
cations.
Investigation OF the drug supriy 20
the Atlanta penitentiary, Dyche sa,s
might have disclosed its sources
through ''men higher up" and W. 7.
Burns. chief Of the bureau OF invest.
cation. agreed with the ststenen,
when called a moment. later.
Senator Wheeler led Burns through
an examination which switched
around dazzlingiy. Former Attorney
General naugheriy. Burns said.
knew the situation at Atlanta. but
Burns himself did not tSke the drug
smuegiing matter himself 70 Notaw
Two of the indicted I--,!-ds were
found not guilty on trial and cases
agains, the other two were dismissed
The supply of drggs. the witnesses.
said, Was SIN soing en- AZ the Atlantis
and IesVeuworth prisons
Daniel n. smith. formerly a servant
90 Howard Mannington. OF Ohio. Nhe
lived IN the little green house" tcs
titled that on two occasions in lesa
about e cases of liquor" had been
delivered there by a Wells Farso ex.
press wagon with "a revenue man
along lie had identified the reye
urc msn. he explained. hy his ,,osseS
sion Of "a hadEe and n gun and
named Mr. DsughestV. Jesse smith.
WIN Orr and Harry p. Sinclair.