Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-01
ORCUTT TO DIRECT
L|QUOR-LAW CASES
Former Aide to Dry Unit
Counsel Placed in Charge
of Prosecutions.

Assistant District Attorney Harold
w. Orcutt, former assistant chief
counsel Of the prohibition unit, Mon.
day will take over complete super
vision of prosecution Of liquor cases
in the District of Columbia, it was
announced today by Maj. Peyton Cor
don, United States district attorney.
Mrs. Rebecca Greathouse and David
A. Hart, assistant district attorneys in
charge Of liquor law prosecutions at
present, will assist Mr.. Orcutt in his
new position, it was stated.
"Orcutt will not replace any one,
because under the existing system no
one person is in sole charge of liquor
cases" Mai. Gordon said. He will
assume a new office. the duties of
which include general direction OF all
prosecution work affecting the national
prohibition act"
Result OF Conferences.
The announcement follows closely
several conferences held between Maj,
Gordon and officials of the Citizens
Service Association for Law and
Order, as a result of which DIR. E. NJ.
Ellison, secretary of the association.
stated several days ago that the dis
trict attorney had given assurance
that prohibition cases hereafter would
be placed In the hands of one assistant
attorney.
Raymond Neudecker. another as
sistant district attorney, also will
assist Mr.. Orcutt in the prohibition
cases, Mai. Gordon declared.
Mai Gordon gave no explanation
for his decision to assign Mr.. Orcutt
to supervise the important work at
Police Court, beyond the bare state
ment that no one has been in charge
and it was deemed advisable to put
one person in complete command OF
the dry law prosecutions.
Orcutt has been assistant to Gordon
for the past two years. He has been
civil cases before the District
Supreme Court and the District Court
of Appeals, including libeIs, equity
cases and civil prohibition cases.
Five Years with Dry Unit.
He came to the district attorneys
office from the prohibition unit, where
he had been connected with the legal
division for five years. During the
war he was an Army captain and was
stationed at Camp Lee in charge of
law enforcement work. and later was
on staff duty at the War Department
He is 48 years old, married and re-
sides in Takoma Park. Md. His orig
inal home was in Massachusetts. He
has maintained his home in Washing
ton since the war.
Maj. Gordon explained that Orcutt
will be responsible for the govern
ment's procedure in accepting offers
to plead guilty in prohibition cases.
submitted by attorneys. All motions
and other legal proposals will be made
to Orcutt personally, it was said.
Gordon made it plain, however. that
the district attorney, himself, will con-
tinue. as before, to exercise supreme
control of prohibition work, and that
Orcutts activities, of course. will come
directly under his (Gordon's) purview.
Mrs. Greathouse was transferred TO
prohibition duties more than a year
ago. Announcement of her appoint
ment at a greater salary than either
Mr.. Hart or former Assistant District
Attorney Thomas f. Lodge, then on
similar duties, resulted in the resigna
ton of Mr. Lodge a few days later
Mai. Gordon at that time explained
that Mrs. Greathouse was not "over"
the other prosecutors, as had been re-
ported.