Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-17
Grand Jury Acts in Expose"
Leading to failing of
Three Reporters.
SEVEN OF PLACES NAMED
HELD TO BE NON-EXISTANT
Authorities Unable to Find Liquor
in "a Cases-One Address Al
ready Under Paddock,

The District grand jury, in report
of its investigation of list of 49 places
where liquor is alleged to have been sold,
submitted to it by Daniel f. O'Connell,
city editor of the Washington Times,
declared today that sufficient evidence
to support indictment was procurable
after repeated efforts in four instances
1t was in connection with the Times
expose of places where liquor was sold
in the District that three reporters OF
that newspaper were sentenced to Jail
for contempt of court, having refused
to answer certain questions by the grand
Jury relating to their purchases of
liquor.
The grand jury report today declared
that seven of the alleged speakeasies
we're found to be non-existent. one place
was vacant, one under paddock by court
order and two so-called walking boot
leggers" could not be found.
Unable to Buy at "a Places.
At "a other places, the grand jury
reports, undercover prohibition agents
and police we're unable to purchase
liquor or find evidence of law viola
tions.
When the list had been submitted to
the grand jury by Mr.. O'Connell. 1t was
learned today. Prohibition Commissioner
DoIan and Police Supt Pratt, at the
request of United States Attorney Rover,
Immediately conducted searching in
lob I1ndnrRnVpr
man of both departments here at the
addresses given in the expose.
This investigation has progressed up
to the present time, 1t is reported, and
disclosed the facts stated in the grand
jurys report, including the assertion
that there were no such places as seven
of the addresses contained in the Times
expose.
Report Of Grand Jury.
The report of the grand jury reads:
THE grand jury of the District Of Co
lumbia, sitting in the october term,
AID. 1929, reports to the court as fol-
lows:
THE grand jury reports to the court
its findings in the matter OF tha alleged
violation of the national prohibition act
in 40 places in the District of Columbia,
a. list of which was presented to the
grand jury by local newspaper,
"At the direction of the grand jury,
the prohibition department and the
Police Department Immediately started
an investigation. Every place on the
list was visited on several occasions by
undercover agents of both departments
in an effort to purchase liquor or OBJ
tain other evidence of violation OF the
law.
'The result of this investigation here
with is presented to this honorable
court. Sufficient evidence was obtained
to enable the grand jury to return four
indictments. In seven instances there
was found to be no such places listed;
Two so-called walking bootleggers could
not be found. One place was vacant
and one was already under paddock by
court order. At "a places, agents were
unable to purchase any liquor or md
evidence warranting presentation OF
the cases to the grand jury"
First Declined to Name Men.
When Mr.. O'Connell had been called
before the grand jury he submitted the
list as contained in the expose, but de-
clined to name the reporters who had
gathered the information. The grand
Jury refused to accept the report under
those conditions, insisting on the names
OF the reporters. and cited Mr.. O'Con-
nell before Justice Gordon in Criminal
Division /, who directed the city editor
that he should disclose the names Of
the persons said to have gathered the
information. Mr.. O'Connell returned to
the grand jury room and gave the in
formation to the grand jury, which ac-
cepted the report and ordered the in
vestigation which was concluded by its
report today.
The three reporters, German M. Hen
bricks, Jack E. Nevin, jr., and Linton
Burkett, were summoned and although
admitting they had made purchases of
liquor, each declined to give specific
places where he had made individual
purchase. No inquiry, 1t is stated, was
made of the reporters for the names of
persons with whose assistance or upon
whose information they were able to gain
access to the alleged speakeaSieS. This
was stated definitely today at the office
of United States Attorney Rover.
When the reporters had declined to
give the addresses and names of the
alleged speakeasies, they were cited for
contempt before Justice Peyton Gordon
by Assistant United States Attorney Neil
Burkinshaw, who was handling the in
quiry. The reporters, still declining to
answer after being ordered by the court,
were sentenced to serve As days each In
the District Jail. They were released
from this imprisonment last Tuesday
shortly after midnight.