Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13
Suspended Detective Goes on
Trial for Illegal Transpor-
tation and Possession.
ATTORNEY FOR DEFENSE
HOLDS ARREST ILLEGAL
Policeman Was Apprehended on
Thirteenth Street Last October
by Federal Agents.

The trial Of Robert F. Langdon, sus-
pended fifth precinct detective, or
charge of illegal transportation ano
possession of whisky got under way ir
the District Supreme Court today after
Justice Peyton Gordon had overrulec
request of defense counsel that the
case be dismissed on the ground that
the seizure and search of Langdon'S
automobile was illegal
The policeman was arrested on the
night of October IS, when he drove
his automobile into the driveway of q
house in the $500 block of Thirteenth
street northeast. Federal prohibition
agents who made the arrest testified
they found two 5-gallon kegs of whisky
in trunk attached to the rear of the
automobile
Contends Arrest Illegal.
Harry T. Whelan, who is defending
Langdon, contended that the arrest OF
Langdon was illegal because the Of
flcers did not have a warrant and did
not have sufficient cause to believe a
felony was contemplated to justify
them in arresting the man and search
lliS Ills CdI WllllOuG d WdIIdllI, Tic
request was denied.
In questioning prospective jurymen,
Whelan inquired whether they were
employed by the Hearst newspapers
particularly the Washington Times.
The members of the jury are: Thomas
E. Allpress, Samuel M. Alfred, Andrew
p. Anderson, Alfred Christensen, Joseph
W. Enders, j. Jenning Fields, George G
FIFTEEN, Arthur Norfolk, James E. Orr
Crawford C. Sargent, Thomas L. Tins.
ley and Nelson Waller. Only three
challenges were exercised, the defense
eXcuSing a woman and a man and the
Government man.
Agent is First Witness.
Walter F. Martin, a Federal prohibi.
ton agent, was the first witness called
by Assistant United States District At
torney Walter F. Shea. Martin sale
that he, three other prohibition agents
and a newspaper reporter drove to the
house on Thirteenth street shortly after
o'clock on the night Langdon wa:
arrested and waited approximately II
minutes before the suspended precinct
detective drove up in a large sedan
Martin said the policeman went to 9
and talked to woman for a few min
utes before he returned to his automo-
bile and drove into the side yard.
I'VE walked up," Martin said, "ano
asked the man in the automobile If his
name was Langdon" According tC
Martin, Langdon replied:
What is this, frame-up? Don't
take me in, men; think of my wife and
children. 1t would ruin me and them
Tells of Finding Liquor.
A subsequent search of the car, &C.
cording to Martin, disclosed the pres
ence of liquor in the rear trunk. Lang
don, he said, was then taken to the
first precinct station house, where the
formal charges were placed against him
While driving to the station house
Martin declared, Langdon said that he
was merely hauling the liquor to &C
commodate friend and that there was
no money involved. Il asked him where
the liquor came FROM" Martin said
land he answered. DO you think I am
fool enough to tell you?'" Martin, on
cross-examination, testified that his SUI
perior officer sent him to the Thirteenth
street address after advising him that
"Langdon would drive up either in a
Hudson sedan or a police department
automobile"
The witness said he learned later on
that the fifth member of the party
was German Hendricks, washington
Times reported. Hendricks was one OF
three Times reporters sent to jail re-
Gently for refusing to divulge TO the
grand jury the names and addresses
of individuals from whom they claimed
to have purchased whisky. Martin said
he did not believe Hendricks knew they
intended to arrest Langdon, and de-
MED that any of the agents told him
why they we're going to the Th1rteentn
street address. When Hendricks APP
preached them at the Internal Revenue
Bureau. Martin said, he told them ne
was supposed to go along" and entered
their automobile of his own accord.
Confederate Testimony.
After Martin had finished his testi-
mony SPECIAL Agents A. M. Murphy
and H. r. johnson took the. stand
Their testimony merely corroborated
that already given by Martin.
Warren A. Heddons, special prohibit
ton agent, testified on cross-examina-
ton that the information which led to
Langdon's arrest was given him by
Daniel O'Connell, city editor, and Ralph
Washington Times. HeddonS said
"O'Connell told me he made or over
heard a telephone conversation to the
effect that Langdon would make de-
livery of liquor to house in the $500
block of Thirteenth street northeast
and that the liquor would be delivered
in two 5-gallon kegs and would sell
for SIS a gallon"
Heddons said he made no effort to
verify this information and that he did
not know exactly how O'Connell learned
of the alleged transaction.
The prosecution is being conducted
by Shea and James r. kirkland. while