Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-22
MUTT DRUG CHARGE
VIGOROUSLY DENIED
D. C. Attorney Declares Re-
ported RothStein Connections
absolutely False"

ROLAND L. Mutt, Washington attor-
ney and son of Col L. G. Mutt, deputy
commissioner of prohibition In charge
OF narcotics, issued a statement today
emphatically denying charges filed re-
Gently by a New York Federal grand
jury which linked his name with thar
of the late Arnold RothStein in its in
vestigation of alleged violations of mar
cotic laws.
Brands Press Reports False.
Mr. Mutt also branded as absolutely
false" press reports that he had been
engaged to represent the New York
gambler in connection with alleged OPP
erations of so-called narcotic drug rings
The grand jury made its presentment
last Tuesday, charging that Mutt and
a brother-in-law, L. p. Mattingly OF
New York, were allegedly "indiscreet'
in their relations with Rothstein.
Il did not know Rothstein; never
saw him in my life" Mr.. Mutt said.
He indicated that his name was in
cluded in the grand jury's report at the
instigation of United States Attorney
Charles H. futile of New York for
political reasons possibly" Mr.. Mutt
said he appeared as a witness before
the grand jury in answer to a subpoena
issued on January Is, based, he claimed
on a tax matter in which he was sup
posed to have represented RothStein
four years ago, but i'll which he rem
dered no service.
Mr.. Nuts statement said:
During my appearance before the
Grand jury, ! was aStounded by vicious
and unfair implications which appeared
in the New York press linking my name
and the name of my father, L. G. Mutt
head of the narcotic division, with that
of Arnold Rothstein. Coupled with In
dications that the information had come
from official sources, several of these
reports stated by direction or indirec-
ton that had been engaged to repre-
sent Arnold RothStein in connection
with alleged operations of So-called mar
cotic drug rings. These statements were
absolutely false.
Now press reports state that the
grand jury presentment has called me
'indiscreet" in relations with Rothstein.
Never Saw ROthstein.
"The facts are these: I did not know
Rothstein. never saw him in my
life. never communicated with him
nor did he ever communicate with me
on any matter. / am a Washington
attorney engaged principally in Federal
practice and specializing in income tax.
] represent in Washington many out
of-town clients. attorneys and tax con-
Eciiants before the income tax unit L.
idattingly, a brotherin- of mine,
With offices in New York, was tax
ssa,sultant and is now an attorney
s.asre Washington conferences were
necessary II represented many of Mr.
MattinglyS clients before the income
tax unit and the Board of Tax Appeals
in washington. In January, 1926, he
referred to me the internal revenue re-
ports of proposed additional assess
Inent of income tax against Arnold
Rothstein, in connection with which, as
required by income tax practice rules,
he forwarded me a power of attorney
running TO him and me. authorizing
appearance before the income tax unit
in any hearing that might be necessary.
II filed the power of attorney. but
did not appear before the income tax
unit in any hearing relating to this
assessment, as ! was requested by Mr..
Mattingly'S office a month or two later
to return the papers to tn I'm before any
hearing was held. rendered no sery-
ice in connection with this income tax
assessment. received no fee. and asked
none. That is all know about Arnold
RothStein or any matter with which
he was ever connected. And these are
all the facts in my So-called relation
with RothStein which has been char
acterized as "indiscreet"
II never have as an attorney or other
wise, in any way. even remotely, been
connected with any narcotic matter"