Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-16
Alleged Conspirators Taken
by Surprise as Four Reverse
Pleas to Guilty.
ALLEGED "BOSS" NAMED
AS KEEPER OF STORE
Herbert Johnson of U. S. Force
Tells of Tracing Suspects
by Alcohol Deal.

Testimony linking all the defendants
with an alleged liquor ring was offered
in District Supreme Court today as IA
men and women were tried on whisky
conspiracy charges.
Herbert johnson, Federal prohibition
agent, unfolded a detailed account of
his investigation of the group. He testi-
fed Alfred MendelSon, said to live in
the 1400 block Of Spring road. was the
boss" who decided when and where
the contraband should be delivered.
The agent said Mendelson was the
proprietor of a store in the 34oo block
OF Fourteenth street, which was stocked
with large quantities of malt extracts.
hops, gin extract, rye extract kegs,
crooks, jars and bottling paraphernalia.
Johnson said he visited the store
last January "a and asked one of the
defendants, Roy Ahern, clerk, where
ne would be able to locate Roy Beasley,
another defendant. Johnson said he
was given telephone number and inn
mediately called Beasley.
Alleged Order Filled.
The witness testified he gave Beasley
nctltlouS name, told him he had dealt
with him before and now wanted to hllv
half gallon of alcohol. He said Beas-
ley replied that he did not remember
him. but told him to go to Newton street
and Holmead place and wait for him.
soon after his arrival there, johnson
aooed, ne was met by a man he later
knew as John Dugan and was proffered
a sack In which a half-gallon lar of
alcohol was concealed.
The witness said he rendered a 500
Dill IN payment and Dugan invited seln
10 get into his car with him while he
went Tor change. johnson testified that
they drove to Mendelsons apartment,
where MendelSon accepted the $40 bill
and gave him $14 change.
The agent declared Ahern once offer
ed to obtain a job for johnson as a
liquor runner at $40 a week. The wit
ness quoted Ahern as saying the man
ne worked for would pay the expenses of
his defense should he be arrested.
Johnson said he expressed willingness
10 accept such employment, but never
was approached on the matter again.
Defendants Surprised.
The other defendants in the case are
1qa Mendelson, Harry kushner, Corbin
Shields, Milton j. Lerner, Thomas Nc
Nichols, Jack Baum, Frank E. Baker,
Eugene L. Sanders, Earl Hardin, An
drew Lebolo and Edward T. Craghan.
The prosecution took the alleged con-
spirators by surprise yesterday when
four of the defendants reversed their
former positions and entered pleas of
guilty. Previously they had pleaded not
guilty with the others.
Those who changed their peas and
indicated their willingness to testify for
the Government were James P. Clarke
and his wife, Nettie NJ, and Jerry r.
Charters and his wife, Elizabeth.
Clarke was called as the first Gov
eminent witness. He told of operating
stills in East Riverdale and Hyattsyille'
which, he said. were capable of turning
out several hundred gallons of alcohol
day. He said the alcohol was secured
by distilling disinfectants and perfume.
the refined product being brought into
Washington by truck Clarke. in testi-
flying, waived his constitutional i'm
munity.
One defendant, Groghan. was found
not to have an attorney. Justice Luh-
ring appointed George S. Naphen to
defend him, but ordered the mans bond
Cancelled. IF he can't afford a LAWYER
ne can't afford bond premiums" the
justice said.