Evening star., 1936-05-20
Junk DEALER HELD
AS DISTRIBUTOR Of
SPURIOUS MONEY
Purchase of Whisky With
Bogus Note Provided
First Clue.
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE
FOLLOWS FATAL CRASH
Narcotic Law Violations Cited
Among Al Indictments Re-
ported by Jury.

A widespread organization for dis
pcsal of counterfeit money, which has
operated here for several years. was
disclosed today with the indictment of
a man said to be the ringleader and
three of his reputed aides.
Secret Service operatives said the
ring has disposed Of large number
of bogus $40 bills in Washington, but
refused to reveal whether activities
extended outside the city. Since none
of the four was charged with manu-
featuring the counterfeit money. it
was assumed the local ring was sup
piled by an outside source.
Those indicted were Cuccahiara
John Battista, alias John the Baptist,
who allegedly distributed the notes 10
colored passers and concealed his ac-
tivities behind the blind of operating
a Junk business; George Walton Rum
sey. Robert Tyler and William Turner.
The last three are colored.
Turner was arrested early in March
after he is said to have given
counterfeit $40 bill in purchase for a
bottle of whisky. At that time, the
Government men had been searching
for months for the source of the
spurious notes, which had been food
ing the colored sections of the city.
Clue Led to Battista.
1t was not until after the arrest
of Tyler March 28 that they obtained
the clue which led them to Battista.
Tyler allegedly passed a SO bill in
purchasing whisky in the 700 block OF
r street. The same bill later was
given in payment to a winning num-
bers" player, who was arrested when
he proffered it to a and 10 cent store
clerk. He readily told police where
he got the bill and it was traced tc
| Tyler, who, in turn, implicated
Rumsey.
The secret service men said Rumsey
admitted he was the go-between for
Battista and a number Of colored
passers. They quoted him as saying
that he was paid 50 out of each bill he
handled, that the passer received $3.50
and the rest was returned to Battista
who would give him but one bill at
time to dispose Of
A fatal automobile accident March
in the 1900 block of Foxhall road
brought manslaughter charge
against Ourn L. Swami, "a, 600 block
of East Capitol street, who allegedly
was driving the machine
The grand jury ignored a similar
charge against Robert Ballard, 28, of
the l400 block of D street southeast,
who also was held in connection with
the same accident when there wa.
some confusion as to who was oper-
ating the car
Car Crashed Against Post.
Elmer F. Robinson, %, of 1924
Eleventh street, lost his life in the
accident. He was riding on the rear
seat of Swann's automobile when it
crashed against concrete guard post
while rounding a turn. Police said
Swami had been drinking.
The jury returned first degree
murder indictment against Garfield
Selby, "A, colored, who allegedly shoi
George Scott, also colored, January l6,
during quarrel in rear of the 900
block of F street southwest.
A total of Al indictments was re-
ported. Among them were charges of
violation of the narcotic laws. placed
against Dr.. Tolly Bernard Spriggs and
his wife, Spellmyra, both colored.
Narcotic Bureau agents reported they
y7oodn v1Irpnhocnc OF he 1nt1vNln'c
home in the 1000 block of Seventh
street northeast.
Others Are Indicted.
Others indicted were
Thomas j Broderick, Fred Weems
Charles A. Grace, Wilbur A. Shipley,
James Krahling and Newton Wash
ington, joy-riding; Barnard Rhine,
Paul j. Vazquez and Frederick L. Mack,
grand larceny; James Harvey, william
H. Francis and Jack Craven, larceny
after trust; Edward Donaldson, house
breaking and larceny; James H. Butler.
Maurice Travis, Louis Garner, John
D. Butler, Georgianna Hamilton,
Gladys Green. Richard Breen, Charles
Groves and Randolph King, robbery;
James Mckay, Moses Douglas and
George R. Graham, assault with a
dangerous weapon; Nathaniel F. Fields,
Howard Parsons and Kali S. Wahbey,
forgery and uttering; Edith Lindsey.
Charles Edgar Craig, Roderick H.
Purks, Evelyn o. Brinkley and James
Shelton, jr.. forgery and uttering of
Government check; Jesse Edgar
Rogers, gambling; George Brandon.
Marshall B. Williams, Raymond c.
Blackstone, Walter Jefferson, Harry
D. johnson, Ester Jefferson. Raymond
Moten and Lee Chichester, violation
Of the liquor taxing act; Carlton WASH
ington, carnal knowledge; Herbert an
drew Bannister, violation of the postal
laws; Clarence Riggs, arson, and Laura
Gather, manslaughter.
The following charges were ignored:
Leroy Murray, assault with a dam
gerous weapon; Helen Gerald, robbery:
James o. Brown, violation of the liquor
taxing act, and Robert Ballard, man
slau0htar