Evening star., 1939-05-22
plead Guilty
To Violations Of
Narcotic Act
Justice Lows JuiIs
Three, Frees Two
On Bond

A narcotic ring, which officials
said spread from New York to
South Carolina, came to justice to-
day in District Court when five of
the alleged ringleaders admitted
their guilt to conspiracy to violate
the Harrison Narcotic Act and the
Drugs Import and Export Act.
Those pleading guilty before JUS
tice Bolitha J. Laws were Blanche
Brawley. John A. Johnson. Frederick
G. Brannon, Thomas Clark and
Thomas M. Parker.
Assistant United States Attor-
ney George E. Mcneil, who handled
the case for the Government, asked
that Johnson, Brannon and Clark
be committed to Jail. Justice Laws
permitted Mrs. Brawley, described
as an addict, to remain on bond,
pending further treatment in
sanitarium. Parker, Mr.. Mcneil
said, is the owner of a haberdash-
cry store in Rockhill, S. c., and
he was permitted to remain on
bond. The five are expected to
De sentenced SnOrtly.
Defendants not yet disposed of
under this indictment, whose cases
will be taken care of later, Mr..
Mcneil said, are Margaret M. His
ton. Fanny Maggie, Monroe Bird
we'll and Raymond E. Price. George
A. Brawley, husband of the woman
who pleaded guilty today, was the
ringleader of the outfit, Mr.. Nc
Neil asserted, and was killed in
an automobile accident about two
months ago on the Richmond High
way.
Rented Apartment.
At first, the prosecutor asserted,
the gang rented an apartment in
the 1900 block of R street NV.
and later moved to the 2600 block
of Fifteenth street NV. At the
latter address, the assistant United
States attorney declared. members
of the Metropolitan Police Force
and narcotics agents observed the
operations of the gang from a niche
which gave view of one of the
principal rooms. There, the inves-
tigators heard and recorded a num-
Der of conversations involving SELL
ing and distribution of narcotics and
getting shipments from New York
by parcel post, bus and automobile,
for distribution as far South as
South Carolina.
Mr.. Mcneil explained that the
gang employed special code, used
in kilograms and letters, where the
innocent phrase expect mother to-
morrow meant to be on the look
out for shipment of morphine.
The prosecutor said that a letter
relating about two dozen hats" be-
ing on way meant two capsules of
heroin. Making meets" was in
terpreted as distributing dope in
Baltimore and Washington.
On one occasion a shoe box filled
with narcotics was sent to a local
hotel, Mr.. Mcneil said, but pre-
viously narcotics agents had in
spected it at the Post Office De-
partment. The prosecutor said the
manager of the hotel was offered
$500 to get the package, but he re-
fused and acting in concert with
the authorities aided in apprehend-
ing the gang.
The Assistant United States At
torney paid high tribute to the work
of 1t. Joseph Shimon and Detec-
tive Sergts. Maghan and Harry
Britton of the Metropolitan Police
Department and Narcotic Agents M.
B. Wilson and D. L. Utronich and
Special Investigator Robert E..
Needs for their work in rounding
up the gang. Narcotic agents from
New York, Baltimore and Atlanta,
Ga, co-operated in the work as did
the United States marshal in North
Carolina, Mr. Mcneil said.
The gang apparently furnished
large number of addicts in this vi
cinity, Mr.. Mcneil pointed out, and
in the raid number of notebooks,
kilograms and letters, disclosing the
names of addicts, were seized.