Evening star., 1943-06-30
Girl Sobs on Stand
When Questioned
On Vice Statement
Witness Asked About
Hopkins Institute Book
Of Putrons in Code

Sunny Gray, also known as Sun
ny Pitts, "a, Connecticut avenue call
house girl for six weeks before she
went to Hollywood and got into pic
lures, was recalled to the witness
stand this afternoon after the Gov
ernment had rested in the trial of
Eldon Powell, 30, on Mann Act
charges. Powell is said to have
brought her to Washington.
She burst into tears after she had
been questioned on differences be-
tween her testimony and statements
she had MADE to the FBI agents in
New York in March.
Questioned by Defense Attorney
Edward M. Buckley, jr., she denied
the agents had threatened her with
prosecution as Mann Act violator
for an admission in the statement
that during her stay in the Hopkins
Institute, Connecticut avenue
massage parlor operated as call
house, in the fall of 194l, she had
telephoned New York and offered
another girl job in the place.
Asked About Book of Patrons.
Mr.. Buckley asked her in particu-
lar about book of patrons, in which
names were entered in simple code
used at the institute
Powell met Miss Gray two years
ago at the Famous Door, New York
night club, brought her to Washing
ton and later took her to the Hop
kins Institute. according to a state
ment read to the jury.
The statement was composed by
Arthur R. Hackerman, FBI agent,
and signed by the defendant in jail,
the testimony disclosed.
After the Pitts girls testimony the
defendant took the stand and testi-
fed he had not met her in New
York, as alleged by the prosecution,
but on moonlight boat ride on the
Potomac. 1t was his wife Shirley,
one OF the girls working at the Hop
kins Institute, who arranged for her
employment there, he said.
On cro5S-eXamination by United
States Attorney Edward NJ Curran,
Powell admitted he had been con-
victed on a marihuana charge on
the Pacific Coast and on a petty
larceny charge in Iowa before he
was brought back to Washington
by the FBI.
In her appearance on the witness
stand yesterday, when she told of
making $500 to $500 week as a
prostitute in Washington, Miss Gray
said she came to Washington after
Powell told her he knew of a house
where she could work.
Agent Cross Examined.
The statement, read by Assistant
United States Attorney Bernard
Margolius, further said that Powell
had lived with the girl at a hotel
here for couple of weeks, during
which time she gave him about $l00
of her earnings.
Mr.. Buckley cross-examined Mr..
Hackerman on how much he had
contributed to the statement. The
witness denied that he put words in
the defendants mouth. In the
statement, Powell described himself
as a welder, and said he was born
in Idaho.
Mr.. Hackerman testified that the
defendant had asked him If he could
go in the Army in lieu of a prison
sentence If he pleaded guilty.
Played Movie Parts.
Yesterday Miss Gray testified that
she gave half of her earnings here
to George F.. Whitehead, 43, owner
of the Connecticut avenue establish
ment, who has pleaded guilty to vio-
lations of the Mann Act and is
awaiting sentence.
Miss Gray testified that after leav-
ing Washington in 1941 she went to
Hollywood and succeeded in getting
bit" parts in motion pictures.
Another witness, Mildred P. Car
ter, who described herself as the re-
ceptionist at the Connecticut avenue
place, testified concerning a book
listing the customers kept there.
Mr.. Margolius objected when Mr..
Buckley asked the witness If the list
contained the names of any Sena-
tors. Justice Jesse c. Adkins sus-
tanned the objection.