Evening star., 1945-11-03
First Of 81 Held
Narcotic
Raids Arraigned
Federal Agents, Police
Question 125 After
Foroys Into 81 Places

with 88 other persons last night
in city-wide raids was arraigned
today before United States Com
Needham C. Turnage,
who was forced to take over a
room in District Court because
his Office was too small for the
large number of suspects and
witnesses brought before him.
Lamar Brown. colored, alias
Polly" of the 900 block OF First
street S.W., was held in $4,000
bond for a grand jury after a mar
cotic agent testified 65 ounces of
heroin had been seized in his place.
This was one of the largest seizures
of the raid.
Others held by the commissioner
included Elmer Joseph Mercurio, 300
block of Fifth street NE, $500 bond;
William M. Potts, alias Feeney, 1900
block of Six-and-a- One Half street
NV, $1,000; Geraldine Hutchinson,
alias "Corinne," 1900 block of Un-
ion street S.W., $1,000; Elizabeth
Talbert, alias Elizabeth Tolliver,
1900 block Of Six-and- -One-Ha
place NV, $1,000; Algie Patterson,
HOO block of Fourth street NV,
81, 900.
IL Held in New York.
Tommy Higgins, TOO block of La
mont street NV, 500; Ruth Ann
Covington, alias Ruth Ann Liggins,
HOO block Of Tenth street NV,
81 900: Elizabeth Sledge, alias Brown
Sugar." 1900 block of Eleventh street
NV, $500, and Banks Stephen
Ross, Ninth street and New York
avenue NV, $5,000.>
William Adams, colored, alias Pee
Wee, HOO block OF Tenth street
NV, $4,000 bond; George Foriley,
colored, alais Houseman, 1900 block
of Eleventh street NV, $1,000;
Harold Victor Jones, colored, 1900
block of r street NV, $1,000: Will
liam Roscoe McCabe, colored, 1900
block of r street NV, $1,000.
In New York, Garland H. Will
liams, district superintendent of the
Federal Narcotics Bureau, said IL
persons charged with peddling mar
cotics, including one reported to be
the ringleader of gangs operating
there and in Washington, were
last night. The alleged
was identified as Domi-
nick D'Ercole, 38, Of the Bronx.
Agent Offers Details.
A Government narcotic agent,
James T. Fields, colored, filed the
charges and testified as to details.
The first group of prisoners was
defended by Edward r. Buckley.
Squads Of Federal narcotics agents.
police and United States deputy
marshals struck at 11:15 pm. at "a
different spots throughout the city
on the basis of investigations which
had been going on for several
months.
Armed with warrants issued by
Commissioner Turnage, each nam
ing a suspect, the raiders entered
the alleged narcotic places and sus-
pected buildings in the Southwest
Northwest and Northeast sections
Of the city, making wholesale ar
rests. Some persons were picked up
on the streets.
Held as Witnesses.
Of the more than 125 who were
taken into custody, about 81 were
booked on various charges by 9 am
today and the remainder were to
be held as witnesses or released.
Carefully planned by Federal and
police officials, the raids were con-
Quoted under system of radio con-
troll. Vans used by United States
marshals were called to areas by
radio to pick up prisoners and take
them to police headquarters.
On the third floor of headquarters
officials aided by clerks from severa,
offices, worked all night. Prisoners
were lined up in a corridor, where
they stood under guard of police ano
deputy marshals until they could be
questioned. One at a time those
held were taken to various Offices
where their stories were checked.
The raiding parties were led BY
Col. Edward j. Kelly, superintendent
of police; Boyd M. Martin of Balti.
more, supervisor for the Treasury
Bureau of Narcotics for this area
LIE Roy Morrison, Treasury agent ir
charge here, and 1t. Robert S
Bryant, chief of the police narcotics
squad. In the groups were 17C
uniformed policemen, detective SER
geants, Federal agents from the
Treasury, and United States deputy
marshals, including Michael Kearney
chief deputy. Two policewomer
participated in the roundup.
Most of the squads in the raie
were on duty for more than q
hours. At some places doors had tx
be knocked in, officials said. Twt
men were hurt when they jumped
to the street from windows. One O.
them, whose identity was not avail.
able early today, was taken to Gal.
linger Hospital for treatment.
Narcotics confiscated were valued
at thousands of dollars. They in.
cluded nearly 80 ounces of heroin
valued at about $4,000. Also seizee
were S ounces of marijuana, enough
to make 1000 cigarettes, and 6
small amount of morphine.
The raids here were conducted
simultaneously with others in Balti.
more and New York, where police
(See RAIDS, Page A-6.)