Evening star., 1945-07-17
Kelly BIannes
Subordinates in
License Dispute
Declares Lettermun
And BIick FoiIed to
Produce Evidence

FTO0uCe ENl0enCe
| Col. Edward J. Kelly, superin.
tendent of police, today placed di'
rectly on subordinates in the de.
partment responsibility for the Ii,
censing of massage parlor in the
1700 block on Pennsylvania avenue
which was raided last Friday as ar
alleged vice center.
Col. Kelly said that because he
at first concurred in objections by
1t. Roy Blick, head of the police vice
squad, and Capt. Oscar Letterman
commanding the third precinct, is
suance of the license was held uI
from October. 1914, to February
1945.
But, Col, Kelly said, when he held
"a hearing in the case on demand oi
an attorney for Mrs. Margaret
Locke, the licensee. 1t. Blick anc
Capt. Letterman were unable tt
justify their objections with evil
dence. Therefore. Col. Kelly said
he was forced to withdraw his OBJ
i jections and the license was re-
newed.
Call House" Charged.
1t. Blick and Capt. Letterman
charged in their first objections, ac-
cording to records OF the Office oi
Edward E. Bailey, superintendent OF
licenses, that known prostitutes fire.
quented the place and that 1t was
being operated as call house"
Other developments today were:
Inspector Harvey Callahan, act
ing superintendent of police in Col
Kelly's absence, obtained a written
report on the raid from 1t: Blick
and submitted 1t to the Commits
Sioners.
The report contained a list of six
men picked up in the raid and SUBJ
sequently released. Previously, 1t
Blick said there were five men and
that he had none of the names.
Names Were Listed.
In a letter to the Commissioners
accompanying 1t. Blick's report, In
spector Callahan said 1t. Blick told
him that a member of the vice squad
listed the men but made no rec
ord of their occupations or places
of employment. The inspector eaid
1t. Blick told him the men we're not
questioned about their jobs.
Inspector CallahanS letter said
It. Blick denied telling newspaper
men there were high Government
officials involved but said he over
heard one man say he would be
seriously embarrassed in his posi-
ton by publicity.
The Commissioners refused<to re-
lease the Blick report on what they
said was advice of Richmond B
Keech. corporation counsel.
No Action Needed.
Inspector Callahan said he sees
no reason now for any disciplinary
action against 1t. Blick for his con-
duct of the raid and release of the
men picked up.
Col Kelly said he will obtain
from Inspector Callahan a full re-
port on the case and then will decide
If any action shall be taken.
Inspector Callahan said he die
not recognize any OF the names OF
the men involved as those of high
Government officials. He said 1t
B4ick denied to him that he hao
told newspapermen Government Of
ficials were involved, but said he
used the phrase two big shots
referring to Mrs. Locke and Carmen
Beach who were arrested in the raid
Kelly Makes Statement.
At his home Col. Kelly told The
Star:
Il concurred in the report on the
renewal of the license which Capt
Letterman and 1t. Blick made anc
the license was denied by the Com.
miSsioners. Then the case was re.
ferred back to me from the District
Building after an attorney for Mrs
Locke protested.
Il held hearing in the case anc
Capt. Letterman, 1t. Blick, some
police privates and representative
of the Women's Bureau testified
There was no evidence offered tC
substantiate the claim that hac
been made before.
known prostitutes are permitted
to enter the best beauty salons ir
town, motion picture shows anc
grocery stores. Without any evi.
dence of some unlawful activity
there is no reason why they
shouldn't enter these massage parlol
premises.
Mrs. Locke Was Unknown.
"If the captain of the precinct or
any one else had known that the
place was being operated as a house
of prostitution, why hadn't it been
raided?
Mrs. Locke was never known to
me. / never saw her before and If
she operated prior to this time in
Washington it was never called to
my attention, even though / was
once captain of the third precinct -
Inspector Callahan conferred with
the Commissioners today at the Dis
trict Building but denied that the
Pennsylvania avenue case was dis
cussed. He said the conference was
about the renewal of the license for
the Gayety Theater.
Callahan Describes Inquiry.
In his letter to the Commissioners
Inspector Callahan told of question
ing 1t. Blick about the raid and
said:
"Lt. Blick denies having made any
direct statement to the press to the
effect that high Government Of
ficials were among those found on
the premises, but states that he
overheard one Of the male persons
found at the place say that he
would be seriously embarrassed in
his position by publicity"
Mrs. Locke and Carmen Beach,
who were two of the women ar
rected, now face charges of operat-
ing a house of assignation and are
free on $4,000 bond each pending a
preliminary hearing, July 81, before
United States Commissioner Need
ham Turnage.
Other Parlors to Be Checked.
Inspector Callahan also said that