Evening star., 1945-07-17
Commissioners
Study Reports
On Vice Raid
List of Men Found
In House Raised
To Six by Inspector

Inc DlSCrlct commissioners TODAY
were studying the question OF whether
1t. Roy Blick of the police vice
squad or the Police Department was
at fault in handling of the raid Fri
day on a massage parlor" in the
1700 block of Pennsylvania avenue
NV.
Inspector Harvey Callahan, on
suggestion of Commissioner John
Russell Young, has studied circum-
stances surrounding the raid and
has submitted to the Commission
ers a report written by 1t. Blick.
Inspector Callahan said the report
listed six men as having been picked
up in the raid and subsequently re-
leased, instead Of only five as pre-
yiously cited
Inspector Callahan did not explain
the additional name and said that
all names were contained in 1t.
Blick's report He said he did not
know where 1t. Blick obtained them.
The vice squad head, who yesterday
said he did not have the names, re-
fused to comment on the case to-
day.
Kelly Granted License.
At the same time it was disclosed
that Col Edward j. Kelly, super
intendent of police, early this year
oyerruled subordinates and permit
ted a massage parlor license for the
place. 1t. Blick and Capt. Oscar
Letterman of the third precinct
made the objections, charging that
the place was frequented by known
prostitutes and that it operated as
a call house" Capt. Letterman
protested that women who attempt-
ed to obtain appointments for mas
sages in the place were, unable to
do so.
The Commissioners gave no indi-
cation of what, If any, action win
be taken. They did not disclose de-
tails of the Blick report. Inspector
Callahan visited the District Build
ing but insisted he was there on
other police business. The Commits
sioners were in a closed meeting this
morning.
Renewal of the massage parlor
license for the place was held up
from October, 1914, to February,
1945, as result Of police objections,
records in the office of Edward z.
Bailey, superintendent of licenses,
showed today. On November Il,
1914, the Commissioners denied the
license.
Attorney Threatened Action.
Later, an attorney protested the
denial and threatened court action
to obtain renewal, If a hearing were
not held in the case. Richmond 3.
Keech, corporation counsel, wrote
an opinion that no hearing was re-
quired under the law, but suggested
that Col. Kelly hear objections. On
February 6, Col. Kelly held a hear
ing, at which 1t. Blick, Capt Letter.
man, several privates in the Police
Department, and Women's Bureau
representative testified. Afterward,
he wrote the Commissioners with
] drawing the departments objection
to the license and said:
I'm view of the evidence and testi-
mony in this case nothing was
proved to justify denial of this
license"
Inspector Callahan today said he
knows of no law violated by 1t.
Blick in refusing to make public the
names of the witnesses in the case
and said that the entire matter now
is in the hands of the Commits
SionerS.
Other Parlors to Be Checked.
He also said that all of the 10
licensed massage parlors in Wash
ington will be subjected Immediately
to close police scrutiny except for
few which are obviously legiti-
mate" The latter, he said, are To-
Gated in large hotels in the city.
1t. Blick today cleared up the
question raised yesterday as to his
superior in the Police Department.
He said that he is reporting to In
spector Callahan and that all de-
tails of the Pennsylvania avenue
case are in Inspector Callahan's
hands.
Yesterday Inspectors Callahan and
Robert Barrett, in charge of the de-
tective division, disclaimed juris-
diction over 1t. Blick, asserting that
he reported directly to Col. Kelly.
Col. Kelly retorted that while he Is
Ill Callahan is running the depart
ment."
Blick Denies Story.
Inspector Callahan today said
that 1t. Blick denied he had told
newspapermen two Government Of
ficials were among the men found
in the place when it was raided.
"Blick told me-" the inspector
said, that he mentioned two big
shots, but meant Margaret Locke
and Carmen Beach as big shots in
the prostitution racket"
These two are under charges of
operating a house of assignatiop,
with preliminary hearing set for
July 81 before United States Com
missioner Needham Turnage.
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