Evening star., 1948-11-11
Officer Charges
'Sandbagging'
In Abe Case
Monthos Says Wallace
Admitted PiIine Up
Charges Against Grill

SHutSSS @S0tttSt 0ttu
Police officials investigating the
case of Mitchells Grill now have
before them the added accusation
that the Vice Squad detective who
placed 81 liquor law violation
charges against the grill admitted
he had "sandbagged" them good.
Police Pvt. Frank M. Manthos,
q member OF the Vice Squad,
made this accusation yesterday, as
the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board continued its hearings on the
charges against the grill, located at
235 G street NV. He said Pvt. Sam
uel L. Wallace of the Vice Squad
had told him about the "sandbag-
eing" in discussing the charges
placed against the restaurant.
In earlier testimony, Pvt. MAN.
thos accused Pvt. Wallace of warn
ing him that he would "be hurt" If
he defended the restaurant.
Barrett Orders Investigation.
This charge prompted Police supt.
Robert j. Barrett to order Inspector
George Wallrodt to conduct a
thorough investigation of the feud
between the policemen. The in
spector was present yesterday when
Pvt. Manthos made his new charge.
The hearing ran until late yester-
day, then was adjourned until 2
pm Tuesday.
Assistant Cooperation Counsel
Robert D, Wise asked Pvt. Manthos
what he meant by sandbagging.
The oficer said that sandba gging,
cas- explained to me by Vice Squad
members" means piline up the
charges against an individual or q
place just to get them, whether the
charges were true or not.
Calls Wallace Testimony False.
He told the board that much of
the testimony given by Pvt. Wallace
was false and that Mitchell's Grill,
against whom Pvt. Wallace filed
the charges, is being conducted
properly by its proprietor. Henry
G. David and his brother Fred, who
Is manager.
Only one charge brought by Pvt.
Wallace was true, the policeman
said. This was the charge that the
grill stopped serving beer after 1:3O
am. and forced the customers
TO buy whisky. On eight of the
charges, he said, he had no knowl-
edge. But he branded all the rest
false.
Pvt. Manthos said he first heard
Of the charges when the grill owner
showed him the letter from the
ABC Board. but he had not read all
Of them. That letter. conversations
with Pvt. Wallace, and what he had
read in the newspapers, constituted
his knowledge. of the charges, he
said :
Mr.. Wise, who Is presenting the
ease before the board, shouted
We" are dealing with the most
amazing witness who testffies all is
false and hasn't even heard the
testimony" go '1S'" '''s !.
Supporting Testimony, oteds
PVT. Manthos then said that Pvt.
Wallace had admitted sthe "ss nd
bagging' during conversation in
front of Keith's Theater. r. Joseph
Donohue and Thomas David, attor-
neys representing the grill, pointed
out that Pvt. Manthos was not alone
In his opinion and that 40 other
policemen had testified they had
never seen anything out Of the way
at the grill. =.
Attorneys for each side kept argu-
ing as the case progressed. At one
point, Alan Payne. chairman of the
ABC Board, slammed his fists on
the table and demanded that they
stop pickering" Later he asked if
he could furnish knives, rifles and
guns" to the opposing attorneys.
The 81 charges against the
restaurant include selling whisky to
drunks, allowing the premises to
be used for soliciting for prostitu-
ton, allowing foul language and
other charges covering a period
from September IS to September 23
Mr.. Wise wanted to know why
Pvt. Manthos spent so much time
In the place.
Eats at Grill.
II live in a hotel room. I eat at
the grill. It's well rum" he answered
Pvt Manthos said he had seen a
known prostitute in the grill but
that she had behaved while he was
there.
Did you see a drunk curse and
shout he could whip any one in the
house (as charged by Pvt.
wallace" Mr. Wise asked
mo, would have taken him up
on it," Pvt. Manthos answered.
- New Term to Wallrodt.
After the hearing adjourned, In
spector Wallrodt said he. never had
Heard the charge of "sandbagging"
Before. He said he had just begun
his investigation of the charges and
counter charges.
Pvt. Wallace. in response to re-
porters' questions. said he could say
nothing as he had been told to talk
to. Maj. Barrett only and every
thing would work out"
Pvt. Manthos, known as the
"one-man vice squad" for his work
inatobtaining $50 convictions In this
hsld, said he enlisted in the Navy
~ IT, quitting high school to do
sAs After three and one-half years
n@the submarine service, he worked
fbs the Once Of Strategic Services
Tn six months and then for the
C@ntral Intelligence Group for a
year and a half. He has been on
c. police force eight months.
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