Evening star., 1950-08-04
Probers Await
Shin1on Report
From Barrett
Police Head Due to
Appear Monday in
Wire-Top Inquiry

Police Supt. Robert J. Barrett
is expected to produce the in
vestigation report on Police 1t.
Joseph w. Shimon to the con-
gressional committee investigating
wire-tapping at its first regular
session Monday.
This was announced by Chair
man Pepper of the Senate District
Subcommittee, authorized to make
a complete investigation into any
wire-tapping by any person or
agency in the Capital.
1t. Shimon was investigated by
the Police Department in connec-
ton with alleged accusations that
he had a hand in the tapping Of
the telephone wires of Howard
Hughes during the 1947 senatorial
investigation of the plane builders
war contracts.
The police lieutenant. formerly
an ace investigator for the United
States attorney here, now faces
a grand jury investigation.
. Sought by Neely.
The police report on the Shimon
case has been sought for some
time by Chairman Neely of the
Senate District Committee, with
out success. Senator Nicely, Demo-
crat. of West Virginia is a mem
Der Of the Pepper subcommittee,
appointed Wednesday.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of
Florida announced last night the
subcommittee also wants to find
out the facts about overlapping
in Washington, with a view to
determining whether legislation
may be needed.
To this end, he indicated the
committee plans to subpoena a
representative of a firm distribu-
ting wire-tapping devices.
Meantime, it was learned that
one Of the witnesses yesterday be-
fore the Federal grand jury prob
ing wire tapping here was Senator
Brewster, Republican, of Maine.
who appeared voluntarily.
Later the Senator told reporter
that he had not been called, but
was appearing for his secretary,
Mrs. Frances Dustin. She is in
Maine on her vacation, the Sen
ator explained, and in order to
save her the break in her vaca-
ton, he appeared before the grand
jury himself.
Described as Routine Matter"
Senator Brewster said he could
not disclose his testimony before
the grand jury, but indicated Mrs.
Dustin had been wanted there
because of a routine Office mat
ter" He did not amplify this
statement.
Senator Brewster, now chair
man of the Senate Republican
Campaign Committee, had been
chairman of the Senate committee
investigating Howard Hughes in
1947.
Among other witnesses who ap-
peared before the grand jury yes
terday was Samuel F. Pryor, vice
president of Pan American Air
ways. Mr.. Pryor had no comment,
his Office said.
The Pepper subcommittee had
planned to meet today, but this
was postponed because of the per-
sonal plans of its members.
Maj. Barrett had been con-
tacted. Senator Pepper said, and
had requested that he testify
Monday instead of this week. A
subpoena is being issued for Maj.
Barrett. it was disclosed, as a
formality to produce the Shimon
investigation report.
Conference Today.
Senator Pepper said he plans to
confer today on the program for
the subcommittee investigation
with Gerhard P. van Arkel, coun-
sci for the Senate District Com
mittee.
If Government agencies need to
use wire-tapping, he said, this
should be carefully investigated.
and safeguards thrown around
the practice.
If citizens can have their homes
secure against invasion. without
search warrants, Senator Pepper
said, surely people ought not to
have their privacy invaded by
having their telephones tapped.
There has been much informal
discussion around Capitol Hill,
Senator Pepper said, about al
legged wire-tapping, some of it
jocular, some much concerned"