Evening star., 1950-08-27
NeeIy Predicts Bill
ToCurb Tapping
Will Be Offered Soon


Will Be Offered Soon
Chairman Neely of the Senate
District Committee last night dis
closed that bill to control wire
tapping probably will be intro
duced early this week.
He made this prediction as the
Senate committee investigating
wire-tapping scheduled an open
hearing tomorrow for the prin-
cipal target of its inquiry-Police
1t, Joseph w. Shimon.
1t. Shimon has admitted, &C
cording to committee reports. that
he tapped wires in eight cases
while chief investigator for the
United States Attorneys office.
Committee members. however
have commented that mo one
seemed to know just what he was
doing or for whom or why"
Cites New York Law.
To put wire-tapping under def
mite restraints, Senator Nicely said
he was inclined to favor law
similar to that of New York State.
Under the New York law, wire
tapping is legal under certain cir
cumstances to permit police to get
vital leads in criminal cases, but
it does not allow the disclosure
even in court of anything over
heard on tapped phones.
Before tapping a phone, the
New York law provides police or
other law enforcement officers
must apply to the chief judge OF
the Federal court for permission,
outlining what phones they want
to tap and why.
Deny knowledge of Taps.
Senator Nicely said such a sys-
tenn was a far cry from the wire
tapping done by 1t. Shimon and
the other policemen who have ad-
mitted to tapping phones under
his direction. Both Police Chief
Robert J. Barrett and United
States Attorney George Morris
Fay have disclaimed all knowledge
of 1t. Simmons wire tapping be-
fore it was brought to their at
tention last year.
In addition to hearing 1t.
Shimon, the Senate probers expect
to fill in some of the gaps in their
investigation this week. One of
their missing witnesses is due back
in town tomorrow and the COM
mittee expects to hear indirect
testimony about another one.
Abner "Chick" Lappin. the man
1t. Shimon said shadowed Senator
Brewster, Republican of Maine, in
1947, was reported to be en- route
from Mexico City to his home at
5000 Jocelyn street NV.
Glanced to Tap Hughes Phones.
1t. Shimon has testified he was
investigating Lappin when he
chanced to tap the hotel phones
of Howard Hughes. the million
aire plane manufacturer whose
plane contracts were then being
investigated by the Senate War
Investigating Committee. During
that investigation, Senator Brew
ster and Mr.. Hughes engaged in
series of charges and counter
charges involving Trans World
Airlines, owned by Mr.. Hughes,
and Pan American Airlines, sup
ported by Senator Brewster.
A police witness has testified
that 1t. Shimon said he was re-
porting during the 1947 wire-tap-
ping to Henry Grunewald. The
committee has issued a subpoena
for Mr.. Grunewald but has been
unable to locate him.
Pan American Official Called.
Committee Counsel Gerhard
van Arkel disclosed yesterday
however, that arrangements have
been made for Sam Pryor, one
of the Pan American vice presi-
dents, to come here this week tt
tell the committee about the serv-
ices Mr.. Grunewald reportedlS
rendered Pan American in 1947.
Mr.. Van Arkel said he had dis.
cussed Mr.. Grunewald with Henr!
Friendly, New York attorney fo'
Pan American, and out of thi'
conversation had come arrange
ments for Mr.. Pryor to confer
with the subcommittee.
The wire-tappi1S investigator!
will hark back to 1947 again t;
hear another witness, probabl!
Tuesday. Mrs. Frances Dustin
administrative assistant to Sen
ator Brewster, is due to testify or
the $100 or $125 which Senate
Brewster said he authorized he
to pay 1t. Shimon to cover hi
expenses in trailing Lappin.