Evening star., 1950-08-08
Brewster Aide
Heard in Probe
.0fWire-Tapping
Secretary Testifies
On $100 Paid Shimon
By Maine Senator

Mrs. Frances E. Dustin, secre-
tary of Senator Brewster, Repub-
lican, Of Maine, today testified
briefly before the Federal grand
jury investigating wire-tap accu-
sations involving Police 1t. Joseph
w. Shimon.
Her presence before the panel
was verified by Senator Brewster.
who indicated Mrs. Dustin was
called to testify about $100 in ex-
pense money which the Senator
said he once paid 1t. Shimon.
Senator Brewster has said the
money was paid to cover expenses
of 1t. Shimon in shadowing a man
whom the Senator believed was
shadowing him.
The Senator also said today that
he was somewhat at a loss to
understand why Mrs. Dustin was
summoned from her vacation In
Dexter. Me, to testify about q
point which he already has ex-
planned to the grand jury.
Mrs. Dustin was before the
grand jury for less than 10 min
utes, then Immediately left for
Maine by airplane. She lives at
TIT Dale drive, Silver Spring.
The only other witness to .ap-
pear this morning was Capt. Rob-
ert v. Murray, assistant chief Of
detectives. He appeared before
the jury for about an hour, but
refused afterward to discuss his
testimony with reporters.
James Knapp and L. E. Broome,
special assistants to the Attorney
General. who are handling the
grand jury investigation. refused
to tell reporters how much longer
they expect their inquiry to con-
tinue. They also refused even to
hint as to whether the time for
maintaining possible prosecution
was running out due to the
three-year statute of limitations.
The alleged wire tapping being
probed is believed to have taken
place in mid-1947 when Aircraft
Builder Howard Hughes was in
town for hearings before a Sen
ate committee of which Senator
Brewster was a member
Among witnesses who testified
yesterday were Robert Barker, an
investigator for various congress
sional committees in the past;
Edward A. Martin, a Washing
ton attorney with Offices in the
Munsey Building, and Miss Char
lotte Sprigg. an attractive blond.
of Miami Beach, Fla.
Miss Sprigg, who was before the
grand jury less than five minutes.
afterward appeared irritated over
the summons.
She explained that her only
possible connection with the case
was that she once knew Lieut..
Shimon casually" back in 1945,
and that she hasn't seen him since.
They could have found that out
with a couple of questions over
the telephone, Miss Sprigg told
reporters.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the
Senate District wiretap investi-
eating subcommittee headed by
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of
Florida has served one subpoena
repeatedly for appearance Of an
expert from recording company
at the opening hearing tomor-
row.
The subcommittee made no dis
closure of the witness name, but
a spokesman said they wanted his
testimony for information on re-
cording devices, how they operate
and-if possible-to learn how
many are in Washington and who
is using them.
A subpoena also has been drawn
for Police Supt. Robert j. Bar
rett, but it is not to be served
in advance of tomorrow's meeting
inasmuch as the subcommittee has
been given assurance that Maj.
Barrett will appear as requested
and bring with him his report on
1t. Shimon.