Evening star., 1951-10-04
PoIicePrecincf
Gaming Report
Stirs Inquiry
Suspended Officer
Repeatedly Knows
Of Illegal Activities
By Miriom Ottenberq

promised swift and thorough
investigation of police report
that a suspended policeman is
said to have knowledge of open
gambling in the 9th Precinct.
The complicated story. handed
unsolicited to Assistant United
States Attorney John w. Fihelly
by police officials, involves Pvt.
Ray r. Swank. 80, veteran of 13
years on the force.
Pvt. Swank was suspended by
Capt. William T. Murphy of the
9th Precinct last Saturday on
charges of insubordination. He is
due to go before the Trial Board
at later date.
How Story Unfolded.
Inspector Robert V. Murray >,
chief of detectives. gave this ac-
count of how the story of Pvt.
Swank wound up in the United
States attorneys office:
Last Tuesday night, a relative
of Pvt. Swank called police head
quarters to say that Pvt. Swank
was talking to the newspapers
about gambling in the ninth pre-
cinct and the relative felt that
this information should be given
to policemen to check rather than
to the press.
On orders from Police Chief
Robert j. Barrett, Inspector Muir
ray and Capt. John B. Layton of
the Detective Bureau. who has
been the police liaison with the
District grand jury in its gambling
probe, visited Pvt. Swank's home
at 5712 Fourth street NV.
Inspector Murray asked Pvt.
Swank for the addresses of the
gambling places he repeatedly
knew in the precinct as we'll as
for the names of any policemen
who also knew of their existence.
All Names Sought.
The detective chief made it
clear that no matter who was
concerned-whether they were
= privateS or higher-ranking officers
he wanted to get their names
on "let the chips fall where they
may" basis.
Pvt. Swank said he had no
statement to make. Since he was
in a suspended status. Inspector
Murray could not order him to
answer questions, nor was the po-
liceman obligated to do so.
Inspector Murray told him a
report of the conversation would
be made both to Maj. Barrett and
to the United States attorney for
use before the grand jury.
The detective chief told news
men today that Maj. Barrett
thought the grand jury was the
proper place for the questioning
of Pvt. Swank since he could be
subpoenaed to testify there and
"tell whatever he knows"
Pvt. Swank's wife, who was
present at the questioning Of her
husband, declined to discuss the
case today. She said her husband
was out OF town"
Investigation Promised.
Mr.. FINELY said the first he
knew of the Swank story was yes
terday afternoon when Capt. Lay
ton gave him verbal report after
telling him that Maj. Barrett
thought he ought to know about
it. Tie prosecutor said the case
will be investigated promptly
and thoroughly"
Capt. Murphy, Pvt. Swank's
commanding officer, said be was
suspended for disobeying the
orders of a corporal and for in
subordination. The captain said
he had a Few words" with Pvt.
Swank. The order, he explained,
had to do with moving Pvt Swark
to duty inside the station house.
AS for gambling in the precinct,
Capt. Murphy said there might be
some gambling places in the pre-
cinct because cts a big precinct"
but he did not know the precinct
was open"
Inspector Murray said Pvt.
Swank's reported allegations about
his precinct will not figure IN the
trial board action since that will
concentrate on the actual charges
against him.
Mentioned in Nelson Probe.
The 9th Precinct is in North
east Washington. Witnesses be-
fore the Senate Crime Investigat-
ing Committee mentioned North
east spots in connection with as
sociates of Charles E. Nelson,
Maryland horsebreeder, acknowl-
edged numbers backer and focal
point of the current District grand
jury investigation.
In another grand jury develop
ment, Mr.. Fihelly today gave his
assurances that full protection
will be given any and all witnesses
testifying before the grand Jury.
This protection, he said, had to
do with keeping secret the names,
addresses and nature of the testi-
mony of witnesses fearing roper
cussionS from their grand Jury
apDearanceS
For witnesses requesting it, the
United States Attorneys Office has
provided escorts who whisk wit
nesses in and out of the grand
jury room and guide them out OF
the courthouse through a base
ment cell-block exit.
Witnesses seeking protection, he
said, have variety of reasons
ranging from fear of physical
harm from racketeers to the pos
sible effect of publicity on thei1
families.
Fuirfox Jurors Fail
To Agree on Auto Death