Evening star., 1952-01-16

Barrett Admits / nit Using |
Policemen on Private |
Jobs; Ends Testimony |
Robert j. Barrett, former super
intendent Of police, concluded his
testimony before the Senate Dis
trict Crime Subcommittee yester-
day after admitting he put
policemen on annual leave so they
could go to his various properties
and help him with personal work.
Charles w. Lowe, who once con-
tracted to sell Maj. Barrett farm
near Frederick, Md, then took the
stand and testified the former
police chief later 'blackmailed"
him into canceling the contract,
and threatened to have his father
fired from a job at Emergency
Hospital.
Inspector Howard v. Covell. |
second in command Of the Police
Department. was the third wit
ness called. He admitted getting
two cases Of whisky, ham and
la bouquet of flowers from Gam
bier "Jewboy" Dietz, but denied
there were any favors. exchanged
and said he knew Dietz only
slightly.
Says Barrett Co-Operated.
In q prepared statement. he said
Maj. Barrett gave him every sup
port in enforcement of the gam
bling laws.
This questioning by Committee
Counsel Arnold Baunan developed
concerning use Of police personnel
for private chores on Mr.. Barrett'sI
property:
Mr.. Bauman-Have you at any
time used Police Department per-
lsonnel to perform personal serv-
ices for you. Maj. Barrett?
Mr.. Barrett-Repea it, please.
@. I say, have you at any time
used Police Department personnel
to perform personal services for
you?
A. Now. what do you mean by
that, Mr.. Bauman?
@. Have you ever used any
member Of the Police Depart
ment?
A. To do what?
@. To do any carpentry. mason
ry, bartending, chauffering, any
of those services?
Used Police Personnel.
A. On their day of. yes. sir. 4
used police personnel, and have
used retired policemen. and So
forth.
| @. Well. as q matter Of fact, J
when you have wanted to use
them for those purposes. you have
had them put on annual leave,
haven't you?
A. Yes, sir.
MIR. Barrett said he knew the1
late "Shep" Shapiro well. and that
the former gambler ran a restau-
rant where police dropped in for
coffee. He said Shapiro installed
a radio in the restaurant that
could be tuned to police calls,
for the convenience of the officers.
did Shapiro ever give you al
gift of any kind?" Mr.. BaumanI
asked. ,
Denies Receiving Gift.
A. No. sir.
@. Did he ever give you al
watch?
A. No, sir.
Q. Do you have q watch with
the engraving "'Robt. Barrett"
instead Of initials?
A. No, sir.
@. Did you ever have such .
watch?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who gave you that watch?
A. My wife bought that watch
for me. and ! think we have al
receipt home for It. That's q good
way back. I haven't seen it forl
10 years. So that don't even 1T
in to the picture with Shapiro. |
Talks About Nelson.
Mr.. Barrett left the stand at
1850 pm. after testifying to AMI
incident involving Charles e. Nell
son, Maryland gambler, in which
the latter complained that his \
wife had run away with another |
man." and had taken some Of
Nelson's money.
MIR. Barrett said Nelson brought
his wife to Barrett's home, took
of her coat. ripped It apart and
that $4,000 fell to the floor.
The former police chief was fol-
lowed to the stand by Mr.. Lowe,
who said the agreed price on the
farm Mr.. Barrett intended buying
was SAT 500 and that Barrett paid
a $1,000 deposit to seal the con-
tract July 6. 1851.
He said Mr.. Barrett took tenl
500 bills from q manila envelope
to pay for the deposit.
Several $1,000 Bills.
@. Did you see anything larger
than 500?
I A. I did. I saw two Or three