Evening star., 1952-08-28
Justice Officials
Testimony Differs
With Statement
By George Beveridqe

Federal Judge George II. Moore
of st. Louis today charged in a
surprise deposition that he re-
ceived direct information that
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Ellis N. Slack fostered a report
which would bring to a
close" a grand jury's inquiry into
the handling of Missouri tax cases
Judge Moore's deposition was
read to a House subcommittee on
the heels of Mr.. Slack'S emphatic
denial that he had proposed or
had anything to do with white
wash" of the grand jury report.
1t was produced while Mr.. Slack
was still testifying.
Judge Moore also said ne was
informed Mr.. Slack asked to see
and subsequently cleared-the con-
troversia1 report which white
washed the grand jury's inquiry
in March, 1851.
His information, Judge Moore
said, came in a virtual death bed
confession from former United
States Attorney Drake Watson of
st. Louis, who died last December
25. Mr.. Watson, who ordered
preparation of the report, had been
caught in a cross-f1re between the
directives of Judge Moore and his
Justice Department superiors.
Unexpected Disclosure.
Judge Moore's sensational and
unexpected disclosures were made
in-a deposition to a House judici-
ary subcommittee investigating
whether the Justice Department
exerted improper influence on the
grand jury.
Under later questioning. Mr..
Slack conceded that he might
have discussed the possibility of
a partial grand jury report with
officials of the United States at
torney's Office in st. Louis before
it was prepared.
Subcommittee Counsel Robert
A. Collier dramatically produced
the deposition which Judge Moore
had sworn to August 19, and. sub
mitted for use today.
Judge Moore had ordered the
grand jury on March /. 1851. to
probe allegations of mishandled
tax cases in st. Louis. Exactly
three weeks later, the jury re-
turned its controversial report,
stating no abuses in the handling
of tax fraud cases was found. The
judge. in blistering terms, ordered
a further inquiry which subse-
quently produced numerous tax
case indictments, and questioned
whether the jury's decision to
submit the partial report" was
Influenced by outsiders.
Smoke But No Fire.
Judge Moore. in his deposition.
said Mr.. Slack in March, 1851,
had told William K. Stanard, a
st. Louis lawyer, that Judge
Moore may talk about smoke,
but there is no fire and nothing
will come of this tax investiga-
tion."
The jurist, senior Judge in the
Eastern District of Missouri, wrote
that his discussion with Mr.. Wat
son took place about last October
1.-two days before Mr.. Watson
gave up his Office and about two
months before his death.
Judge Moore said Mr.. Watson,
showing "unmistakable signs of
i'll health" told him he had
wanted to tell you about the
partial report of the grand jury"
Probably Acted on Nudge.
Judge Moore's deposition con-
tinued:
Il said, Drake, you seem to be
weak and in great physical dis
comfort, don't tax your strength;
I rather imagine / understand
about that without your telling
me. have always thought that
report was prepared under your
direction by some of your assist
ants, probably Marvin Hopper and
Bill Costello. and that you prob
ably acted on a nudge from the
Department of Justice.
Mr.. Watson answered. You are
right, that is what happened.
Ellis Slack wanted such a report,
one that would bring the matter
to a close; and he further told me
Continued on Page AS, Col. s.