Evening star., 1952-11-11
Jury Selection Delays
Dope Ring Trial Of II
Until Tomorrow
By Howard [. Dutkin

The trial of q suspected million
dollar narcotics ring is scheduled
to get under way actively tomor-
row with final selection of a jury
in the U. S. District Court for the
District of Columbia.
Proceedings began yesterday
against the II defendants. which
include Randolph (Catfish)
Turner, reputed head of the ring,
and two New Workers, said to ibe
big time narcotics wholesalers
supplying the local market. But
virtually the entire session was
taken up with a fruitless attempt
to select a jury agreeable to prose-
|cution and defense.
The battery of nine defense at
torneys used 80 challenges, while
the Government challenged 6
prospective jurors. With two
panels exhausted, Judge David A.
Pine put over until tomorrow the
task of making final selection
from a third panel.
Three persons, long connected
with dope-peddling activities here,
will appear as Government wit
|nesses. They are Paul Robinson.
himself named in the indictment
along with those standing trial;
Herbert (Bucklejaws) johnson
land Nellie Leach. All are colored.
Five Counts Dropped.
Robinson, earlier in the day,
pleaded guilty to one count of the
lsix-count conspiracy indictment,
and United States Attorney
Charles M. Irelan announced he
will drop the other counts.
Others announced as witnesses
for the prosecution include an at
tractive blond identified as Billie
Miller of New York, said to be the
wife of Lawrence Carrado. one
of the two New Workers charged
as wholesalers.
Carrado's attorney, Joseph Ly-
man, told the court the woman
will not testify against Carrado
The couple walked off hand-in-
hand for a moment of husheo
conversation during a recess ir
the proceedings.
Others to Testify. .-
! Others slated to testify for the
Government are Mary Jane Muir.
ply of the first block of Hobart
place NV, Lois Galloway of the
1900 block Belmont street NV.
Evelyn Lucas of New York. Frank
Douglas. operator of the Douglas
Hotel in New York; Corneliu.
Pitts. manager of a tourist home
in the 1400 block of Belmon
street NV: Robert M. Shopper
son, member of the Atlantic
City police force.
Also the following Federal mar
cotics agents: Al Belts, Johl
Cross, FRANK Pappas, Thomas An
; drew. IN charge of the Washing
ton field Office of the Narcotic
Bureau: Marvin Fullmer and Ru
/. dolph Crouch
Other witnesses will be Sergt
Joseph Gabrys and Detective
ISeymour Raboy and Guy Hol
combe of the Metropolitan Polio
, Narcotics Squad; Assistant Unite,
States Marshal William Hicke,
and James L. Young, Government
tchemiSt
Conspiracy Charged.
The indictment returned las
spring by special grand jury i'm
Ipaneled to investigate Washington
: rackets charged the defendant
"unlaHfully, feloniously. willfully
knowingly and corruptly conspire,
and agreed together, and wit
> other persons unknown to tn
5 grand jurors" to buy and Sc
$ opium derivatives.
S Those named in the indictmen
are: Harry Tantillo Of New Yorl
reputed head of wholesale dop
e syndicate, who is now fugitive
Richard Manfredonia. also of Ne
a York, {. reputed member of tn
e wholesale combine; Carrado, Tu1
= ner, Leon James, Edward Atkin
Joseph (Peter Rabbit) Smith
= Robinson, Sam tOne-Eye) Paine
:. Warren Williams, Allan (Turk
g Williams Esther Wright, Pea
= Woodward and Letha Simpson.
S Only II of those indicted al
on trial with the whereabouts {
S Tantillo unknown, Letha Simpso
v i'll in a hospital and Robinso
a Having pleaded guilty.