Evening star., 1952-01-21

admitted is the victim Of an un-
provoked assault. Piggy Leake
comes in and shoots him. He
returns the fire. Yet the record
is that Mr.. Nelson was prosecuted
right along with Piggy Leake.
How does that happen in. the
District of Columbia?
A. Senator, I feel that Nichols
used bad judgment in going to
Nelson and Leake and trying to
settle the case out of court. I
think Nelson should have been
prevailed upon to prosecute Leake.
Naturally, I can see now why h9
wasn't anxious to prosecute. How
ever, I did bring all those facts
to the attention Of the District
grand jury.
Senator Welker-Granted that
he wanted some compensation. i.
1t is rather a shocking thing. =.
1t is quite a problem for the COM
mittee to understand how we get
law enforcement like that. And
some one actually compounded a
felony in handling the case, and
was just as guilty as Piggy Leake.
Agrees Act Was Crime.
A. I felt and we do feel that a
crime OF that kind is crime
against the community and a
crime against the United States.
We also felt that. the Joint trial
OF the two men caused the case
to be dismissed. but from the
things that were brought out here
feel that Nelson would not have
testified against him even if he
had not been indicted.
Senator Welker-The testimony
before this committee is that he
was never given an opportunity
by the District Attorney to 60 upI
and testify. This leads the COM
mittee to believe there was some
com promising of a crime. This
committee felt that it was NAL
handled.
A. 1 can assure you that that
wasn't the Police Departments S
view on 1t. (Referring to the
ha,1dling of the case.) :
Asked Name of Witness.
Senator Welker-Will you tell
me if you recall who was the
complaining witness against Mel
son.
A. I would imagine it would
have been Piggy Leake.
Senator Welker-Some one other
than the Police Department
should be called up here to do a
little explaining on the way it
was prosecuted. Who was the
complaining witness against
Leake?
A. Nelson, would think.
Senator Welker-Do you think
you are going to have any trouble,
Maj. Murray. after a sufficient
time, to actually clean up vice
conditions which might exist in
the District of Columbia?
A. I will be a very disappointed
man if at the end of a year we
haven't made very good progress
in that.
1t was indicated here that the
questioning was closed, and Mai.
Murray pointed out to the COM
mittee that neither Maj. Barrett
nor any one else has ever sug-
gested or hinted to me that any
investigation be handled in any
but proper manner"
Neely Queries Chief.
Senator Neely-I think you will
agree with me that police officers
should avoid making trips to foot
ball games or prize fights with
known gamblers.
A. Yes, sir, you will never have
such a complaint about me. If
/ do get such complaints about
others I will take care of them.
Senator Neely-Do you think
that any one in your position
should ride in the same seat with
a notorious gambler from New
York or Philadelphia to Washing
ton?
A. From a social standpoint,
no. But if that man was a COM
planning witness in a case, would
take him along with me. Mai.
Barrett. in his testimony to the
committee, said that he had
come back from New York in the
same railroad coach seat with
Gambler Charles E. Nelson, while
working on a case involving a
theft from Nelson.)