Evening star., 1952-03-30
Senators Study
Calling Officials
In Dope Inquiry
D. C. Crime Probers
To Decide Whether
To Force Testimony
Rv Inhn v. Homer.


Any hope that Senate crime
probers would get voluntary
answers to questions about the
Washington dope racket appeared
to be fading fast last night.
Public ofi1cials-past and pres
ent-have not come forward with
specific offers to testify on the
narcotics situation and reported
police corruption and this has left
the Senator's with the problem of
deciding whether to force their
appearance as witnesses.
The principals are Commits
sioner John Russell Young. ex-
Police Chief Robert j. Barrett.
former United States Attorney
George Morris Fay and Police Lit.
H. Fl. Carper, who was suspended
after being accused of accepting
bribes from dope peddlers.
Neely Challenge Unheeded.
Senator Neely, chairman of the
Senate District Crime Investigat-
ing Committee, said his commit
tee would grant Commissioner
Young. Mr.. Barrett and Mr.. Fay
q hearing at any time requested If
they cared to explain how dope
peddlers operated under their
noses" and how the alleged police
collusion.. existed during their
administrations.
Commissioner Young and Mr..
Fay wrote Senator Neely in reply,
defending their records and stat
ing they were prepared to answer
any questions. Mr.. Barrett. who
retired as police chief shortly be-
fore the crime hearings opened,
issued a statement defending his
record. None specifically asked a
hearing by the committee.
1t. Carper was unable. while
testifying on March II and 10. to
recall where he got the $4.125 in
cash he deposited in an Arlington
bank in 1948 and 1949. He con-
ceded it was over and above salary
checks deposited in another ac-
count. He said he was sure he
could explain the income if given
time to go over the records and
promised to report back to the
committee.
Carper Explanation Unlikely.
But last Friday. his attorney,
Myron G. Ehrlich, expressed doubt
that 1t. Carper would make any
public explanation at this time
and Mr.. Ehrlich added he was not
sure the suspended policeman
would ask the committee to be
recalled as witness.
The crime probers showed In
terest in the cash deposits because
they were made regularly in the
period during which dope peddler
James (Jim Yellowl Roberts
claimed to be bribing 1t. Carper.
The policeman denied taking any
bribes, however.
Suspended along with 1t. Car
per was Detective Sergt. William
L. Taylor, second in command of
the narcotics squad, who was
implicated by Jim Yellow in the
bribe scheme. Although sum-
moned as a witness by the Sena-
tors, Sergt. Taylor was not called
to the stand and he has made no
comment on the accusations.
Supported BY Ex-Wife.
Jim Yellow's allegations were
supported by the testimony of
his former wife and also a dope
peddling associate. Members of
two other dope rings that operated
after Jim Yellow went out of
business in 1949 also testified they
bought police protection from 1t.
Carper by regular monthly pay
offs.
One addict said he was given
heroin by Sergt. Taylor when he
was down" on his habit. He said
the sergeant and an undercover
agent planned to use him as an
informer. This plan, said the ad-
dict, was intended to help get
1t. Carper out of "hot water" by
improving the arrest record.
Another dope peddler known as
Buckle Jaws" Johnson quoted
the leader of his narcotic ring
as saying 1t. Carper gave him a
pound of marijuana seized last
summer from John r. Wether-
bee.
The amount Of marijuana found
on Wetherbee was reported by the
police to be 1913 pounds. Later,
they turned in 94.02 pounds to
the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
The discrepancy is being investi-
gated now by United States Attor-
ney Charles M. Irelan.
1t. Carper told the Senators Ne
had made a practice of flushing
down the drain" dope taken in
raids If it was not needed for evi-
dence. He said he never heard
of law which requires the police
to keep careful account of all mar
cotics they seize.
The Nicely committee Is in re-
cess while staff investigators pre-
pare for further public hearings
on organized crime.
Meanwhile. Senator Case, Re-
publican, of South Dakota, is pre-
pairing to discuss the committee
disclosures on the Senate floor
Although not one Of the probers,
Senator Case has followed the
crime study closely. He sponsored
the movement for a thorough in
vestigation here.
In a statement just released tc
South Dakota newspapers. he de-
tailed developments before the
Nicely committee and said its work
in the Nations Capital has beer
beneficial to citizens throughout
the country.