Evening star., 1952-11-18
Dope |nformer
Pins Activities
On Conscience
Her Allegiance to
Prosecution Wuvered
Esther Wright Says

Esther Wright Says
The former girl friend of Joseph
(Peter Rabbit) Smith. who testi-
fled yesterday she left him be-
cause of "other women" today
told the U. S. District Court for
the District of Columbia of a
wavering allegiance to the Gov
ernment after she decided to in
form on Smith.
Miss Esther Wright, %, whose
testimony implicated Smith and
five others as part of a narcotics
ring. said she lived with Smith at
his home, 1923 West Virginia ave-
nue. NE, from May, 1851, until
last March.
During that period. she said
she left him and went home to
her mother. After contracting
Federal authorities at that time,
Miss Wright said she arranged to
supply Narcotics Agent Frank
Pappas with information. He told
her. she testified, to 60 back to
Smith.
Can't Recall Statements.
Miss Wright failed today to re-
call much about her statements
to Assistant United States Attor-
ney Thomas Walden when she
was picked up in a dope raid last
February.
After the raid. she admitted, she
was taken to the special grand
jury investigating rackets here but
because of constitutional grounds
did not testify before it. Later,
she explained, she returned to the
Governments side because of her
conscience"
When asked if she sold mar
cotics after returning to Smiths
hcme, she said. II probably did.
I took care of his business"
Turns States Evidence.
The woman, who until yester-
day was a co-defendant in the
case. under indictment with
Smith, Randolph (Catf1sh) Tur-
ner and nine others. charged with
narcotics conspiracy, turne d
States evidence and the charges
against her were dropped.
She told of visits to Smiths
home by Leon James, Warren
Williams, Allan (Turk) Williams
and Sam (One-Eye) Palmer, all
co-defendants. She implicated
them in various phases of mar
cotics operations from the trans
fer OF gelatin capsules for heroin
to the passage of the heroin itself.
She mentioned that Turner, re-
puted head of the alleged syndi-
cate, was present at a discussion
of heroin prices.
Tells Of Police Ruse.
The witness told of a raid by
two members of the Metropolitan
Police narcotics squad at Smiths
home last February q.
Warren Williams answered the
dcoroel' at the time, she said. One
Of the policemen posed as a vacu-
UNI cleaner salesman to gain en-
trance, she declared. Once in
side, she said, the officers arrested
Williams, Smith and her.
She told of a visit to Smiths
home by a John Henry Nubby)
Smith and of Palmer's mentioning
to Joseph Smith that "Nubby was
wrong
The witness quoted Joseph
Smith as replying: If he isl
sure sold him II capsules last
night
John Henry Smith was men,
toned in the indictment as having
made a heroin buy from Joseph
Smith.
Gave Up Drugs.
The Wright woman declared
that she became a drug addict
after taking up with Joseph
Smith. but she said she no longer
is a victim. She has been in Jail,
unable to raise $4,000 bond since
she was indicted last spring.
Joseph Smith made his own bond
and has been at liberty.
Referring to her former dope
addiction, the witness told how
she would tear a matchpad in
half. fold the cardboard, empty a
capsule Of heroin in the creased
section and then sniff it up her
nose.
Held for Protection.
Toward the end of yesterdays
session, United States Attorney
Charles M. Irelan asked Judge
David A: Pine to hold Miss
Wright under $500 bond as a
material witness and "for her pro-
lection"
The protection" phrase was
ordered stricken as defense coun-
sci objected. but the woman was
ordered held and left the court
room escorted by two deputy
TTnitpd States y,oorcho1c