Evening star., 1952-01-16
Crime Hearing Bares
Police Department
Riff Over Gambling
w W0HtllIlgLOu, ~. u.
WEDNESDAY,. JANUARY i0, IeS2
By J. Theodore Grown

MVvG VoIllUlHly
By J. Theodore Grown
Testimony before the Senate
Crime Investigating Committee
has barred q serious split In Metro
politan Police Department ranks
over the enforcement Of District
gambling laws.
The cleavage was pointed up by
two witnesses. both police cap-
tains. In public hearings yester-
day. It reveals the high COM
mand Of Police Supt. Robert v.
Murray's new gambling squad
arrayed against a veteran ON
Ger who has been under fire from
the United States attorneys ofice
and some Of his own men.
The story was unfolded on Cap
itol Hill by Capt. William T. Mur-
ply Of the ninth precinct. and
Capt. John B. Monroe, who for
merly served under him In the
14th.
Capt. Monroe recently was se-
lected TO be second In command
Of Chief Murray's racket busting
squad. He swore yesterday that
Capt. Murphy once berated him
as dumb and ignorant" and rep
rimanded him for making gam
bling arrest.
He said it was understood
among 18th precinct policemen
that they ran the risk of being
transferred If they arrested the
runners for certain numbers
hackers.
Since becoming second in COM
mand on the gambling squad,
Capt. Monroe has participated in
. raid that caught GA dice players
ut the delicatessen operated by
Alfred T. Puddinhead) Jones.
Before the captain testified, ex-
Chief Robert j. Barrett told the
probers that. while Puddinhead
was known to be a gambler, and
had been arrested, he had been
OF great help to the police.
In October. Assistant United
States Attorney John w. Finely
released a report which he said
showed Capt. Murphy personally
ordered that 81 defendants In q
liquor raid be allowed to forfeit
collateral rather than go to court.
The prosecutor asserted there was
something fishy" in the ninth
precinct.
Also In the ninth, Pvt. Ray r.
Swank stirred up q rhubarh last
September when he told news
papermen open gambling existed
there. He was suspended by Capt.
Murphy, later tried by a civilian
trial board and fined $50 FOR
disobeying his superior but cleared
Of o charge of insubordination.
He was transferred to the harborI
precinct.
Lack Of Arrests Cited.
The infrequency Of gambling
arrests both in the ninth and the
14th precincts has been cited inl
0ficial reports. .,, .,, ,s,eI
Capt. Murphy told the Senators
yesterday he thought his record
against gamblers was good. He ad-
mitted issuing an order requiring
his permission for all gambling
arrests.
The captain denied he assigned
q sergeant to school-crosSwalk
duty for helping with the unsanc-
toned gambling arrest.
Highlghts of the Senate testi-
mony In the police controversy
follow:
Capt. Monroe was questioned
about the incident in 1948 when
o sergeant and corporal we're
detailed to sehool-crossir1g duty
after making q gambling arrest.
Later. both officers were trans
ferred.
@. Do you know of observations
made about a numbers operator
by the name of William White
head? Capt. Monroe was asked.
Decided ON Arrest.
A. It was reported that he hadi
been observed stopping at several
houses In the precinct believed oc-
cupied by numbers writer's. After
several such stops. he would leave
the precinct and go downtown. Wei
observed him for six weeks. After
these first reports. I observed him
personally for two days and de-
eided to arrest him.
@. When did Capt. Murphy ask
10 see you?
A. ] went to Capt. Murphy's Of
lice at $3.50 the next day.
@. What was said?
A. Capt. Murphy reprimandedI
me for arresttng this man and
demanded to know where had re-
ceived the information. I re-
fused to tell him. I told
him We had made observa-
tions and had consulted with dis
trict attorneys. I told him the