Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-23
ConneI|yCa|Ied
Him on TaxCase,
CaudIe Testifies
Also Says Sosseer
Asked About Charges
Against Sheriff

T. Lamar Caudle today named
Matthew Connolly and Repreaen-
tative Lansdale c. Sasscer, Mary.
land Democrat. among public off,
cials he said got in touch with him
about tax cases while he headed
the Justice Department criminal
and tax divisions.
Mr. Caudle told a House sub.
committee that Mr.. Connolly once
called him in a successful effort
to get a two-month postponement
|of a case involving Irving Sachs, a
st. Louis businessman. Sachs later
pleaded guilty and was fined $40,.
600 for tax fraud.
The former Justice Department
official also testified that Mr..
Sasscer once expressed to him the
hope that something could be
done" about a tax case against
former Sheriff Earl Sheriff of
Prince Georges County.
Those disclosures before the
subcommittee investigating the
Justice Department were part of
Mr.. Caudle's testimony that mem
bers Of Congress frequently tried
to influence his judgment in tax
fraud cases and other criminal
prosecutions.
Persuasive at Times.
In reply to a subcommittee
members comment that "they
tried to influence your Judgment.
didn't they" Mr.. Caudle replied:
well, they talked quite per.
suasively at times. Yes. they did"
Mr.. Caudle related that. in the
Sachs case. he approved the delay
requested by Mr.. Connolly. The
witness said Harry Schwimmer.
Kansas City lawyer retained by
Sachs, was a personal friend Of
his and had suffered q heart at
tack. #
The majority of Mr.. Caudle's
testimony. however. revolved
around circumstances before his
sudden custer from the Justice De-
partment last November Is by
President Truman. At that time
Mr.. Truman said he had had his
eye on Mr.. Caudle for q long time.
Other Points Brought Out.
But questioning of Mr.. Caudle
today brought out that:
!. President Truman wrote him
lon October 10, l951-less than q
month before his dismissal-that
''men like you and Jess Larson
make it possible to carry on
this job"
! 2. He heard numerous rumors
that Peyton Ford. former deputy
Attorney General. was "out to cut
my throat" He said these rumors
started in 1949 and were most per-
sistent during 1851.
i 3. He believed Mr.. Ford at one
point created a bottleneck" by
directing that rulings on large
compromise tax settlements be
taken out Of normal channels and
routed directly to his Office.
At first. the witness said, Mr..
Sasscer only had asked him what
kind Of tax case the Government
had against the sheriff.
However, Representative Keat-
ing. Republican, of New York
asked Mr.. Caudle If he had not
testified in closed session that Mr..
Sasscer had hoped something
could be done for the defendant
and that he might not be indicted.
Eyes. sir" the witness respond
| ed. II do know he was hoping
something could be done for the
sheriff and that he might not be
indicted"
Mr.. Caudle said, however, that
he felt the case fought to be Wig
orously prosecuted" and he added
his recollection was that the de-
PENDANT eventually pleaded guilty
"and got a substantial sentence"
Sheriff was SIS years old at the
time Of his conviction. He Is mar
ried and has two children in
Landover, Washington suburb.
Was Restaurant Partner.
Formerly he was a partner in
the Dixie Pig Restaurant at the
Peace Cross, BladenSburg. He sold
his interest in that establishment
about 1949.
Immediately after Sheriff was
convicted. Ignatius Keane, Assist
ant States Attorney for Prince
Georges County announced he
would ask for a grand Jury in
vestigation of Government charges
that part of Sheriff's unreported
income came from $22 900 in PRO
lection money" from Washington
area gamblers.
Mr.. Sasscer is in Europe and
his Office had no comment on the
testimony.
Mr.. Sasscer. an unsuccessful
candidate for the Democratic
nomination in Maryland this year,
gained unusual national prorni-
nence last July at the Democratic
National Convention.
At the peak Of the convention
(See CLEANUP. Page A-so