Evening star., 1952-05-29
Barrett Search
Fails, Finance
Data Revealed
Spending Exceeded
Income by $l7.400.
Investigator Testifies


Investigator Testifies
Efforts to find former Police
Chief Robert j. Barrett to inform
him Of the Senate District Crime
Investigating Committees desire
to question him have failed. Conn
mittee Counsel Arnold Bauman
told the Senators yesterday.
Mr.. Bauman's report to the
committee came just before
Jerome j. Steiker, committee ac-
countant, testified on results Of
an investigation into the former
chiefs finances from January /,
1949, to September 30. 1941.
The Police Department also
wants to find Mr.. Barrett as a
witness in the Trial Board hearing
of 1t. Joseph w. Shimon on wire.
tapping charges.
Mr.. Steiker, who testified as q
result of Mr.. Barrett's absence.
told the committee yesterday the
former chiefs acknowledged in
come from all sources and his cash
ION hand for the period totaled
$44,009.67. But he spent, Mr..
SEEKER testified, $6l,410.59 during
the same period.
Unaware of Whereabouts.
Mr.. Barrett's lawyer, Charles E.
Ford. said he did not know where
his client was. He complained the
accountants $17,400 figure consti-
ltuted an estimate which could not
be substantiated by conclusive
proof.
Mr.. Bauman, however, said the
estimate was hyper -conserva-
tive" figure, based on a study Of
Mr.. Barrett's sworn answers to a
police financial QUESTIONABLE.
check books and subpoenaed rec
ords from banks and stores.
Mr.. Bauman said he was con-
WINGED Mr.. Barrett would be un-
able to account for twice the $17.-
400 if all records could be found.
The accountant said 80 stubs
had been torn out of the Barrett
bank books examined. He said
many small checks were traced
and that they led to the discovery
of additional cash expenditures
running into thousands Of dollars.
Search Activities Outlined.
Concerning the search for Mr..
Barrett, MIR. Bauman told the
committee:
ION Monday, May 26. mem
ber of the (committee) staff went
to the residence of Robert j. Bar
Irett at 5811 Seventh street NV.
lin Washington in order to leave
with somebody there a copy Of
the following letter addressed to
!. (him):
Dear Mr., Barrett:
!. Pursuant to the subpoena OF
, this subcommittee previously
served upon you you are hereby
!, directed to appear before the sub
committee at 2 pm. Wednes-
Iday. -
"They couldn't find anybody at
home. I called Mr.. (Charles E.)
Ford, who has represented Mr..
: Barrett, at 3 pm. Tuesday, May
.I27. I told Mr.. Ford we wanted
:. Mr.. Barrett to appear today
wednesday, as did the subcom-
mittee. I sent Mr.. Ford q letter
to that effect. which indicated
. that Mr.. Barrett was wanted.
1--WE have made efforts to locate
Maj. Barrett and have been UNI
, successful in so doing.
!, Representatives of this staff
were outside his home last night
(Tuesday) from $50 pm. until
IL pm. Although the house was
illuminated, nobody would answer
the doorbell. Investigators called
Maj. Barrett,s number and no.
body answered the telephone.
"After Mr.. Ford was sent a copy
Of this letter on May 26, sent the
loriginal to Maj. Barrett. The
,lletter to Mr.. Barrett was received
by Mrs. Barrett.
II am now informed that Mr..
Ford does not know the where
Iabouts of his client and that Mrs.
Barrett does not know where he
sIis."
At Mr.. Barrett's summer home
: on the Potomac Rivsr at Colonial
Beach, Va, there was much activ-
ity yesterday.
Three men were busy cutting
grass and cleaning. A furniture
truck driver and helper carried in
: a child's bed and other children 8
. furniture and placed 1t on the
canvas-covered front porch.
One of the handymen reported:
"The boss will be down tomor-
lrow.'
The 11a-story house sits q few
feet from the river.