Evening star., 1952-12-04
Turner Recalls
Hearing Of Effort
To 'Get' Barrett
Denies Any Link
To Dope Peddling
At Conspiracy Trial


Randolph (Catf1sh) Turner. one
Of nine persons on trial for mar
cotics conspiracy, testified this
morning that he had been told
of an effort "to get" former Chief
of Police Robert j. Barrett and
former Commissioner John Rus
sell Young.
Turner, while denying he ever
had anything to do with dope
peddling, quoted a conversation
he had with Herbert Bucklejaws)
johnson last March, shortly after
johnson had given testimony to
the Senate Crime Committee i'm
plicating Police 1t. H. H. Carper
in the racket.
Under questioning in the United
States District Court for the Dis
trict of Columbia, Turner testi-
fled that Johnson had told him
they were out to get Barrett
and John Russell Young and that
Bucklejaws was going to be all
right.
They knew all about Odessa
Odessa Madre, convicted dope
peddler) paying Barrett $4,000 a
month. Buck was talking about
Barrett crossing Odessa. She was
going to get even and tell it all.
There was something about (Police
Ltd Shimon trying to get Odessa
to tell it all before the grand jury"
Earlier, Louis Carrado, admitted
New York gambler, took the stand
to deny that he had any part in
the narcotics racket.
Carrado. IS. claimed that his
only contact with Turner, accused
OF heading a dope syndicate here,
was through gambling deals.
Gambler Claims Poverty.
However, Carrado admitted
knowing Turner and other defend
ants, including Richard Manfre-
donia and Harry Tantillo, reputed
New York City dope importing
ring leader who is still at large.
Carrado maintained that what
money he made was by gambling,
and he admitted operating both
policy and horse books in New
York during 1851.
However, under questioning by
Defense Attorney Joseph Lyman,
Carrado claimed poverty. He
testified he paid only $36.8O a.
month for walk-up apartment
in New York City where he, his
wife and three children lived.
Il paid 5000 for a 1941 car,"l
he said. MY wife makes $50 a
week."
Although Carrado admitted he
had no legitimate business in
terests and had no job during
most of 1851, he said he would
mot be afraid to answer a finan-
clal QUESTIONABLE under OATH"
Under cross-examination, Car
RADIO told the court he did not
have safe deposit box. He ad-
mitted that besides his gambling
income he received New York
State assistance during the lat
ter part of 1851.
He said that Turner. accused of
heading a million dollar heroin
business here, was introduced to
him through Tantillo.
Relates Turner Introduction.
Under questioning, Carrado de-
scribed his first trip to Washing
ton when he was introduced toI
Turner. He said he had been to-
the Pimlico races with Tantillo
and Manfredonia.
At that point, Carrado con-
tinued, "Tantillo says to me,
Come on, let's take ride down
to Washington. I want to intro
duce you to some one, a good
action man" That, he explained
means a large-scale gambler.
After that, he testified, when
I went to Washington it was toI
pay Turner some money from
sporting events or to collect some"
Carrado said he had been a
professional gambler all his life,
He admitted he had two gambling
convictions in New York. but
maintained they had absolutely
nothing to do with the narcotics
racket.
Others to Testify.
Late yesterday defense lawyers
announced most of the defend
ants would take the witness stand.
Also expected to testify in their
own behalf, are Warren Will
liams, Joseph (Peter Rabbit)
Smith, Sam (One-Eye) Palmer
and Eddie (Meathead) Atkins.
Attorneys have not decided
whether or not to put Manfre-
donia and Allan (Turk) Williams
on the stand.
The nine defendants are some of
an original IA who were indicted
on charges of conspiring to violate
the narcotics laws by special
grand jury investigating rackets
in the District.
Black Angus Calf