Evening star., 1952-11-18
Dope Witness
Reveals Contact
With U. 5. Agent
Esther Wright Turns
Stote's Evidence;
Charges Dropped

A former sweetheart of Joseph
(Peter Rabbit) Smith, who left
him after quarreling about "other
women" was to undergo further
cross-examination today, after
her testimony yesterday impli-
Gated Smith and five others as
members of a narcotics ring.
The witness, Esther Wright, told
how she lived with Smith at his
home at 1923 West Virginia ave-
nue. NE. from May, 1851. until
last March, when they broke up.
At one point during that period,
she went home to her mother,
where, she said, she contacted a
Federal narcotics agent. Frank
Pappas, who. she said, told her to
go back to Smith.
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 in the U. S. Dis
etrict Court for the District of
Columbia, 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 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 81.
Warren Williams answered the
dcorbel' at the time, she said. One
of the policemen posed as vacu-
um 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 CNubby)
Smitn 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 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. Her
erstwhile boy friend, 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 Esther
Wright under $500 bond as a
material witness and "for her pro-
tection.'
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
United States marshalS.
Earlier. Judge Pine denied de-
tense move to have mental and
narcotics tests given Paul Robin
son, also former defendant in
the case, who turned Government
witness and delivered damaging
testimony before the Wright
woman took the stand.