Evening star., 1952-03-25
Police Search Records
For Stolen Property
Mentioned by Roberts
By J. Theodore Grown

BY J. Theodore Grown
Police searched their records to-
day for a trace Of stolen property
removed in May or June, 1948
from the home Of James M. (Jim
Yellow Roberts, convicted dope
peddler.
Roberts last week told the Sem
ate District Crime Investigating
subcommittee that he and 1t. H.
H. Carper. suspended chief of the
Narcotics Squad. carried armloads
Of clothing from his apartment al
TOT First street NV.
The lieutenant earlier had testi-
fled that he visited the apartment
to recover some stolen clothing
But his story differed. He told
the Senators it was one armload
and that he carried it out him
self.
Capt. Aubrey N. Tolson, head OF
the General Assignment Squad
said today that stolen property
records are being checked back
through l947 to determine If re-
turn was made on the clothing.
Listings Required.
Under procedures in effect al
that time. all police who turned in
what they believed to be stolen
property We're required to make q
return-a listing Of each item
The list was then turned in with
the clothing.
No receipts were issued then,
or underA new system put into
effect in April, 1850, unless the
policemen requested them. Under
the old system the list was the
only record.
The system requires a rec
ord in triplicate, showing where
the property was recovered and
by whom. and listing each item.
Two copies go to the property
clerks Office with the stolen goods
and are kept on file there. The
other is sent to the Detective
Bureau for the bureaus perma-
nent files.
The General Assignment Squad
also keeps a record book on re-
covered articles and the name of
the policeman making the return.
# the property goes back to the
policeman, he signs a receipt. If
it goes to the property clerk, the
triplicate sheet is given number
and this number lis recorded by
the General Assignment Squad.
But the policeman still gets no
receipt unless he asks for one.
Most policemen in the various
bureaus keep daybooks in which
they enter notes about cases they
handle. including disposition of
stolen property.
Report Forecast Soon.
Some Of these are kept on file
by the policemen for as long as
10 years, for their own reference
only. a"s
Capt. Tolsen said he expects to
have a final report ready soon
in the Carper-Roberts incident.
The report, he said, will be made
to Maj. Robert v. Murray, super
1ntendent of police.
Roberts told the committee last
Tuesday two Robbery Squad Off
GERS came to his home in the
spring Of 1948 to look over some
clothing that had been shop
lifted by dope addicts seeking
money to support their drug habit.
80 I talked to the officer and
then I told him I'd get in touch
with my man, 1t. Carper rather" !"
Roberts testified, ''but I didn't
call his name. I said I'd get in
touch with my man, which I did.
Says Carper Asked for Money.
$50 he told me he'd come by
the next day and pick them up,
and they left. They left the goods
and all there. So the next day
! met him the next morning. and
helped him move this stuff out
to the squad car. We made three
of four trips. So we filled up the
back seat and they pulled away"
Roberts said he remembered the
incident vividly because 1t. Car
per asked him il he had any
money. Roberts handed the dope
squad chief $65, he testified.
Roberts told the committee the
clothing taken from his home in
cluded 100 pairs Of silk stockings
and some dresses and women's
suits.
The story was told as Roberts
was testifying that he paid 1t.
Carper 1000 a month, and some
times more, to allow Roberts a
free hand to peddle dope in the
District.