Evening star., 1952-11-12
Dope Pedd|ers
Paid Catfish
Acker|y Says
Cash Was Exucted
For Police Protection
Trial Jury Told
By Howard [. Dutkin

RanQolpn (CatdSh) Turnel
exacted donations from member
OF his narcotics syndicate TO pay
police protection, a jury was tole
today in the U. S. District Courr
for the District of Columbia.
The charge was made by Assist
ant United States Attorney Robert
Ackerly in an opening statement
outlining the Governments mar
cotics conspiracy case against
Turner and 10 co-defendants.
Mr.. Ackerly told the jury that
in March or April Of 1851, Turner
contacted members of the ring to
explain plan calculated to in
sure success of the dope opera
tionS.
Keystone of the plan, Mr..
Ackerly said, was the giving of
regular cash contributions to Tur-
ner for obtaining police protection.
The meeting was held, Mr.. Ackerly
said. at Turner's home, 2300 block
Of Second street Sc.
The prosecutor did not say II
any money was actually turned
over to members of the Police De-
partment.
To Trace Development.
Mr.. Ackerly said the Govern
ment would trace the development
and operations of the alleged ring
from its early stages and into this
year. He said that before Janu-
ary, 1851, Turner was engaged in
the narcotics racket with Leon
James. Edward Atkins and Her
bert (BucklejawO Johnson. He
said at that time it was the prac-
tice to place orders for heroin by
calling Turner at the Second
street Sc. address. Then. Turner
would deliver the dope in capsule
form to other members of the ring.
When Turner was unavailable,
Mr.. Ackerly said, Leon James or
Atkins would take charge.
The prosecutor declared that
early in January. 1851, Turner
met with James, Atkins, johnson
and Aletha Simpson and outlined
a new plan of distribution. The
new arrangement called for de-
liveries in bulk rather than in
capsules.
Sources in New York.
The sources of the heroin
brought into the District for use
of the syndicate were Harry Tan
tiIlo. Richard Manfredonia and
Lawrence Carrados all of New
York, Mr.. Ackerly charged.
He said members Of the WASH
tngton ring Travelled to New York
to. receive narcotics In bulk and
that at other times the three
defendants made deliveries to
Turner here.
Mr. Ackerly declared that >inl
May, 1851, a new member joined
Turner's group. This was Paul
Robinson, he said. Robinson.
originally one of the defendants.
has pleaded guilty to one count
Of the six-count indictment and
will testify as a Government wit
ness.
Mr.. Ackerly said that Robinson
would make narcotics deliveries to
other members of the ring upon
instruction of Turner. In the
spring of 1851, the prosecutor as
serted, members of the syndicate
frolicked at a dinner party spon-
sored by Tantillo at Turner's
home.
Expanded Last Year.
In the fall Of 1851 the ring ex-
panded, Mr.. Ackerly said, with the
joining of Joseph (Peter Rabbit) |
Smith, Warren Williams, Esther
Wright and Sam (One-Eye) Pal
mer.
johnson and his wife, Nellie
Leach. dropped out of the ring in|
November 1851, Mr.. Ackerly said.
Both OF them are expected toI
testify as Government witnesses.
With Tantillo a fugitive from
justice, Aletha Simpson ill, and
Robinson having pleaded guilty,
only II Of the IA originally in
dicted are now standing trial.
They are: Carrado, Manfredonia.
Palmer, Pearl Woodward, Atkins.
Turner, Smith, Allan Williams.
Warren Williams, Leon James andll
Esther Wright.
The trial is in progress before
a jury of eight men and four
women and Judge David A. Pine.
ALI the defendants are colured ex-
cept Manfredonia and Carradn.