Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-12-28
Dearth Of Funds
MayCurb Fight
On D. Crime
IreIon and Stuff
Using Own Pay on
Grand Jury Work
By Cherries G. Brooks

Attorneys Office will be curtailed
in its war against the Districts
underworld because of a lack of
extra finances, The Star learned
last night.
Chief of the new division, As
sistant United States Attorney
Thomas A. Walden, jr, disclosed
that his boss. United States At
torney Charles M. Irelan; his
colleague in the new division,
Robert L. Ackerly, and himself
have poured "a large number of
dollars" into the Investigations
which the unit made while in an
unofficial capacity.
AT the same time. Mr.. Walden
praised Mr.. Irelan for "a courag-
eous act in setting UP the unit
along the lines of the special rack
et-buSting program carried out by
Gov. Dewey of New York when he
was District Attorney of New York
County.
Mr.. Walden pointed out that
MI. Irelan assigned him and Mr..
Ackerly to the job Of working with
the Districts special racketS grand
jury here early this year. but that
the Justice Department granted
no additional funds for investiga-
ton purposes.
Used Dewey Techniques.
Consequently, he continued, the
three have been spending part of
their pay to carry on the grand
jury's work, which has resulted in
the successful conviction of Ran
do!ph Catfish Turner. his six
associates, and other narcotics,
gambling and bootlegging law vio-
lators.
The new investigative unit was
announced Friday by Mr. Irelan
as part of the Districts intensi-
fed war on a hourishing under
world which has ties extending
to all major cities throughout the
Nation.
Mr.. Walden declared that Mr..
1relan initiated the special unit
with Gov. Deweys staff in mind
and that I'VE have attempted to
employ some of the techniques Mr..
Dewey used in New York City to
get into active criminal circles"
He pointed out that his staff of
investigators, consisting of men,
bers of the police force, the United
States Marshals Office and the
Federal Bureau of Narcotics, al
ready have penetrated into under
world circles.
It started with the conviction
of Charles E. Nelson, Mr.. Walden
said, and with the conviction of
Jesse letters on narcotics con-
spiracy charges early this year.
Informers Were Used.
In all cases, Government in
vestigators worked through in
formers and defend n S who
turned States evidence to. gain
convictions.
Mr.. Walden quoted Mr.. Irelan
as saying that there is no person
who knows more about the under
world itself than person who has
worked in it," That is the phil
osophy the newly created rackets
squad is going to work with.
The young prosecutor pointed
out that through the efforts of the
small group that comprised the
nucleus of the newly created In
vestigation Division, Paul Robin
son, Herbert Johnson, Esther
Wright and Nellie Leach-all part
of Catfish Turner's million dollar
a-year dope syndicate here-be-
came Government witnesses.
That, it was indicated, was be-
cause of the Dewey methods of
prosecution and investigation.
He said that he and his assist
ants have had to spend personal
money on cameras, tape recorders
and other instruments necessary
for Investigations. He denied. how
ever. that his squad consisted of a
CLOAK and dagger" unit, but said
that it used only legal methods to
track down organized crime.
Silent on Outlay of Funds.
Mr.. Wedden would not comment
as to how much money he and
his investigators have spent. He
did say that it sometimes takes
SO to $40 from the pockets of his
investigators each night they go
out to spy on illegal operations and
to gather evidence for successful
convictions.
He added that the special
squads work could be enlarged
if Mr.. Irelan's request for sew
eral independent investigators is
granted. The men would be trained
not only in police work but also
in legal work.
Mr.. Walden declared that he
and his associates were willing to
continue to lay out their own per-
sonal finances to continue the new
units Investigations, but he eX-
pressed hope that money would
be forthcoming from Federal
agencies.
No Competition, Says DOnOhue.
Meanwhile, Commissioner F. Jo-
seph Donohue said last night he
did not foresee any competition
between Mr.. Irelan's new special
investigative staff and the Metro
politan Police Department..
Mr.. Donohue told a radio audi
ence over Station WWDC that he
believed the staff would be drawn
mainly from members of the Po-
lice Department.
This would be possible, in view
of the police manpower shortage
only because of the exceedingly
cordial friendship and feeling OF
mutual regard" between Mr.. Ire
Ian and Police Supt. Robert V
Murray. he added.
The Commissioner also said hi
would find no fault with the pro-
posal to give the inveStigative staff
arrest powers. as long as it was