Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-01-20
Murray Will Tell Crime Probers
OF Role in Bross Rail Inquiry
And of Borrett-Nicho|s DISPUTE
May Shed Light
On Frame Charge
Against Ex-Chief
BY John v. Homer

" SoHH v. 1o1nef
Police Chief Robert v. Murray's
o5fer to testify before the Senate
District Crime Committee was &C
cepted last night by Committee
Counsel Arnold Bauman, with the
probability that he will be called
tomorrow.
Maj. Murray, whose name was
brought into the testimony sew
eral times last week at the first
f1ve public hearings, asked to be
heard as soon as possible so he
could relate his role in an inves-
tigation that followed the 1913
Brass Rail shootings and circum-
stances surrounding a row be-
tween ex-Police Chief Robert J.
Barrett and former Detective
Sergt. Reuben Nichols.
Sergt. Nichols, who retired for
physical disability, charged in tes-
tlmony before the committee FRI
day that Maj. Barrett threatened
to frame him at the bidding of
q notorious Washington gambler.
Alteration With Simkins.
He testified he had had an al
tercation with Roger (Whitetop)
Slmkins, big time numbers oper-
ator. AS a result, he said, Sim
kins promised to get Chief Bar
rett to call Sergt. Nichols on the
carpet at 9:15 am. the next day.
Sure enough, the former police
man said. he was called in.
Sergt. Nichols told the crime
probers Maj. Barrett then pro-
ceeded to curse and berate him
and accused him of trying to shake
down Simkins for $1,000. He said
the chief threatened to send him
to Jail but that actually no
charges ever were lodged against
him.
AS the only other person pres
ent when the incident occurred,
Maj. Murray is in position to
shed additional light on the repri-
mand and the bitter exchange
reported to the Senator'S by Sergt.
Nichols. Maj. Murray then was
a lieutenant in the detective bu-
reau.
Hearings Near End.
Committee Chairman Nicely dis
closed last night that an effort |
will be made to complete the ini-
tial phase of the public hearings
Tuesday night or Wednesday |
morning." After that, the crime |
investigating staff will compile q |
report in its findings, under a di-
receive to file it by January 81.
Meanwhile, plans are being
made to ask for an extension Of
the investigation until June 80.
The Senate District Committee. Of
which the crime investigating
group is a unit, will meet at 4::30
pm. tomorrow to decide whether
to request an additional appropri-
alton for the extended probe. staff
members have estimated they
would need $4,000 to do the job.
Committee members were re-
luctant to predict the outcome of
the session tomorrow. Some said,
however, they believed develop
ments last week suggest the need
for further study of crime and
corruption in the District.
Shooting Tells Whole Story.
One source close to the probers
said the Brass Rail shooting cpl
sode appeared to tell the whole
story of what is wrong in Wash
ington, with its indications of ties
between policemen and gamblers,
police payoffs, gang warfare and
no one convicted in a felony case.
Senator Hunt, Democrat, of
Wyoming, member of the Dist
riot investigating group with ex-
perience on the old Kefauver
Crime Committee. said he re-
garded as one of the more signif-
icant disclosures last week the
fact that former Chief Barrett
conducted So much business on q
strictly cash basis.
1T is fantastic that a man like
Barrett should pay in cash for
the $4,000 wedding reception of his
daughter" the Senator said.
The committee is expected to
move soon for contempt citations
against several witnesses who re-
fused to answer certain questions
last. week. It was indicated this
group may include Emmitt War;
ring, the numbers overload, whose
annual gross take was estimated
to exceed So million; Simkins;
NathanA Y. Taylor, colored. and
Miss Jacqueline Terry, colored,
who were described as employees
in the numbers racket.
Some Unheard From.
The committee has yet to hear
from a number of reputed gam
blers. such as Clarence (Cocky)
Ware and William Whitehead. Mr..
Bauman said they may testify to-
morrow. Illness will prevent the
appearance of Sam Beard and Abe
Plisco, alias "Jewboy" Dietz. two
other top gambling figures.
The committee also has called
q number of businessmen and
some city officials but it never has
announced all their names. In this
group is Daniel B. Maher. former
assistant corporation counsel now
engaged in private law practice.
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