Evening star., 1952-11-14
Witness Tells
Of Ambition 10
Pedd|eDope
Robinson, n, Got
First Job in Ring,
He Says at Trial
By Howard [. Dutkin

Part Of the life story Of a 81
|year-old dope peddler and former
addict was unfolded yesterday be-
fore a jury trying Randolph (Cat-
|fish) Turner and 10 co-defendants
on charges of narcotics conspiracy.
It was the story Of a kid, less
than two years out Of high school.
''hustlin' on the streets" as he
|phrased it, picking up a few dol
lars gambling and doing any
thing that was illegal at the time
anything there was law
against"
The teller of the autobiography
ical tale was Paul Robinson, coll
|ored, self-confessed former mem
ber of a dope syndicate he said
was headed by Turner.
He is a star Government witness
and has told how he made trips
to New York at Turner's direction
to pick up heroin in wholesale lots
for resale here at retail. He has
pleaded guilty to one count of the
|six-count conspiracy indictment.
and the other charges have been
dropped.
First Job Was Dope.
Under croSs-examination by De-
fense Attorneys Joseph Lyman and
James j. Laughlin, Robinson said
he was introduced into the dope
business by Herbert (Bucklejaws)
johnson, then allegedly a member
|of a dope ring operated by Turner.
1T was the first time Robinson had
had a job since he left Armstrong
High School in 1949, he said.
II was in the streets hustlin'.
and I wasn't doing so good" Rob-
|inson related. II wanted some
bigger money-some faster money
and I was lucky enough to get
"a job"
What do you mean by hus-
|tling?" the witness was asked.
"Gambling-everything that was
illegal at the time - everything
there was a law against" Robin
son replied.
Admired Bucklejaws.
He testified he had admired
Bucklejaws for his character" and
continued, 80 I tried to follow
in his footsteps" (Johnson Is a
convicted dope peddler, who Is
expected to testify for the Gov
ernment in this trial.)
"He (BuckleJaws Johnson) was
doing pretty fair with dope. and
I decided to do the same on q
small basis" Robinson said.
The witness told how he be-
came a drug addict through curi-
osity. He said he started taking
narcotics by hypodermic needle
and through capsules at his home
in the 400 block of B street NV.
shortly after joining the Turner
syndicate.
The immediate effect of the
dope (heroin) was to make him
drowsy, he said. The habit grew.
he related. and he began taking
more and more narcotics.
Earlier, under croSs-examina-
ton, he testified he had not filed
Federal income tax forms for 1850
or 1851. He said his income did
not exceed 5000 in either of those
years.
Tells of Purchases.
The witness told of purchasing
heroin in New York at prices rang
ing from $1,400 to $4,000 for IS
ounces. The dope was sold here
for $275 an ounce, or at a profit
Fof from 600 to 800 per cent, he
said. The deals were arranged by
Turner, he charged.
Earlier Robinson testified that
Turner exacted 81 day from a
Igroup of syndicate members to
make protection payments to 1t.
H. H. Carper. former chief of the
police narcotics squad, now under
indictment on charges of bribery
land conspiracy.
The witness said the last time
he saw Carper was when the lat
ter raided a dope-peddling estab-
Ilishment on March 16, 1851. Rob-
linson was seized when he walked
i'm while the raid WIS in progress.
he said.
Cross-examination of Robinson
was to be resumed today.