Evening star., 1952-03-16
Graft Charges
Reported Made
In Dope Probe
Grand Jury Is Given
Names Of Dozen D. c.
Police by Addicts

Names OF more than a dozen
District policemen accused of ac-
cepting graft to protect narcotic
racketeers have been placed be-
fore the special rackets grand
jury, it was reported last night.
The policemen. including head
quarters detectives and uniformed
officers. have been fingered" as
grafters by convicted drug ped
oilers and addicts who have been
brought back from prison to tes-
tify before the grand jury. it was
reported.
The United States attorneys
office is proceeding cautiously
with the sensational testimony Of
the drug addicts, number Of
whom repeatedly were arrested
by the very officers they accuse
of accepting money to protect"
them.
United States Attorney Charles
M. Irelan said yesterday he did
not expect any policemen to be
named in the first batch Of in
dictments which the special grand
Jury will return In District Court
this week.
Refuses to Speculate.
He refused to speculate whether
any policemen will be named In
subsequent indictments.
When reporters told him that
rumors are current at police head
quarters that number of police
men are scheduled for indictment.
Mr.. Irelan answered:
IT don't know where the ru-
mors came from"
The rackets grand jury oriei.
|nally planned to return its first
indictments tomorrow, but last
minute decision was made to post.
(pone them until about Wednes-
day.
Some Gaming True Bills.
Mr.. Irelan ascrihed the post
Iponement to the necessity OF
lahoriously checking and recheck-
ling every angle uncovered thus
far in the investigation which be-
gan February 6. Approximately
100 witnesses have been interro-
gated since that time, Mr.. Irelan
said. He said the Jury should COM
lplete its investigation In about so
days.
Most Of the indictments ex-
ipected this week will focus on
narcotic law violations, but some
gaming true bills are expected.
Mr.. Irelan said he suspects a
definite tie-in between the dope
and gambling rackets" In Wash.
Iington. Thus far, Mr.. Irelan said.
the investigation has indicated
Washington does not have as seri-
|ous a narcotics problem "as soms
other cities"
Among the convicted drug ped
dlers who have been brought back
from prison to testify before the
grand jury are Odessa Madre, one
time intimate of Roger (White-
top) Simkins, and James (Jim
Yellow Roberts, long known as
one Of the biggest drug operators
here.
Seeking Confederation.
Prosecutors are seeking evidence
to corroborate the stories some Of
the drug addict witnesses told be-
fore the grand jury. Courts have
held in the past that uncorrob-
GRATED testimony of drug addicts.
especially when it Is offered to
incriminate law enforcement ON
GERS, must be weighed with .ex.
treme care before it can be ac-
cepted.
Since the start of the rackets
investigation, which was ordered
by Attorney General McGrath IN
the several Federal jurisdictions.
Mr.. Irelan and his two aides. AS.
sistant United States Attorneys
Thomas A. Walden, jr., and Rob-
|ert Ackerly have been working six
and seven days week. often far
into the night.
In an investigation like this
we cannot afford to let any trail
grow cold. as 1t well might, with
Ia 24-hour lapse" MFR. Walden
said.