Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Rackets Grand Jury
Calls Sarah Vaughan
In Dope Inquiry
By Howard l. Dutkin

Sarah Vaughan, colored sing
Ing star of television and night
club, today was Intercepted for
20 minutes by the special District
racketS grand jury probing into
the narcotics traffic here.
Also appearing for questioning
was a man who identified him
self as George Treadwell, colored,
who said he was Miss Vaughan's
manager. He testified for about 20
minutes.
Miss Vaughan, who currently is
appearing at Fourteenth street
NV. night club, was attired in a
pink poodle-cloth beltless top
coat and green Stacks. All she
would reply to reporters ques-
tons was: "They just asked me
If the sun is shining"
Mr.. Treadwell was equally I'M
communicative. The United States
attorneys Office announced that
both were surprise witnesses"
indictments Fre01Cte0.
Meanwhile, the smashing of a
second big dope syndicate operat-
ing here was forecast last night
by United States Attorney Charles
M. Irelan. He said he expected
indictments in the case to be
returned some time this week.
Names of leaders of the ring
are not well known to the public"
the prosecutor said, while declar-
ing that it was relatively as large
as the syndicate allegedly headed
by Randolph (Catfish) Turner,
now under indictment with 81
others on narcotics charges.
No policemen will be involved in
the forthcoming indictments, Mr..
1relan said. He told reporters that
1t. H. H. Carper, suspended head
OF the police narcotics squad. and
his former aide, Sergt. William
Taylor. will appear before the
grand jury this week to be ques-
toned concerning graft charges
made against them in testimony
before the Senate Crime Investi-
eating Committee.
May Know This Week.
Questioned as to possible in
dictment Of the officers, Mr.. Irelan
replied. II think we will know this
week If Carper and Taylor will be
indicted" He indicated that the
decision will be relayed to re-
porterS shortly after it is reached.
Speaking of the wide publicity
given the charges against the off,
GERS at the Capitol Hill hearings,
Mr.. Irelan declared fatty he
would not be "stampeded into an
indictment Of Carper and Taylor
because Of public opinion" In the
past, tie prosecutor has pointed
out that concrete evidence from
responsible sources is required to |
sustain a case in court. The
charges against the policemen
have been made by notorious dope
peddlers, whose credibility might |
not have much standing with a 7
jury. unless evidence of a cor
roborative nature from other
sources 3 gathered.
Mr.. Irelan said he hoped the
narcotics aspect Of the general
crime investigation could be ended
this week. Present plans are toI
give the jury two-Week holiday
starting next week and then begin
an intensive probe into local gam
bling upon its return. The pros
ecutor stressed. however, that mar
cotics indictments may still be
handed down even after the dope
investigation is ended officially.
Answer Of Missing Marijuana.
The prosecutor also announced
he should have an answer this
week as to what actually happened
in the celebrated case of the miss
ing marijuana. Thousand Of dol
lars worth of the drug had been
reported missing, after narcotics
squad men seized a quantity
cached in the car of John r.
Wetherbee. a New Yorker, here,
last year. Police have contended
an error was made in estimating
the weight of the drug when first
seized.
Yesterday three members Of the
police narcotics squad presented
evidence to the grand jury in a
number Of individual cases, de-
scribed as routine. About IA in
dictments are expected to stem
from these cases this week, in
addition to the expected charges
against big-shotS. /
Vice Squad Chief Inspector
Clarence H. Lutz denied reports
from the United States Attorneys
Office that police were concentrat-
ing on a search for 1890 hidden
capsules of heroin.
11S Capsules Seized.
Inspector Lutz's denial came
after police attempted to cover upI
yesterday a seizure of 118 hid
den capsules in the 1900 block of /