Evening star., 1952-12-12
JuryDe|iberates
Fate Of Nine in
Drug Conspiracy
Panel Locked'Up
Overnight; 40-Yeor
Sentences Possible

women To-Day was still dellberatlng
the fate of Randolph (Catfish)
Turner and eight co-defendants
accused of conspiring to funnel
into Washington 81 million worth
of dope annually.
The jury, the first to spend the
night in the new courthouse "ho-
tel" resumed it's deliberations
shortly after $50 am. today.
They went to lunch at 1890 pm.
The defendants, if found guilty
on all counts of the six-count in
Idictment, face possible maximum
penalty of 40 years in Jail apiece.
But such maximums are seldom
imposed. Under the law, sentences
Iof up to five years may be given
for each of four of the counts and
up to 10 years for two other
counts.
The panel was given the case
at 1888 pm. yesterday by Judge
David A. Pine in the U. S. District
Court for the District of Columbia.
The case was in its fifth week of
trial.
Besides Turner, the alleged head
OF the syndicate, other defendants
are: Richard Manfredonia and
Lawrence Carrado, accused as New
York wholesalers for the alleged
ring; Sam (One-Eye) Palmer,
Leon James, Edward Atkins, Jo-
seph Peter Rabbit) Smith, War;
rem Williams and Allan (Turk)
Williams. All are colored except
Manfredonia and Carrado. An
other original defendant, Harry
Tantillo of New York, is fugitive.
Equal Guilt Outlined.
In his instructions to the jury,
Judge Pine told the panel that. If
two or more persons conspire to
commit an offense," and if one or
more of the conspirators do any
act to further the conspiracy"
each shall be held equally guilty.
In the indictment, the Govern
ment charged a total of 80 overt
acts had been committed. The
alleged acts ranged from visits
OF some defendants to the homes
Of others to actual sale of mar
coticS. For an action to be con-
sidered an overt act, it must be
shown to have been made in
furthermore Of an existing con-
spiracy.
Judge Pine defined conspiracy
as an agreement-"a unity of de-
sign or purpose" to commit an un-
lawful act. He stressed that the
agreement need not be written
but may be verbal or tacit.
Need Not Know Details.
The jurist declared that it was
not essential for conviction that
each alleged conspirator have
knowledge of the details of the
plan or even know the other con-
spirators. He stated that the acts
OF one conspirator may be held
against the others, if the acts
were done in furtherance off the
plot.
Testimony concerning the other
five counts of the indictment. hav-
ing to do with alleged sale of dope
by Smith and seizure of narcotics
at Smiths home, did not directly
involve the other defendants.
But Judge Pine told the jury
that one who conspires with an
other is also guilty of any SUBJ
stantive offense committed by the
other. if the offense was part of
the conspiracy.
On the other hand. he said, If
any of the defendants, except
Smith himself. was found inno-
cent of conspiracy. they could not
be found guilty of the dope-ped-
ding charges in the other five
counts.
Addicts as Witnesses.
The Government had built its
case mainly on the testimony of
former dope peddlers and addicts.
with the explanation that persons
with a personal knowledge of dope
syndicate operations are not gen.
ierally found "in the social regis
ter"
These witnesses-Nellie Leach,
Herbert tBucklejaws) johnson,
Esther Wright and Paul Robinson
were attacked by defense coun-
sci as captive witnesses" and
liars who gave false testimony,
with the understanding the Gov
Iernment would go easy on them
for past offenses.
The Wright woman and Paul
Robinson originally were among
the defendants in the conspiracy
case. But charges against Esther
Wright were dropped, and Robin
son pleaded guilty to one count
of the six-count indictment. Later
he testified he had served as a
(See DOPE, Page A-4)