Evening star., 1952-03-21
Fay Defends Record
In Letter 10 NeeIy,
Is Ready 10 Testify

OAtS AOAAAAS4 A<AovA AOt VAAkNAOA AAe4l
accepted the challenge Of Chair
man Neely of the Senate District
Crime Investigating subcommittee
to explain how graft could have
existed in the Police Department
without his knowledge.
Former United States Attorney
George Morris Fay wrote Senator
Neely and said he was ready to
answer any questions concerning
his record in Office. The crime
committee chairman had criti-
cized Mr.. Fay. former Police Chief
Robert j. Barrett and Commis-
sioner John Russell Young for
failure to expose graft.
Text of Letter.
Text Of Mr.. Fay's letter follows:
"Dear Senator:
Upon my return from Dayton,
Ohio, at 10 this morning learned
for the first time that at the close
of yesterdays testimony before
the subcommittee of the Senate
District Committee you had
stated in substance that if Com
missioner John Russell Young,
former Maj. and Supt. of Police
Robert j. Barrett or former
United States Attorney George
Morris Fay would care to tell the
people Of Washington how condi-
tions such as had been exposed
by the testimony to date, before
the subcommittee, could have ex-
listed during their respective
periods Of Office without their
knowledge, that the subcommittee
would give them ample oppor-
tunity to be heard.
Il was appointed United States
attorney for the District of Co
lumbia in November, 1916. I was
reappointed for a similar four
year term In January, 1851. On
October 81, 1851, resigned to
enter the private practice of the
law in this city.
Proud Of Record.
I am most proud of my official
record and will be glad to defend
IL. II you viii inspect that record
you Will find. among other things
the following pertinent facts re-
iatlng to criminal prosecutions
ana Investigations during NV
terms of Office.
Shortly after my entry into
office, and after studying exist
ing conditions, I saw the advanced
growth and serious problem of
organized criminal rackets in the
District Of Columbia, particularly
OF an interstate nature. I dis
cuSsed this matter with the At
torney General on numerous oc-
casionS and finally requested and
secured in March, 1948, his per-
mission to petition the Chief
Judge OF the United States Dis
trlct Court to impanel a special
grand jury to investigate organ
lzed gambling and related crimes.
The court granted my petition and
q special grand jury was sworn
and began its investigation i'm
mediately. This investigation con-
tnued for 18 months, the longest
period permitted by law.
Indictments Returned.
The Office of the United
States attorney had no inyesti-
gators for this purpose and had
to proceed by questioning hun
0redS OF witnesses before the spe-
ciaI grand jury. Numerous in
dictmentS were returned, some
charging violations of an inter-
state nature. One of these, that
against Snag Lews and others.
resulted in pleas of guilty and
substantial penitentiary sentences.
This past summer before I left
of1ice I caused a regular grand
jury to be held over the usual
period for the purpose of conduct
ing the special investigation which
resulted In the indictment and
conviction of Charles E. Nelson
and some 13 co-defendants, in
cluding detective sergeant and
a former precinct detective Of the
Metropolitan Police Department.
During the 18-month period
Of the investigation by the special
grand jury I went to Commits
Sioner Anslinger's Office on two
occasions to discuss the possi-
bility Of taking concerted action
against narcotic violators.
Plans Discussed.
HE discussed frankly with me
his plans for conducting mass
raids and I. in turn, outlined to-
him my purpose to set up in my
own Office a special staff of the
most experienced trial assistants
to confer with his agents before
the raids, to present the cases to1
the grand jury, and to follow them
to successful prosecution in court.
AS result of this concerted ac-
ton, raids were conducted which
brought about the arrest, convic-
tion and sentence Of top peddlers,
including James (Jim Yellow
Roberts and his wife, Evalina
Roberts. and many of the persons
who have testified recently before
the so-called rackets grand jury
and before your subcommittee.
Il am ready at any time to
answer any questions concerning
the foregoing or any other facts
concerning my record in Office as
United States attorney for the
District of Columbia"