Evening star., 1952-11-15
Drug Trial Hears
Robinson Admit
Suicide Attempt
| Try Mode in Jail
At Time He Was.
Telling About Ring

80 w 49,
Telling About Ring
The Governments star witness
in the Randolph (Catfish) Turner
narcotics conspiracy trial adj
mitted yesterday he attempted to-
hang himself in his District Jail
cell last spring.
The admission came at the close
of testimony by Paul Robinson,
In colored, an ex-dope runner
turned informer, who underwent
irelentless cross-examination by a
battery of eight defense lawyers
for three days.
Seconds before he left the stand,
Attorney James j. Laughlin asked
Robinson if he had attempted
suicide in in the jail. !,
"You could say that" the husky :,
soft-voiced former addict replied.
He added that he did not receive
Ipsychiatric treatment thereafter,
nor was he hospitalized.
Stopped by Guards.
His attorney, James Graham,
later told reporters his client had
gotten as far with his attempt as
to fix his belt to the bars but was
stopped by alert guards at the
prison.
The suicide try. the lawyer said,
was made in late May or early
June, during a period when Rob-
inson was giving detailed state
ments to Assistant United States
Attorney Thomas l.. Walden about
his activities as a dope runner for
Turner.
Testimony revealed Robinson,
originally included as one of the
IA defendants in the case. decided
to tell all at the behest of his
grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Gibbs.
During his three days on the
stand Robinson told of running
dope from New York to Washing
ton for Turner. Robinson said he
delivered cut heroin to several of
the defendants whom he said COM
prised Turner's $21. 1.000-a-week
syndicate.
Lieutenant Named.
The former Armstrong High
School student also implicated
"a 1t. Carper" with bribe-taking
activities. He said Turner called
meeting in April, 1861, in his
home at % Fifty-second street
Sc. At this session it was de-
creed $50 month was to be as
sessed from members of the gang
for police payoffs. Robinson de-
clared.
1t. H. H. Carper, suspended
head of the police narcotics squad,
and his chief deputy, Sergt Will
liam Taylor. are awaiting trial,
charged with conspiracy to vio-
late the narcotic laws and brib-
cry.
The indictment alleges the pair
took some $4,000 protection money
from dope peddlers over two
year period.
Contest Over Affidavits.
Most Of yesterdays hearing in
the U. S. District Court for the
District of Columbia centered
around three affidavits given by
Robinson to Mr.. Walden when he
decided to be a Government wit
ness.
The legal battle ended when
United States Attorney Charles M.
Irelan agreed to give Robinson's
statements to the defense.
In. an effort to show Robinson
was given preferential treatment
by the Government in return for
his testimony. defense lawyers
brought out he was being held in
the Petersburg (Va.) Federal Re-
formatory, instead of the District
Jail.
"It's easier there, the accommo-
dations are better. and you have
more visitation rights and it's not
far from mothers farm" the wit
ness agreed.
Robinson has pleaded guilty to
one count in the indictment. The
remaining four have been dropped,
Mr.. Irelan announced in court. He
has not yet been sentenced.
Others on Trial.
In addition to Turner, these
others are on trial:
Lawrence Carrado and Richard
Manfredonia of New York City,
Leon James. Eddie (Meat Head)
Atkins. Joseph (Peter Rabbit)
Smith, Allan (Turk) William,
Warren Williams, Esther Wright,
Pearl Woodward, Samuel (One-
Eye Palmer.
Two others are absent Harry
Tantillo of New York, reputed
head Of the importers supplying
the Turner gang has not been ap-
pretended, and Letha Simpson is
undergoing treatment for an
abdominal ailment in a local pri-
vate hospital.
The trial will be resumed at. 10
am. Monday.
lMcC ufcheon Convicted