Evening star., 1952-12-06
Narcotics Trial S
Death Threat
Record Played
Defense Contends
Stutic Drowned
Conversation

What was supposed to be a re-
corded death threat, complete
with soft background music, was
replayed yesterday in the Office
of United States Attorney Charles
NJ. Irelan.
The decision to play the re-
cording was made by District
Judge David A. Pine, presiding ir
the Randolph tCatf1sh) Turner
narcotics conspiracy trial, to cor.
roborate testimony by two in.
formers that Turner had threat.
ened their lives if they testified
against him.
Principals in the futuristis
drama that employed a Lilliputiar
one-way broadcasting set were
Turner, Nellie Leach and her boy
friend, Herbert Buckle jaws
johnson, all colored.
johnson and the woman, ad'
mitted dope peddlers, met Turner
in the Turf Club in the 1900 block
! U street NV. a night spot, tt
attempt to learn for the prosecu.
ton what they could about
Turner. said to be head of the
Districts biggest dope syndicate
| ra.:.I rT.5Io~ c.<s
They came equipped with q
Smith Device" a small trans
mitting set. johnson said he hac
one hidden inside his coat anc
Nellie testified she had hers ir
her cloth purse.
The seven defense lawyers anc
three prosecutors, with Judge
Pine, listened to the playback
About the only thing agreed upon
was that a juke-box version o1
Blue Tango" and an unidentified
song by Crooner Johnny Ray
were faithfully recorded.
! The heart of the matter, a quote
by johnson and Nellie Leach that
Turner said, IF you testify you
will get the same thing Arnold
Schuster got" was lost in static
defense lawyers contended.
Mr.. Schuster was shot to death
March 8 for telling police the
whereabouts of gangster Willie
(the Actor Sutton.
Mr.. Irelan's assistant. Thomas
A. Walden, jr., had testified
sound truck, manned by Federal
Narcotics Agents Thomas Andrew
and James Cross, was parked
outside the club, receiving the
message sent by the amazing de-
vice.
Continuous Music.
Under examination, Mr.. Wad-
den said the record would back up
statements by johnson and Leach
that the threat on their lives had
taken place on the night of March
IA, in the night club.
Nellie Leach, had admitted that
juke box was playing almost
constantly while she was seated
at table talking to Turner and
Johnson.
However, q second recording,
made in Mr.. Wadden's office i'm
mediately after the two returned
from the Turf Club, was cut. This
recorded testimony was almost
word for word the same as that
both gave on the stand at the
outset of trial, nearly four weeks
ago.
The record was played at de-
Ifense request in an effort to rebut
the damaging testimony given by
Bucklejaws and his girl friend.
Defense Rests.
Trial for the nine defendants Is
expected to end, probably, Tues
day. The defense rested yes
terday, after being unsuccessful
i'm their efforts to get Esther
Wright. girl friend of Joseph
(Peter Rabbit Smith, a defendant,
to testify for the defense.
She already had appeared as a
prosecution witness.
On trial with Turner and Smith
are Richard Manfredonia and
Lawrence Carrado. both of New
York City; Sam (One-Eye) Pal
mer, Warren Williams, Allan
(Turk) Williams, Eddie Atkins
and Leon James.
Earlier in the day, Judge Pine
granted motion quashing sub
lpoena directing Police 1t. H. H.
Carper to appear as a defense wit
mess.
The former head of the Mar
cotics Squad was excused because
he, himself is facing trial on
charges of taking a bribe from
Turner and conspiracy to violate
the narcotics laws. Pending be-
fore the court is a motion by
Carper for a change of venue of
his trial. set for December Is.