Evening star., 1952-01-21
By John v. Homer

Police Chief Robert v. Murray
today told Senate crime investi-
gators that a retired detective
once informed ex-Chief Robert j
Barrett there was collusion be-
tween policemen and numbers
racketeer, and he confirmed that
Chief Barrett accused the detec-
tive of trying to shake down the
gambler.
Maj. Murray added in his testi-
mony that the detective, former
Text Of Settlement by Police Chief Murray
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Questions and Answers During Testimony
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Sergt. Rueben Nichols, colored,
was sick at the time of the occur
ence and was emotionally upset.
After Maj. Murray's testimony
q police captain admitted, under
questioning by Senate investi-
gators, that Roger (Whitetop)
Simkins rose from obscurity to a
big-time numbers racketeer dur
ing the regime of Maj. Barrett as
police chief.
The committee, which has tried
for a week to find whether there
were links between unmolested
gamblers and members of the po-
lice department, obtained the
statement from Capt. Clyde N
Strange of the 18th precinct, dur
ing the heated questioning by its
chairman. Senator Neely. Demo-
crat, of West Virginia.
Meeting Called Routine.
In his testimony. Mai. Murray
said Maj. Barrett accused Sergt.
Nichols of trying to play both
ends against the middle" in a row
resulting from the Brass Rail tav-
ern shooting four years ago. But
he told the Senators the. confer
ence between Maj. Barrett and
Sergt. Nichols was routine and not
explosive, as Mr.. Nichols testified
last week.
In other developments at the
inquiry today:
/. Senator Welker, Republican,
of Idaho denounced the Office of
the United States Attorney for
its handling of the Brass Rail
shooting case.
2. Senator Hunt, Democrat, of
Wyoming demanded that the Al
coholic Beverage Control Board
review it's policy on issuing licenses
to taverns like the Brass Rail. with
reputed gambler connections.
Simkins and his wife operate the
Brass Rail in Mrs. Simkins' name.
3. Maj. Murray. in a statement
before testifying, promised disci-
plinary action against any police
man found to be dishonest but
expressed hope the clouds of sus-
picion soon will be lifted from his
department.
Says Probes Affect Morale.
Maj. Murray said repeated in
vestigations have adversely af-
fected morale in his department
and are hampering efforts to re-
cruit more than 200 sorely needed
policemen. He said he is con-
f1dent his administration will
clean up gambling under Inspec-
tor Clarence Lutz, whom he ap-
pointed for this specific job
shortly after becoming superin-
tendent last November.
The new chief told the commit
tee that neither his predecessor.
Maj. Barrett, nor any one else had
ever suggested that any investiga-
ton be conducted in any way not
proper for full law enforcement.
Maj. Murray was called at his
own request to explain his role as
an investigator of incidents that
followed the Brass Rail shootings.
He said he and Capt. Strange
were assigned to do this work.
Principals in the shooting were
Henry M. piggy Leake and
Charles Henry Nelson, night man
ager at the Brass Rail. both col
ored. Both men were wounded
and later both men were in
dicted.
Both Men Acquitted.
According to police records,
Leake went to the tavern in
search of Simkins. The records
showed that Simkins was not
there and that Leake shot Nelson,
who then shot Leake.
Members of the Senate COM
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