Evening star., 1953-02-17
WetherbeeTria.
Begins Minus
Carper, Taylor
Lone Won't Coll
Accused Policemen
In Narcotics Case


mitted owner of the biggest
cache of mariuana ever seized
in the United States, went on
trial today in Federal court with
two Of the Governments key
witnesses missing.
Absent from the colorful i1or-
ticultural students hearing are
1t. H. H. Carper, former head
of the police narcotics squad. and
his principal aide, Sergt. William
Taylor. Prosecutor John Lane
told reporters he will not call on
them to testify.
Mr.. Lane said he did not need
either policeman, since he has
others to bolster his case.
Are Awaiting Trial.
1t. Carper and Sergt. Taylor
are currently under suspension
and are awaiting trial on charges
of conspiracy to violate the mar
coticS laws and of accepting
bribes from dope peddlerS.
The defendant, a New Yorker,
is being tried in the U. S. Dis
trict Court for the District of
Columbia before Judge Walter
M. Bastian without jury.
Judge Bastian is hearing mo-
ton to suppress evidence against
Wetherbee and trying him at the
same time. If the motion made
by Defense Attorney Bernard
Margolius is granted Wetherbee
will go free. Mr.. Lane has an
nounced that without the seized
drug as an exhibit his case will
fall.
Tells of Four Hour Plant.
The first witness heard was
Detective Guy w. Holcomb. He
told of a four-hour plant at
Thomas Circle made by himself,
1t. Carpsr, Sergt. Taylor and
another detective. He said all
four followed Wetherbee, a bar
ber known as Woody" and a
woman named Pauline to E street
NV, near the Union Station
Plaza, where Wetherbee trans
ferred a briefcaSe from his auto
mobile to "Woody'S."
Mr.. Holcomb said they per-
mitted Woody" to drive to
Ninth and E before making the
arrest on June Is, 1851.
At the time 1t. Carper proudly
announced that a search of
Wetherbee's auto uncovered 1913
pounds of marijuana-the larg-
est seizure ever made.
However, when the drug was
turned over to the Treasury De-
partment narcotics disposal
room it assayed only 100 pounds.
1t. Carper then announced the
193-pound figure was an incor-
rect estimate.
Have Sought Leak"
For approximately 18 months
police officials and a grand jury
have unsuccessfully attempted to
determine how much. if any, of
the drug was taken or found its
way back into underworld
channels.
Indications that efforts will be
made at the Wetherbee trial to
clear up the discrepancy came
from Judge Bastian and Mr..
Margolius.
The defense lawyer told the
jurist that Mr.. Lane placed the
amount of marijuana in Wether-
bees car at approximately 100
pounds.
II have reason to believe it
weighed a little more" Mr.. Mar
goliuS asserted. I'D like to know
how much the officers took and
where they took It,"
Judge Bastian answered, "I
believe you are entitled to that
information"
Tried on Three Counts.
Wetherbee, a former horticul-
ture student at the University of
New Mexico, is being tried on
three counts Of transporting and
possessing $751; grains of mari
juana. There are approximately
400 grains to the ounce.
After his indictment in July.
1851. Wetherbee jumped bail. He
was unheard of until December
81, 1852, when he gave himself
up to his roommate, a Richmond
(Calif.) policeman.
At that time he told q Star
reporter by telephone that he
had from ITS to 200 pounds of
marijuana hidden in the body
panels Of his Buick sedan.
"At least that is what I paid