Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-25
DefenseCites
Violations by
Police in Probe
Thomun Testifies
He Felt Infructions
Were Permissible


Were Permissible
A police captain told Federal
Court jury today that he got the
impression it was all right to
violate the law to catch criminals
while he was investigating bribery
and conspiracy charges against
two policemen and six alleged
gamblers.
Capt. Todd o. Thoman, jr.,
testified under cross-examination
that methods of handling the
investigation were discussed sew
eral times with his superiors and
representatives of the United
States attorneys Office.
Putting heavy emphasis on the
entrapment theme, attorney
Myron G. Enrich, who repre-
sents the two policemen, asked
about Capt. Thoman's testimony
that he got a $500 bride from
Charles (Geechie Charley
Anderson, 40, colored, last April
16.
Cites Lack of Arrest
Did you arrest Anderson
when he gave you the $500 you
say he dido" Mr.. Enrich asked.
mo, sir" Capt. Thoman re-
piled.
You knew a felony had been
committed. didn't you?"
Yes, sir"
do you know anything about
compromising a felony?"
1T means you know a felony
has been committed and don't
do anything about it," Capt.
Thoman replied
when you talked to Mr..
Gasch Assistant United States
Attorney Oliver Gasch) about
the $500 payment, did he tell
you to arrest Anderson" Mr..
Ehrlich asked.
No. sir" Capt Thoman said.
Did you get the idea from
Gasch that it was all right to
violate the law: not to arrest
some one who had committed
felony?" Mr.. Enrich asked.
II got the idea that it was all
right to violate the law in that
way to help catch criminals"
Capt. Thoman replied.
Stress Delay in Arrests
Mr. Enrich pursued the same
line of questioning in connec-
ton with Capt. Thoman'S tes-
timony that he got another $500
from Anderson last May 20 and
$1,000 during meeting with
John Lefty Winston, AZ, COL
ored, and Burnie King, 30, col
ored.
Defense attorneys appeared to
be stressing the theory that ar
rests were delayed in the case
while the investigators drew the
accused deeper into a conspir-
acy.
On trial in addition to Ander-
son. King and Winston, are Capt.
John B. Monroe, suspended
Twelfth Precinct commander;
George c. Prather. suspended
probationary detective; Curtis
M. (Bozo> Taylor, SO, colored;
Roger (Whitetop) Simkins, SIS,
colored. and Tlbert H. (Real Es-
tate> Smith. as
This was Capt. Thoman's 18th
day in the witness chair as the
third week of the trial drew to
a close.
Emphasizes Arrest Theme
Hammering at the arrest
theme. Mr.. Enrich asked:
do you have a copy of the
police manual?"
II do" Capt. Thoman said.
Does it say anything about
making an arrest without a war
rant?"
ut says you can arrest with
out warrant when a felony is
committed" Capt. Thoman re-
piled.
Does it have any penalty at
tached for not making an ar
rest?"
1T does"
you were never penalized,
were you?"
mo, sir"
GAS a matter of fact, you we're
promoted. weren't you?"
Il was" Capt. Thoman said.
Acting Under Instructions
Capt. Thoman testified he was
acting under instructions from
his superiors and reiterated that
during various meetings with
them, he was told ito continue
the investigation"
The eight men ntrial are
accused of taking part in an
elaborate payoff scheme to pro-
tect gambling operations here
from police interference. Capt.
Thoman has testified that more
than $4,000 in bribe money
passed through his hands during
the 10-and-a-half months he
posed as police officer willing
to accept brides.