Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul William Leeper, Metropolitan Police Department United States Senate Caucus Room, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Mr. DASH. Well, now proceed, and what did you do there after? Sergeant LEEPER. At this point, after finding the door leading, it's not on this map here, I mean on this chart, but the door leading from the garage level into a small cubicle was taped, also the door leading from the cubicle into the stairwell was also taped. And not only the guard, but we had prior knowledge from our crime reports of burglaries, and burglary attempts on the sixth and the eighth floor of the Watergate complex. And the guard I think brought it to our attention that time too that they had some problems up there with attempted burglaries. So at that time, we sent the guard back to the area of the, where we had met him in the lobby in case, you know we figured we had somebody inside at this time. We had a burglary going down on us. We sent him back to the lobby, and myself, officer Barrett and officer Shoffler responded to the eighth floor, by way of the stairwells. When we arrived at the eighth floor, which is the Federal Reserve Board, the door leading from the stairwell to the offices on the eighth floor was also taped in the same manner, the same type of tape. There was a guard with us at that time, a guard by the name of Helms who is a guard for the Federal Reserve Board, and his two assignments are the eighth floor and the B1 level which they have some offices on, the Federal Reserve Board. We begin a check of the eighth floor with that guard, he was supposed to have keys to most of the offices. He couldn't get any of his keys to work to any of the offices doors, and all of them were locked. We found no other evidence of any tampering with any of the office doors leading off of the main hallway on the eighth floor. At that time we responded back out to the stairwell, I directed that guard to respond back to the lobby to assist the other special officer in case anyone was in the building and doubled back on us in any way. At that time officer Barrett responded to the ninth floor and Shuffler and myself responded down to the seventh floor. Mr. DASH. Now you were going down the stairwell. Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, we're in the stairwell right now of the Watergate complex, it be the stairwells here sir.(pointer on stairwell) Mr. DASH. Going down from the eighth .... Sergeant LEEPER. Myself and officer Shoffler is going down, Officer Barrett is checking the ninth floor. The seventh floor door, leading from the stairwell was locked, there was no evidence of any tampering at that door. We responded down to the sixth, the sixth floor, the door leading from the stairwell had been taped in the same manner. At that time I responded to around the corner of the stairwell and yelled for Officer Barrett to meet us down there, we had .... Mr. DASH. When you use the term responded, sergeant you mean you went in. You entered. Sergeant LEEPER. Well, I walked around about half way up to the seventh floor and asked for, yelled for Barrett. I said we have another door taped down here, respond down here, come down here to assist us. At that time, the three of us went into the sixth floor of the Watergate Complex, which is the National Democratic Committee, we came in through here. (MCU Leper pointing to diagram with pointer) We begin a check of the offices that were open, some were open, some were closed. When we got into this area, we responded down to this door ...
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Mr. DASH. Officer, excuse me when you went in, how, what was the, was it dark, was it lit, was there any lights on? Sergeant LEEPER. There were some lights on sir, yes sir. And as we would check each room, we would flip the light switch on. Mr. DASH. So you were flipping lights on? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, on and off. This door here was locked tight, we came back up this hallway and begin a search of these floors here. Myself and Officer Shoffler went into this room because this door here was propped open with a chair which would you know, led us to believe we might have surprised somebody and then they ran on to the balcony. We went out on the balcony and begin a search of the terrace ... Mr. DASH. Is that, now you're referring to the time you testified earlier, going out onto the balcony. Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. That's the balcony you're referred to in the earlier ..... Sergeant LEEPER. That puts us right across from the Howard Motor lodge, yes sir. Mr. DASH. What is anything did you see when you went out on that terrace? Sergeant LEEPER. We searched the terrace with negative results, but as we were coming back in, Officer Shoffler said to me, he said "Do you think that man", something to the fact, he said "that man across the street that sees us", because at the time, we had ... Mr. DASH. When you say across the street, did he mean on the pavement? Sergeant LEEPER. No, at the Howard Johnson. On one of the balconies of the Howard Johnson. Mr. DASH. Was it at a level, sort of parallel to the terrace that you were on? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir. And Officer Shoffler had his weapon out at the time, and he called to my attention, he says "That man across the street is watching us, I wonder if he'll call the police." Senator Howard BAKER (R-Tennessee). Now, just one second. I don't mean to unduly interrupt council, but just so that I can keep the continuity in my mind, that man across the street was in the Howard Johnson s? Sergeant LEEPER. That's affirmative sir. Senator BAKER. Where? Sergeant LEEPER. He was out on the balcony. I didn't actually see him senator, he was just called to my attention by Officer Shoffler. Senator BAKER. Do you know if he was watching you? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir. Senator BAKER. How long did he watch you? Sergeant LEEPER. I don't know sir, I didn't even look over, I just .... Senator BAKER. You had your guns out? Sergeant LEEPER. I did not have my gun out, but Officer Shoffler had his weapon out at the time. Senator BAKER. And you were on the floor of the DNC, the Democratic National Committee? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir. Senator BAKER. The balcony outside it. Sergeant LEEPER. Well it's referred to as the terrace here sir. (CU Exhibit - Terrace floor plan) Senator BAKER. Who was that fella? Sergeant LEEPER. It was later found to be James Baldwin. Senator BAKER. You know about how long Baldwin watched you? Sergeant LEEPER. I think from the time we pulled up in the front he said in court sir. Senator BAKER. Thank you.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Mr. DASH. Then what did you do after, did you leave the terrace at that time? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, (CU floor plan) we responded back in the area of the hallway and we met up again with Officer Barrett down to this area checking the offices that were open as we came down the hallway. We came into this room here, through a glass door, Officer Barrett was the first man through, followed by myself and Officer Shoffler. Officer Barrett responded up into this area here and I started into this little secretarial cubicle here. Officer Shoffler was somewhere in this area, and at this point I heard Officer Barrett yell "Hold It, come out!". Mr. DASH. Where was that voice coming from? Sergeant LEEPER. Officer Barrett, sir? Mr. DASH. Yes, where was that voice coming from? Sergeant LEEPER. Right in this area here sir, Officer Barrett was right in this area. At this time, I responded back out of the cubicle in through this cubicle, jumped up on a desk, drawing my weapon, and when I looked over this glass partition there was five men standing in front of a desk with their hands either raised above their heads, or at least shoulder high, wearing blue surgical gloves. Mr. DASH. And what, if anything did you see them doing or at least at the time, because their hands were up when you had your guns out at them? Sergeant LEEPER. Some of the gentlemen sir had tried to remove the gloves by using a you know taking both one hand and trying to pull it off with the other. Mr. DASH. Did you notice any kind of equipment or paraphernalia in and around where you found the men? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, one of the men had, was carrying an AWOL bag, an overnight bag, a semi large brown bag with his coat draped over it and it contained various items, cameras, bulbs, clamps for clamping the cameras to the desks, walkie talkies, things of that sort.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Mr. DASH. Just going down towards the corner there, (Mr. Dash pointing finger) from that room where you apprehended the men, the corner towards the bottom right, right corner, go all the way down to the large office in the corner there. Sergeant LEEPER. Right in here sir? (CU sixth floor plan) Mr. DASH. No the large office in the very corner, the very edge, yes, who's office is that? Sergeant LEEPER. That's the office of the Chairman at that time of the Democratic Party was Lawrence F. O'Brien. Mr. DASH. And was there entrance to that office from or access to it from where you found the men you apprehended? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, as you can see by the chart sir, you have access to that office. Mr. DASH. And next to that office, to the left, who's office was that? Sergeant LEEPER. That's the Deputy Chairman sir, Stanley L. Gregg. Mr. DASH. Now, did you at that point what did you do with the men who you apprehended at that point? Sergeant LEEPER. We ordered them out from behind the desk and lined them up along the wall here facing the wall, hands on the wall, feet spread apart, and at that time I informed them who we were, they were under arrest for burglary and advised them of their rights. And at that, and then I directed Officer Barrett to begin a systematic search of each man... Mr. DASH. Did you notice, if anything unusual about these men and when you arrested them? The way they were dressed or .... Sergeant LEEPER. They were well dressed sir, either in suits, sport coats and ties. Mr. DASH. Now, do you know the names of those people, did they give their names at that time to you? Sergeant LEEPER. At that time, no sir. Mr. DASH. Did they give any names to you? Sergeant LEEPER. Later in the, when they were booked in the precinct, second district headquarters 2301 L street, they gave us names which later proved to be false names, alias. Mr. DASH. Did you later find out who they were? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. Could you name the persons who you arrested in that location, by the names that you later found out who they were to be. Sergeant LEEPER. Frank Sturgis, Bernard L. Barker, James McCord, Eugenio Martinez, Virgilio Gonzalez. Mr. DASH. Now, did you accompany them down to the station house? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, we sent three of them down in a patrol wagon. One was transported, I think Mr. McCord was transported in an 83 scout and I transported Mr. Barker in the unmarked cruiser.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
Mr. DASH. Now at a later time did you come back and make any search of any room in the Watergate complex? Sergeant LEEPER. I came back to the Watergate complex, but the search was made by our mobile crime unit. They from the time we could get in touch with them, they handled all the searching of the rooms and all the fingerprinting and processing .... Mr. DASH. What rooms were searched? Sergeant LEEPER. Well, mobile crime did a search of the whole sixth floor complex, the conference room, all these rooms along here, are you referring to .... Mr. DASH. Were there any other rooms in the hotel or any other place in the complex that was also searched? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, we obtained search warrants at about 2:30 in the afternoon, that would be Saturday afternoon on June the 17th, and went into rooms 214 and 314 of the Watergate Hotel. Mr. DASH. What led you to get such search warrants? Sergeant LEEPER. Well, we checked the guest register to see who was registered at the Watergate and I think they also checked the Howard Johnson across the street, and some of the fictitious names these gentleman had used were on the registers of the Watergate Hotel. Mr. DASH. Could you state briefly what if anything was found in that search of the hotel room? Sergeant LEEPER. More electrical equipment, more blue surgical gloves, about forty two hundred dollars in one hundred dollar bills all in sequence, all brand new 100 dollar bills, some electronical equipment, things of that sort. Mr. DASH. Sergeant, could you shed any light, were you present or did you have any knowledge of any check that was found on any one of these defendants or any notebooks that had the name E. Howard Hunt on it? Sergeant LEEPER. I was on the search team that went into room 214 of the Watergate Hotel, it was myself and detective Robert Arnell from our department, Carl Shoffler and an agent from the Washington field office of the FBI. And also one of the men from mobile crime, Don Cherry (sp?) assisted us. And at that time it was called to my attention that they did find a book with the name ..... Mr. DASH. Found what sir? Sergeant LEEPER. A small notebook as you describe, with the name that you have brought out in it. Mr. DASH. The name E. Howard Hunt, is that the name? Sergeant LEEPER. I believe it said E. Hunt WH on it sir. Mr. DASH. Are you aware of the finding on any of the persons of the defendants or anywhere in the room, any check that was signed by Mr. Hunt? Sergeant LEEPER. No sir not to my knowledge.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 17, 1973 - Testimony of Sergeant Paul Leeper
23.53 Mr. DASH. Did you do anything else that evening or that morning or the following day with regard to these defendants? Sergeant LEEPER. Well, I was at the second district headquarters when we attempted to process these men for court, and I didn't do actually any of the paperwork, we were assisted by some detectives, and Officer Barrett stayed on the scene at the Watergate, he was trying to get in touch with somebody from the Democratic National Committee and later Mr. Stanley (sp?) came down and he was brought to the station by Officer Barrett at which time he was shown the five defendants to see if they had any right to be in the building, to be in that area of the sixth floor at which time he stated they did not. Mr. DASH. Now, at the time of the arrest, did you know whether any of those persons apprehended were employed or any relationship with the Committee for the Re-Election of the President? Sergeant LEEPER. No sir. Mr. DASH. Did you learn at anytime that any of them did? Sergeant LEEPER. Well, after it hit the wire services and the press started picking it up, yes sir. Mr. DASH. You learned it from the press? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir. Mr. DASH. I have no further questions sergeant. (Senator Ervin whispering into Mr. Dash's ear) Mr. DASH. Did you find any money on any of the individuals that were apprehended? Sergeant LEEPER. Yes sir, we found quite a bit of money, well not quite a bit, I would say about thirty six hundred dollars all in one hundred dollar bills, all in the same sequence. Mr. DASH. Was it thirty six hundred dollars? Sergeant LEEPER. I could give you a you know a close estimate if I could refer to my files. Mr. DASH. Alright, could you leave the chart now and go back to the table.