Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-20
UNDER INVESTIGATION
CHARGES MADE WHICH AFFECT
PoLIcEMAN,s INTEGRITY.
Revival Of Interest In Recent Dis
closures Regarding Crap Game
in Georgetown.

Another chapter in the GEORGETOWN police
investigation was begun at police head
quarters yesterday afternoon. when 1t was
learned that Policeman George Hilton had
been principal Ia a transaction regarding
the pawning Of a diamond. At the limo
the trouble in Georgetown was aired it
was stated that diamond pin belonging
to Policeman Lalager had been taken and
that Policeman Honman's diamond ring
had disappeared from his locker. The dis
appearance Of the two articles of Jewelry.
1t was claimed, happened about the time
some OF the policemen were alleged to have
engaged In a. crap game The pin was
found stuck in the band of Uosfu,aits hat.
as stated at The Star at the time, and was
put there during the absence Of Inc owner
of the hat Nothing was heard OF the
whereabouts Of the ring at hat time, but
1t Is now claimed by Hoffman that dia-
mond and mounting that were disposed Of
by Hilton belonged to him. Hoffman and
Lalager lost their positions on the force
because of their alleged par .ic2ation IL
the crap game, and the case of Policeman
Guy Walsh, who was tried i'll connection
with the same game. is pending in court.
.,a44 Hilten Asked to Explain.
The pawning of the unset diamond and
subsequent sale of the ticket and mounting
partment yesterday when Kittens name
appeared upon the report of a secondhand
dealer as having made a sale. Detective
Charles A., Evans found the entry on the
report Of a South Washington dealer and
gave the information to Capt. Boardman.
MAJ. Sylvester was informed Of the matter
and Detectives Cornwell and Muller were
detailed to take UP the investigation Of the
case where they had left off at the time the
crap game was under investigation. BY
hooking back over the records 1t was found
that Hilten had pawned the unset stone
about February 1. At this year, for $50 and
had sold the pawn ticket and mounting
last Saturday to the South Washington
dealer.
Early this morning Mai. Sylvester had
Policeman Hilten to come to headquarters
and interviewed him about the ring and dia-
mond. Capt. Boardman also saw him. He
made no attempt to conceal his part in the
transaction and said he had bought the
ring and diamond One, he stated, he
bought about two years ago and the other
he bought later. The policeman said he
could not tell the name of the man from
whom he purchased the diamond, but
thought he was named Wells. Capt. Board
man asked him to find Wells. and he said
he would make the effort.
Expresses Surprise.
It was for the purpose Of finding Wells
that the police officer went away from po-
lice headquarters this morning after the
several conferences had been held. Hilton
was surprised when he learned that he had
been suspected Of improper dealings In con-
nection with the diamond and ring. He
declared that he had the outfit many
months before there was any claim that
Hoffman had been robbed, and recalled that
he had made no effort to deceive anybody
in disposing Of the valuables. Had there
been anything wrong connected with the
transaction. ne reasoned. he would never
have gone to dealers and acted as he did.
Former Policeman Hoffman was also at
police headquarters this morning in connec-
ton with the affair, and the dealer from
whom he purchased the diamond was also
consulted. The latter could not identify the
stone as the one he sold to Hoffman. but
did say it was of the same weight and
same general description. Hoffman de-
clared that the ring was the one he had
lest. although 1t had been battered and
part of 1t had apparently been cut out.
There was some carving in the band. he
claimed such as Is seldom seen in solitaire
diamond rings. This afternoon at head
quarters 1t was said the detectives and
Hilton were still looking fer the man Wells
and the stranger who made the sales to
him.