The Washington times., 1911-05-05
TO CONE
IN POLICE CIRCLES,
SAYS LEGISLATORS
Sylvester Declares Third De-
gree Committee Has No
Jurisdiction.

Declaring that the Senate third degree
committee has no authority to investi-
gate the action taken by the police trial
board In recommending the discharge of
Patrolman J. F. Watts. Major Richard
Sylvester this afternoon vigorously pro-
tested against a probe of the Metro
politan Police Department by that COM
mittes.
''The Watts affair does not come with
in the jurisdiction given the committee
by the Senate resolution creating it."
he said. Furthermore, my department
is being made the butt Of all the inves-
legations.
How many police departments out
side of Washington have been investi-
gated Dv the Senate Committee 2" asked
the chief of Louis j. Carmody. secretary
of the committee. Mre Carmody had
called upon Major Sylvester to get a
copy Of the charges filed against Watts
by Capt. Robert E. Doyle. Major Syl-
vester said the charges were in the
hands of the District Commissioners,
and could not be secured until they
had either approved or disapproved the
recomendation that Watts be dismissed
from the servise.
He branded the action of the commit
toe In considering the charges against
the police department before the COM
misstoners had disposed of Watts case
as an attempt to intimidate the tribunal.
At meeting Of the committee this
afternoon the members win determine
WHETHER they have the right to probe
the Washington Police Department to
the bottom. The fact that such a step
Is being considered has greatly aroused
Sylvester.
1t was quite apparent this morning
that the Senate committee would as
sumo an attitude directly opposite to
that taken by the police chief. for
bers, stated that the matter was plain
ly within the Jurisdiction Of the. COM
nittee. AS Mr.. Watts is from his own
district in North Carolina he is es-
pecially interested in his case Repre-
sentative Doughton, who went over
the features of the Watts case with
Mr.. Watts and Mr.. O'Brien last night,
gave assurance that he will do every
thing in his power to bring about
complete shake-up. Mr. Doughton is
the Congressman from the district in
which Mr.. Watts holds his residence,
and consequently is close to Senator
Oyerman.
Senator Frank Brandegee. chairman
ceived the charge filed by Mr.. OBriep
this morning and then discussed the
features with Mr.. O'Brien. He gave
assurance that they would be placed be-
fore the committee this afternoon.
According to the charges, Private
Watts appeared as a witness for Mr.
Dolby at two trials. The. verdict of
the jury on both occasions was set
aside. Shortly before Dolby was to
appear for this third trial, which 1t was
presumed would result in Watts being
called to his defense again. Watts was
charged by Capt. Robert E. Doyle with
appearing in a condition unfit for duty.
Watts admitted that his shoe was slit
a fraction Of an inch because he had
sore toe, which the police surgeon was
treating, end that he was guilty of hav-
ing one button off his sleeve. Because
of this, so Mr.. O'Brien claims, his dis
charge has been recommended.
To substantiate his assertion that
this recommendation Is discrimina-
ton, Mr.. O'Brien says: This recon-
rnendation OF the trial board, even II
every claim made by his superior had
been proven, would be ridiculous in
view of the manner in which other
officers confessedly guilty have been
treated by this same board. officers
who hav ebeen found drunk have been
fined. Officers who have admitted
their guilt on charges of being arrest
ed in gambling houses have been fined
and officers charges with even more
serious derelictions to which they
pleaded guilty have been simply rep
rimanded."