The Washington times., 1913-04-13
CONDUCT OF CROSS
WARRANTED PROBE"
District Attorney Wilson Tells
View of Handbook Case
Against Inspector.

That the relations of Police Inspector
Francis z. Cross with certain alleged
bookmakers in June 1911. the time
agents of the Department of Justice
made a number of arrests of men
charged with making book on the
races, were not OF such a character as
TO justify criminal procedure of any
kind, but that the facts did warrant an
official investigation of Cross conduct
as a high police official, was the state
ment of United States Attorney Clar-
ence R. Wilson before the police trial
board yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Wilson and Edwin B. Spear, for
twenty years a Western Union tele-
graph operator at the Metropolitan Ho-
tel. were the principal witnesses.
The District Attorney told Of con-
Sylvester, Superintendent Of Police. and
Gen. John A. Johnston. Commissioner,
who has general supervision or the 70,
lice Department, in the Willard Hotel
few days after the arrests by agents
Of the Department OF Justice.
Justified an Inquiry.
"I gave them facts which l believed
justified an inquiry to Cross conduct
as a high official Of the Police De-
partment," said Mr.. Wilson L did
not believe the facts warranted GRIM
inaI action. as it is well known that q
very strong case must be had to con-
vict a man before a jury OF violating
the gambling laws in connection with
playing the races"
In reply to a question by Chairman
Marshall, of the trial board, Mr.. VIII
son said that even had Cross not been
a police officer. he did not believe he
would have prosecuted him on the eV-
idence which his Office had.
The Commissioners and Major Syl-
vester conducted a private lnvesuga-
ton of Cross conduct at the time, and,
II was reported, the officer was rep
rimanded, but no public action of any
kind was taken Officials of the Police
Department assert that they have been
trying for nearly two years to get the
case before the trial board, but that the
delay was due 10 the alleged reluctance
of agents of the Department of JUS
tice, who were said to have material
evidence bearing on the case, to TESTIFY.
Spear Tells Story.
Spear, the telegraph operator who was
arrested in June. 1911, said that he was
Introduced to Inspector Cross by a
tout who brought the officer to the
telegraph office at the Metropolitan
Hotel and said that Cross was to see
the contents of any messages he might
file there, but was not 10 know the
names of the persons to whom they
were addressed. The messages were in
code and Spear said he could not trans
late them. Cross, he testified, called
perhaps twenty-five times and saw the
messages.
Witness then told how Clyde B. Am
brose and Kirt W. Debelle, agents OF
the Department of Justice, arranged
with him for the placing of a bet with
who were known to Spear at that time
under assumed names, said they had
good thing coming before long ard
that they wanted to know some re-
liable bookmaker, whom they could
be sure would pay them IL they won.
Spear said he communicated this in
formation to Cross, who told him TO
take the bets and he (Crossl would see
they were placed with reliable book
makers. A few days later Debelle gave
him $50 and wrote the name of horse
on a slip of paper. Spear said he put
these in an envelope. Debelle told him
the good thing was coming OF that
day. .
Witness asserted that he communi-
Gated this information to Inspector
Cross, who was in front OF the hotel
and showed him the envelope contain
ing the 500 and the name of the horse,
after he had written "Cullinane' on
II. Ten minutes later, he asserted. Cul-
hnane called and got the bet.
The. next thing that happened" said
Spear twas when some one CAME up
and asked me my initials and then l
was told was under arrest