Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-10
TWO INDICTMENTS
THURSDAY LIKELY
Four Policemen, All Told, May
Be Held by Grand Jury in
Graft Inquiry.
SWEEPING INVESTIGATION
BY COMMITTEE PLANNED
District Attorney Grants Immunity
to Two Men for Testimony
as U. S. Witnesses.

Indictments against two and
possibly four policemen involved
in the police graft inquiry prob
ably will be returned by the grand
jury Thursday. Meantime, Maj.
Raymond Pullman, superintend-
ent of police, is in receipt of in
formation involving one more
member of his force; sweeping
inquiry by special committee Of
government and District officials
IS being tentatively planned at the
District building, and immunity
has been granted by the district
attorney to two men who are in
volved neck deep in the graft
cases, but who will be valuable
witnesses for the United States
when the prosecution begins in
court.
The Star learned today that testi-
mony which was given before the
grand jury on which the district at
torneys office pins its faith involves
former Detective Raymond o. Klein
d1enst who already is convicted and
sentenced to a three-year penitentiary
term following a raid on the house
Kept by Mrs. Margaret Stout. Testi-
mony in the case showed that Edward
Bronson, the colored man who was
locked up as a valuable witness Satur-
day night, had been paying for protec-
ton for game or games he had been
running in a house over a barber shop
on Sd street southwest. Thomas Horan,
a bartender from Rafftery's saloon, at
l1th and streets northeast, worked
several times for a saloon kept by T.
d. Welch. at Sd and streets south
west The grand jury was told that
Koran was the collector for Klein
dlenst. Horan was witness before
the grand jury, as well as Bronson,
ana the government officials believe
that what they will have to say in
Statement Is Borne Out.
The statement in The Star of yester-
between" in one of the cases was borne
out by today's disclosures. Talks with
some of the crap shooters found in the
neighborhood of Bronson's former ac-
tlv1ties indicate that Warren Grimes,
the policeman suspended from the
force last Saturday, was frequently in
that neighborhood in plain clothes and
former detective Kleindienst was near
there enough to attract attention and
cause comment.
a man named Cole or Coles, who is
understood to have conducted a place
where gambling was permitted, may be
another valuable witness, it is rumored
in South Washington. He is UNDER
stood to have given up" to the police
on several occasions. His place was
raided at least once and a charge of
gambling placed against him and his
collateral was reduced substantially.
He was arrested again by Policeman
Grimes and charged with disorderly
conduct. He put up $25 collateral, a
stiff sum for the charge. The next
morning he got $40 back.
Although the evidence has been hard
to get, and the whole trail has led the
officials through a novel and exciting
field for Washington, when the evidence
is made public it will be found to cover
graft, but in comparatively petty sums.
A police official who knows, indicated
honor for SO or s5 a week
Tips Sent Anonymously.
Efforts are being made to find men
and women who have given up to the
police, according to the charges which
float in at headquarters, or into the
district attorneys office. In this juris-
diction bribe taking is not an offense.
but bribe giving is one. So far, it has
been found more eXpedient to promise
the bribe giver immunity and get his
story from him. Anonymous letters
are reaching Maj. Pullman, but not IN
any great numbers. He received SIX In
the past two days, and one of them pre-
sents a fairly valuable tip. He SAID,
however, that the letters are useless
unless the writer's are willing to swear
to their information before trial board
or grand jury. ,
A committee will probably be formed.
including representatives of the dis
trict attorneys office, representa-
tives of the police department ana rep
resentatiyeS of the Commissioners. rms
committee may look into all the tips,
hints and suggestions of crookedness
and 'rascality, but Mai. Pullman SAID
very decisively today that there should
be no display of mere anlmoslty ana
that all information would have to be
sworn to- He said that there is at least
one man in the police department who
evidently is filled with spite and is
endeavoring to unload long-standlng
grudge against some one. This sort OF
evidence, he declared. would not be
considered for one minute.
Basis for Prosecutions.
The prosecution which will follow
the indictments will be based on mall
feasance in office or conspiracy. it is
believed. Either charge would be broad
enough to cover the cases.
Mrs. Margaret Stout. on whose word
the entire inquiry started, is not being
held here by the government, and if
she is staying at a hotel, as has been
suggested. it is not at the govern
ment expense. The accusation made
by her that there was jury tampering
in her case and in the case against
kleindienst has not been borne out by
the investigation of United States At
torney John f. Laskey. Investigation
of the general situation is continuing
today.