Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-06
U. S. Attorney Laskey, His AS
sistant and Maj. Pullman
Confer for Several Hours.
MRS. STOUT'S ASSERTIONS
ARE BEING INVESTIGATED
No Policemen Formally Questioned
as Yet-Nature of Witnesses
Testimony Is Not Learned.

today regarding the charges OF
grating lodged against certain
members of the police department
The conference was participated
in by Mr.. Laskey, who returned
this morning from a two-day trip
to New York; his assistant, S.
McComas Hawken, and Maj.
Pullman, superintendent Of police.
Just what transpired at the confer
ence could not be learned. 1t was
stated, however, that the charges were
gone over carefully. Later Maj. Pull
man said the investigation by the
United States attorney Is progressing.
He said no formal investigation of the
matter has as yet been begun by the
police department.. The officials of the
department and the District Commits
sioners are awaiting the outcome of
| the investigation by the District at
torney. which they believe will bring
out all the facts.
| Maj. Pullman also said no member of
| the department had been formally
questioned regarding the matter.
Nature Of Testimony Withheld.
Whether any testimony had been de-
veloped as to graft, except that given
| by Mrs. Margaret Stout, could not be
/ learned. 1t was said at the Office of
| the United States attorney that num-
| Der of witnesses had been summoned
and had given testimony, but moth
| ing would be revealed as to the ma
| ture Of the testimony.
l 1o nd n
two years at OccoQuan on a charge OF
conducting a dtsorderly house. and who
| made the charges of graft after she
| had been surrendered in court Monday
by her bondsmen, who feared, 1t Is de-
| clared. that she was about to leave
the city, pending an appeal OF her case
| to the Court of Appeals, was at the
United States attorneys office late yes
| terday afternoon and again this morn =
ing. Mrs. Stout remained only for a
/ short time on each occasion.
| Wants Quick Action.
Maj Raymond W. Pullman is ex-
treme1y anxious to have the charges of
graft disposed of as speedily as pos
sible An early disposition of the
charges he thinks is due the men af-
fected. the entire department and the
community, and members Of the force
not involved in the accusations agree
with him.
"As we pass along the streets in the
performance of duties" said police
man to a Star reporter this morning.
| people point an accusing finger and
tSo TonSsr If he's Stone Of
posed of. he added. a different con-
dition will prevail and people not in
volved will not be stared at and talked
| about as If they were grafters.
Discussing the investig igation with a
| Star reporter this morning, Maj. Pull
man said the investigation is in the
hands of the district attorneys office.
equipped to conduct the investigation
than is the police department. The po-
lice department. has no lawyer con-
nected with it, he stated, and certainly
| the trial board could not be expected to
bring out what Mr.. Laskey and Mr..
Hawken are obtaining.
| While his idea this morning was
that the cases should first be heard by
the grand jury, If sufficient evidence
| to take them before that body Is OBJ
tained, he said he might have trial
| board charges made out at any time
Just what Maj. Pullman Is doing in
would not say, but it is stated that
he already has started quiet investi-
cation to ascertain If certain state
ments made against his men can be
corroborated.
Defers Police Inquiry.
I am keeping in close touch with
the United States attorneys Office" he
said, "and am cooperating with Mr.,
Hawken, who is conducting the in
vestigation. The Commissioners have
authorized me to hold hearing for
any men involved in the charges made
by Margaret Stout last Monday. After
a conference with Mr.. Hawken the de-
cision was reached to defer for the
present any Independent Investigation
by the police department.
There is no desire whatever tc
duplicate the investigative work being
done by the United States district at
torney's ONCE, and the evidence which
now Is being developed by Mr.. Haw-
ken makes 1t appear that whatever
action Is necessary can be taken with
out an independent investigation by
the police department of the Margaret
Stout charges
IF any one else has any information
| whatever bearing on other graft Of
any kind. this information should be
brought either to me or to the United
! States district attorney, and will bt
Investigated Immediately by the proper
/ office"
Maj Pullman said he agreed with Mr
Hawken that the disclosures do not
show any wholesale graft to have been
taken by the police Only petty graf
l ment.
Mrs. Stout's Story.
Mrs Stout. without any hope Of re.
ward. told her story. said Maj. Pullman
and her statement demanded that ar
investigation be made. She had done
everything she could to shield Klein
dienst, and when the end came she
probably felt that she had been thrown
overheard. Her statements were made
to Mr. Hawken. who was summoned BY
Chief Justice Covington to hear what
she had to say.
"Mr. Hawken has made excellent
progress in the investigation" Maj
Pullman said. He wants to learn al
} and 1 want to learn all Thus far only
petty graft has been mentioned and Il
was confined to few"
What number Of officers has beer
mentionedT' Maj. Pullman was ask
Star reporter suggesting a rumor tina
nve names had been given by Mrs
Stout.
ITO be frank" responded Maj. Pull
man, II haven't counted them"
The chief of police said he was anx
ious to learn If there were any othe
persons alleged to have accepted "husl
money" If any members OF the fore