The Washington times., 1919-03-25
HUNT
IS Fooled BY
SEARCH LAW
Captain Hartley Unable to
Search Suspected Blockade
Running Auto.

Captain James Hartley. In command
or the Ninth police precinct, and one
Of the best known police officials In
Washington. today knows what a very
difficult problem faces the washing
ton policeman who tries to prevent
whiskey being whiskcd over the Dfa
trlct lire from Maryland into the Ma
tiOnal Capital
Hartley had an experience vester-
day that convinced him the WaahInr.
ton policeman Is up against n" ana
eetore he got out Of the tangle into
Which he was enmeshed A report
reached police headquarters that he
had been kidnapped and the entire
police department was thrown into
excitement.
Hartley saw an auto roll across the
District line into Washington, Oecn-
pled oy Policeman Robert L. Garrison.
detailed at the White House: Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Davis. OF 1909 II strsSt
northeastr Samuel Shuey and a young
woman.
Couldn't Search Car.
Hartley stopped the auto, stepped
on the running board. Questioning thu
oecpants and plainly showing that be
suspected them OF bringing in whis-
Key He could not search the car
Nelther could he arrest the occupants.
II ne was going to find out whether
mere was Whiskey in the auto, he had
to be sharp OF wit.
But the driver OF the car knew inst
what Hartley could do and could not
DO under the law. The told him thav
would drive to a rOadhouse. where
they had spent the day, and sur-
gested he ask the proprietor II they
had bought booze to bring back into
the District.
Before Hartley realized what was
Up, Davis turned about and. with
Hartley IN the machine, drove hack
over the District line In Maryland.
Hartley had no authority as a police
official As the machine sped along
Hartley made no attempt to stay the
course OF the automobile by the dis
play OF his revolver.
Went After, GasOIens.
Reaching the. roadhouse, Hartley
got out OF the automobile to question
the proprietor. Davis then drove the
car down the road ito get gasoIsns.s
be said. When he returned. Hartley.
ulsgusted, made no further ATTEMPT to
search the machine. He returned TO
Washington in a passing automobile.
while Hartley was being driven 70
the roadhOuse, Capt. Thomas Judge.
OF the Tenth precinct. telephoned Po-
lice Headquarters he believed Hartley
was being kidnapped. He. then fol-
lowed the "abductOrs'' in another
automobile, but could not find them.
Detective Sergts. Edward Kelly.
\. B. Scrivener, and Thomas Sweeney
encountered Garrison and his friends
e n~N
rerS. They were questioned. as was
Captain Hartley, by Major Pullman.
but were released. as no evidence Wa
found that booze was in the car.
Garrison TransGerred.
Today, Garrison is not on duty az
the White House. He was trans
ferred last night to the Fourth pO-
lice precinct.
Captain Hartley denies he was kid
naped, declaring he ordered the
chauffeur TO drive to the Ninth pre-
cinct. Davis, he said, insisted that
he go back to the roadhOuse. There
was nothing else for him to do, he
says, as he thought he would have
an opportunity to search the machine.
Garrison says he was of duty. and
made the trip with Davis and the
other members Of the party Just for
an outing" He said he only had .
few glasses Of beer, and denied booze
was being brought in the automobile
to the District.
Major Pullman pointed out Hart
ley's experience in showing the neess-
sity. for the enactment of some law
which will give policemen the legal
right to search automobiles suspected
Of running the 'whiskey blockade"
into the District.
III Captain Hartley believed he
was being kidnapped he could have
used his pistol" said Major Pullman.