Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-29
WEAK CASES BROUGHT
BY PARK POLICEMEN
Several Are Thrown Out of Court
When Compliments Are Unable
to Present Evidence.

Recently much time OF the United
States branch Of Police Court has been
consumed in the hearing of cases in
which members of the United States
park police force have been the COM
plainants. Out Of four cases brought
to this court during the past few days
by members of this branch of the po-
lice service only one was convicted,
and in that case small fine was i'm
posed.
Last week case was brought by
member of the park police force
carrying concealed weapons The ar
resting officer testified that when the
man was arrested and searched by
him the prisoner did not have wea-
when the same prisoner was searched
short time thereafter in the police
station no weapon WAS found on him.
Yet the officer made charge against
the man. Judge Mcmahon too occa-
sion tc severely reprimand the officer
for bringing any information in court
when there was no evidence to sup
port 1t.
Again yesterday afternoon two cases
brought by members of the United
States police park force were dismiss
ed for want of evidence to prove the
charges. The first was that OF Capt.
Edw ard G. Chamberlain of the United
States Marine Corps. who was arrest rest.
Paul Jones monument in Potomac
park, by three park policemen charged
with assault and carrying concealed
weapons The assault case was DIS
dismissed yesterday afternoon.
The evidence showed that Capt.
Chamberlain, in company with ms
fancee, had gone to the park. and
taking a seat near the Monument
they were talking when the young
woman discovered one of the park
policemen crawling through the
shrubbery back of her. She told
Capt Chamberlain. who promptly
pulled his automatic and intercepted
the prowier. showing the pistoi, IN tne
| him and his two companions to
throw up their hands.
When he learned that the three
men were park policemen he went TO
the police station with them. Ihe
charge against him or hold him
Capt. Chamberlain volunteered to ap-
pear in court. which he did. His de-
| tense was, as to the carrying OF the
| pistol. that as member OF the Ma
rine Corps he was carrying it under
service to hold themselves in readi'
ness. on or off duty, to respond te
emergency duty in connection with
| the race riots. then on. He was on
| duty at the time but armed. he said
| according to orders. The pistol.
German automatic captured in the
trenches, WAS worn in a regulation
holster. The park policeman making
the complaint was Thomas B. Osborn
Judge Mcmahon dismissed the case.
! William Walker and Frank Co2zans
temployed in the New National Mu.
scum and residing near Iowa
Circle. went to that public park Sun
day night to get the air. They were
arrested by Park Policemen Adam
Hook and James M. Fry on a charge
of violating the park regulations ant
destroying government property. TIT
officers failed to make any showint
as to the guilt of Cozzans and hi
case was thrown out of court. II
| Walkers case the officer charged tina
he had "bent a wire wicket valued a
Is CENTS" Judge Mcmahon. dismiss
ing the case. showed in his manne
that he was anything but pleaset
with the efforts Of the park polio
to make cases and to convict people
taking up time of the court whel
there are no grounds for prosecution
|