The Washington times., 1921-11-14

EXPECTED
To RETIRE
Police Chief Breaks Down Un-
der Hostile Fire-Commis-
sioners May Force Action.

Major Harry L. Gessford, super
intendent of Washington's police de-
partment, is at his home, due to a
breakdown brought on, it is said, by
the strain he has been subjected to
for the past few days. He went home
Saturday night and has not been to
his office since
Urged to Resign Office.
Major Gessford has been In I'll health
for soma time, and his friends tried
to prevail ON him to resign.se lie re-
fused to resign. however. wl,sAe his sd-
Hrlinistration was under fire. q.
1t II believed that as . result Of
jammed traffic conditions incident to
the burial of the unknown soldier Fri.
day. which has brought to q head the
bad conditions In the police depart
ment, the Commissioners will compel
Major Gessford to retire.
Shortly before the administra ton OF
Major Gessford came under fire, II II
said that he was ready to resign, and
was trying to get the maximum pen
sion allowed under the law-s2 ,225 a
year. The Commissioners were ready
to give him the maximum, but then
his administration began to get into
complications and he refused to retire.
One Of the Commissioners today
said that Major GessfOrd had missed
his opportunity TO retire gracefully,
and Il Is now believed, that ID will
take q great deal Of pressure on the
part Of Major GessfOrd's friends to
bave him retired on the suitable con-
ditiOns which he first asked for.
Oyster Conducting Probe.
Commissioner Oyster today In con-
Quoting rigid investigation into the
conditions that brought about .he
traffic jam at the highway bridge on
Friday
He had several conferences with
Inspector Daniel Sullivan, acting
superintendent of police, but nothing
was made public.
It is understood that Capt. Albert
J. Hadley, head OF the traffic bureau
has made a report to Commissioner
Oyster giving his version of the jam.
Captain Headley said that the report
would have to come from his superior
officers, as he could not give out
anything on IL.
The Commissioners are not satisfied
with the report submitted by Major
Gessfordy II was learned today. and
are inclined to attach some blame for
the arrangements to the local police.
II was brought out today that there
are eleven approaches to the Highway
bridge and that Major Gessford onlv
detailed two footmen and one bicycle
policeman to direct the traffic. When
the jam became apparent, the police.
men stationed there sent in a call for
help and assistance was sent them,
but 1t was too late to enable a ma.
tority of the motorists to reach the
ceremonies in Arlington.
Commissioner Oyster yesterday
made a personal survey OF the condi-
tions and approaches to the bridge,
30 as to be in better position to un.
derstand the excuses made by the 20
lice head for the failure of the force
to function at that particular point on
Friday.
That the police have learned a les
son from Fridays jam was apparent
Saturday and yesterday when po-
licemen were directing traffic at
points where they have never ap-
peared before. At the football game
at Fourteenth and Fl streets north.
east yesterday afternoon, five police
men wero directing traffic at one
time, on account OF n large crowd
that was attending the game. There
In usually only one policeman d.
recting traffic there.
H. q. wELJs' OUTLINE OF HISTORY