The Washington times., 1922-10-01
BOARD STRIKES
OUTPORT|ONOF
ALLEGATIONS IN
5-HOUR SESSION

Business Men, Senators, Con-
gressmen, and Others Testify
In His Behalf.
Who initiated the investigation
Of Sergeant J. Willard Greene.
of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment; had him shadowed for one
week and finally hailed him before
the police trial board on charges.
In a five-hour session yesterday
the trial board presided over by
Assistant Corporation Counsel
William A. Wahly, a dozen promi-
nent Washington business men and
five high officers of the Police
Department testified as to the high
character of the sergeant, while
affidavits made by ten members
of Congress were filed by counsel
TO show the high esteem in which
the officer is held at the Capitol.
Sergeant Greene is confident
that the trial board will find
verdict of not guilty and rs soon
as a final disposition of the case
has been had he declared he
would "go to the bottom" Of the
matter and find out who has been
"after him."
The Specific Charges.
The three specific charges against
Greene were:
That he neglected his duty by leav-
ing his precinct while on duty:
That he violated a recent order Of
the department forbidding privates
and sergeants from using their own
automobiles in going to and from
work and in partoling their beats;
That he made an untruthful state.
ment to a superior officer.
In brief. Sergeant Greene was
charged with leaving his beat on
September 6 and entering an alley
in the rear of 14i6 NJ street north.
west It was established to the sat-
isfaction OF the Trial Board that
Sergeant Greene went into the alley
to see witnesses in connection with
q colliding case which was called in
court for the following day.
Allegations Whitfield Down.
The board, on motion of counsel.
struck out of the charges the speci-
flcation that Sergeant Greene walked
across Fifteenth street, dividing line
Of his precinct, kissed his daughter
and talked eight minutes with his
wife.
The board also struck out the speci-
fication that Sergeant Greene, with.
In his own precinct, spent sixteen
minutes in conversation with his
wife and little daughter.
That specification setting up that
he left his baton in his car when he
entered the American Security and
Trust Company to inquire about a
valuable pin lost by his wife, was
also struck out.
In combating the charge that he
rode In his own automobile while on
duty, witnesses testified that Ser
geant Greene rode three blocks on
the running board of his car when
his wife chanced to drive through
the precinct.
The charge that Sergeant Greene
spoke an untruth when he told
Lieuts. w. G.. Scott, w. Emerson
and w. +. Holmes that he went into
the bank to inquire about his wife's
lost diamond pin was refuted with
several witnesses.
Charles K. Howe, treasurer Of the
American Security and Trust Com
pany, and John L. Fuggitt, assistan mt
treasurer, both confirmed the
sergeant's statement.
A. b. Dickinson, bond salesman
for Redmond & Co., testified
that he picked up a diamond pin on
q IL H.
OF the trust company and carried il
home, not thinking It had any great
value.
Some days later, Dickinson said,
he saw a story in the newspapers to
the effect that charges had been
preferred against Sergeant Greene
and that a diamond pin WAS In.
volved.
Dickinson Immediately took the
pin TO the trust company, Mrs.
Greene was summoned and the pin
was identified. Mrs. Greene gave
him a check for $50 as a reward,
Dickson said.
Denounce Police Order.
Counsel for Sergeant Greene flay.
ed the police department for pro.
mitigating the order of June 13 last
forbidding privates and scrgeants
from going to and from work in
their own automobiles. He said
that the order was not issued in
seriousness. nor is II obeyed Sc.
riously.
When Capt. G. +. L. Flather, in
command of the Third precinct, to
which Serg Iant Greene Is attached,
was told that Sergeant Greene was
patroling his beat in an automo.
bile. he made investigation. He
testified before the trial board that
he could find nothing to substan.
tiate the charge.
Three night inspectors. Emerson,
Stott and Holmes were put on Ser.
geant Greene's trial. After
weeks shadowing OF the sergeant
they made report and charges were
filed.
Sergeant Greene declared yesterday
that "the whole thing is frame.
up" Certain anonymous letters,
Sergeant Greene claims, were sent
10 high police officials and on these