Evening star., 1923-10-15
Charles H. Packard Is Sew
cred From Service Without
Pay, Officials Announce.
C0UNTER-ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST POLICE READY
Afidavits Containing Charges of
Laxity and Irregularities to
Be Given oyster.

Announcement was made this after
noon by the internal revenue bureau
that Charles II. Packard. a prohibi1
ton agent. was indefinitely suspendet,
without pay. effective last night, ..
connection with the investigation
now under way on charges made bs
Commissioner oyster against thre4
agents.
Packard's suspension is the thir,.
since the investigation began, Agent
Ruby and Fowler having been pre-
vIously suspended withouG pay. PACK
ara was suspended at the same tIne,
although ne was allowed to keep hr,
pay.
1t was also learned this afternoon
that counter charges against the mu-
nicipal police in the enforcement oi
prohibition in the District of Columbia
have been placed before investigators
working on the charges laid by Com
missioner Oyster against three prohibl-
ton agents, and these charges against
the police will be transmitted to Com
missioner Oyster in the form of aft
davits within the next two days. 1t was
indicated. In addition, that the investi-
cation now begun has developed 10
such imposing possibilities it may
string along Indefinitely.
This information was obtained from
an unquestioned source and was CON
firmed by officials in charge of the
investigation at the headquarters OF
the special intelligence unit of the
internal revenue bureau today.
When Commissioner oyster for
warded to Prohibition Commissioner
Haynes charges of laxity and irregu-
larity in enforcing prohibition, men
tioning Prohibition Agents Ruby.
between the federal and the District
officials that in case charges against
police were uncovered they would be
submitted by sworn statements in
writing to Commissioner Oyster for
such action as he might see fit.
New Charges Crop Up.
Since Saturday District officials have
been waiting for the receipt Of such
statements. They now are ready.
Elmer Trey, chief of the special in
teligence unit, said today that COM
plants had arrived involving prohibi-
tion agents since the institution OF
the Investigations, which had neces-
sarily prolonged the work of the IN
yestigators, inasmuch as each of these
additional complaints coming to the
attention of the investigators de-
veloped leads" which had to be run
out
In addition to the complaints filed
by Commissioner Oyster. sundry other
charges have cropped up with almost
daily frequency. Only today Sergt.
McQuade of the vice squad brought
information calling for investigation
to the attention of Special Agent Cox.
one of the Investigators.
End Not Yet in Sight.
1t was admitted by the investigators
that they had heard nothing of the
matter contained in the complaint of
Sergt McQuade today at any time In
the past, and this was cited as typi-
cal example of the items which have
prolonged the investigation
As a matter of fact, Mr.. Cox had
completed several Investigations out
side of Washington when he was
called into this one. Since taking
this up he has not had time even
to write a report on the ones con-
cluded. Investigators cannot say how
long it will be before the inquiry is
brought to a close because of the
possibility of additional complaints
trickling in in the future as they
have in the past week or two.
Oyster Promises Action.
Commissioner Oyster declared this
afternoon that he would thoroughly
inquire into any charges made
against members Of the police depart
ment by prohibition enforcement Of
ficers.
The Commissioner has not received
any such counter charges since he
filed complaint more than two weeks
ago against certain prohibition off,
GERS. He let it be known, however,
that If any complaints are made
against his men they will be care
fully sifted to the bottom.
The regular procedure in the po-
lice department is to try before a
board. composed of an assistant cor
poration counsel and two police cap
tains any member of the force
against whom sworn charages are
filed. Whether this procedure will be
followed or whether a special board
would be called upon in case counter
charges are received is not likely to
be decided until the situation comes
up.