Evening star., 1923-10-15
Charles H. Packard Is Sew
cred From Service Without
Pay, Officials Announce.
COUNTER-ACCUSATI0NS
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 H. Packard, a prohibi-
ton agent, was indefinitely suspended ;
without pay, effective last night, in !.
connection with the investigation :.
now under way on charges made by
Commissioner oyster against three
agents.
Packard's suspension is the third
since the investigation began. Agents
Ruby and Fowler having been pre-
yiOuSly suspended without pay. Pack
ard was suspended at the same time,
although he was allowed TO keep his
pay.
1t was also learned this afternoon
that counter charges against the mu-
nicipal police in the enforcement Of
prohibition in the District of Columbia
have been placed before investigators
working on the charges laid by Com
missioner Oyster against three prohlDl-
tion agents, and these charges against
the police will be transmitted to Com
missioner Oyster in the form OF afh-
davits within the next two days. II was
indicated. in addition, that the inyesti-
cation NOW begun has developed to
such imposing possibilities 1t 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,
Packard and Fowler, it was agreed
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 IreS, chief of the special fn-
telligence unit. said today that COM
plants had arrived involving prohfbi-
ton agents since the institution OF
the Investigations. which had neces-
sarily prolonged the work of the in
vestigators, inasmuch as each of these
additional complaints coming to the
attention of the Investigators de-
veloped leads" which had to be run
out.
IN auQltlpJ u lHt INkHpIdIlltS iliNu
by Commi issinner 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 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
| fcers.
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
porations 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.