The Washington times., 1923-10-06
POLICE TO
FACE DRY
CHARGE
Counter Allegations Of Graft
Being Prepared for Presen-
tation to Oyster.

SERIOUS cOunCer-cn8rSeS Oh
graft in prohibition enforcement
work are being prepared against
Lieut.. o. T. Davis and Sergt,
james e. McQuade, Of the police
vice squad, and will be placed
before District Commissioner
James F. Oyster some time next
week, it was learned definitely
today.
New Evidence Alleged.
These allegations were supposed
to have been ready for submission
to Commissioner Oyster today. but
new evidence in the hands Of the
informants. throwing wider light on
the local liquor situation, caused
the complainants to postpone &C.
ton.
It was stated that the contents Of
the charges will be such a nature
as to startle Washington and pos.
sibly to implicate persons high in
official life.
Present plans are that the com.
Elmer L. Trey, chief of the special
intelligence unit of the Internal
Revenue Bureau.
Suspended Agents Heard.
Ralph e. Ruby and George Fow
Ter, suspended without pay from
duty In the local prohibition en-
forcement division, were for several
hours today in Irey's office, where
graft charges against the two men
are being Investigated.
Ruby and Fowler were closeted
with Operatives Cox and Golding
who are in active charge of the
probe. They were closely ques
toned regarding their local activ
tiles, and were called upon to OK
plain their participation in matters
mentioned by Davis and McQuade
In the charges which resulted in
the agents suspension.
While Trey had no announcement
10 make other than that the inquiry
was progressing, it was learned that
the two dry officers laid before
Cox and Golding their own side Of
the story, with certain documentary
evidence to substantiate their state.
ments, and to nullify certain
particulars Of the allegations.
This was the first occasion since
the inquiry started that Ruby and
Fowler have been called in for cues.
tionfng. Davis and McOuade have
on two previous dates visited Irey's
office, and so have other members
OF the police department.
"AI Right" Says Fowler.
Until today f. C. Yellowley, chief
or general agents, was the only
representative or the prohibition
unit to enter Irey's office since the
probe began.
Fowler refused to make any state.
ment after his interview with the
investigators, other than this:
I'm not worrying. Neither is
Ruby. If they think they've got
anything on us, that's all right. II
they haven't anything-and l don't
think they have-that's all right
too"
Oyster Is Waiting.
Treasury officials are very anxi
Gus to know how Captain Oyster re.
CARDS the conduct OF the investiga.
tlon. Everyone connected in any
orflc1al way with the inquiry sug.
gests. "See what Oyster says" But
Oyster who practically forced Fed.
eral Commissioner Roy A. Haynes
to remove three agents from duty
in Washington within forty -eig hit
hours is noncommitta1 He ls
waiting for the counter-charges TO
be filed.
Edgar N. Read. former divisional
chief in charge OF the territory GOV.
ering the District Of Columbia, was
called to Washington yesterday from
Birmingham. Ala. by Commissioner
Haynes. Read arrived here today
and went into conference with the
dry chief.
His mission remained undisclosed
but it is believed to have some con-
nectiOn with the inquiry now in
progress.
Talk of Reinstatement.
The possibility of re-instating Read
as head Of the Washington office
was discussed widely at prohibition
headquarters today. No official in.
formation on this score was forth
coming. however.
Investigators nave taken no fur-
Their action in the case OF Agent
Clark II. Packard, who was re,
lieved Of duty in the District sew,
eral days ago. with Ruby and
Fowler. Packard has not been sus
pended and today there were no
new DEVELOPMENTS In his case. His
work in Washington, however, is
st1ll under 1nyaStiGatOrs' scrutiny.