The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-13
D.C.POL|CE
WORKING
ON CASE
NOW
Conspirators Hoped to Pre-
vent acknowledgements
Seeking Information.

A plot to frame Commissioner
James F. Oyster, in charge Of the
police and fire departments, has
been frustrated.
Headquarters detectives today
are making an Investigation Of
this frameup and there appeared
today a likelihood that information
gathered by. them might be placed
before the grand jury soon.
Inquiry to Be Pressed.
Commissioner Oyster admitted to-
day that an inquiry is under way.
Eyes, / am making an investiga-
ton Of an attempt to frame me-"
Commissioner Oyster said. "and I
am going to run It down. want
showdown, and II It il humanity
possible I am going to get one.
''Since I have been Commissioners
I have served honestly and consci-
entiously and I have vigorously en-
forced every law. do not intend
to stand for people lodging charges
against me that are untrue"
Principals in this plot are said
to be known to Commissioners
Oyster but he declined today to dis
cuss the details Of the attempted
frame up.
Anything. might say about the
details OF the plot at this time
would hinder our Investigation,
Commissioner Oyster said.
The plot is said to have involved
an offer by several persons Of
$4,000 to several men to frame"
Commissioner Oyster and prevent
his reappointment as District Com
missioner.
That the plot failed, It was said
today, was due to Commissioner
Oysters foresight. The ''frame-up,"
according to the plans of the plot
tiers, had something to do with
liquor. Commissioner Oyster has. re-
ceived information from hundreds
Of persons of. liquor violations, and
has had many conferences with
citizens regarding operations of
bootleggers. At all of these con-
ferences, however, COMMISSIONER
Oys,er mas had Major Daniel Sulli-
! van, superintendent of police, or
some other police official in attend
ance.
Taxed With BacI1sy.
Commissioner Oyster has told
every informer that all information
giving to him will be Immediately
turned over to the Police Depart
! ment He has continually refused
to take tips unless the informant
was willing that the information be
given to the police.
Recently Capt. Charles Backsy,
mysterious investigator, came 70
Commissioner Oyster to offer GER
tain information. Commissioner
Oyster talked with him several times
in the presence of Major Sullivan.
Backsy's tips were run down, but
in most cases Major Sullivan report
ed the police had already made ar
rests or had corrected conditions re-
ported by Backsy.
An answer to charges as to
alleged favoritism in the letting Of
supplies, and alleged non-enforce-
ment of the coming law, today WAS
asked of District Commissioners
Rudolph and Oyster by Senator
William H. King Of Utah.
A pointed inquiry also is made
regarding the sale Of school sites
to the city and the alleged violation
of law in permitting a store to be
erected near the Patent Office much
higher than adjacent structures.
King Seeks Answers.
The names of the National Eiec-
trio Supply Company and the CALI
her Lumber Company also are con-
tanned in the letter.
at would like to know what con-
tracts have been let to these COM
panies in the past few years." says
Senator King, land whether such
contracts were competitive and the
bids Open"
Senator Kings attitude with ref
erence to the confirmation Of the
two Commissioners depends largely
upon their answers to his ques-
tions. He already has conferred
with C. Bacon Slemp, secretary
to President Coolidge. with regard
to the general District situation
and the necessity Of appointing
the strongest men in the city to
the Commissionerships.
Senator King is a member of the
Senate District committee and takes
a. keen and active interest in the
school situation here