Evening star., 1924-12-21
AL|b|S PRESENTED
IN POLICE HEARING
-:--s- 80 :-------------: =.
Testimony at Trial Seeks to
Prove Some Defendants
Not Present.

Evidence to prove that certain of
the defendants were not In No.
station house at the time that Arthur
A. Davis Is alleged to have been
beaten by police was offered yester-
day before the police trial board when
the trial was resumed OF Lieut. J. M.
Pierson and Ave other policemen on
charges In connection with the al
legged beating. The other defendants
are Pvts. f. D. Milstead, r. @. Proctor,
]. r. Gawen, r. B. Carroll and Clar-
ence Robinson.
Pvt. Milstead testified that he was
on day duty and was in the station
until the report Of the assault on
Policeman Musseiman, when he went
to the scene and accompanied the
latter TO the hospital. He said he
never returned to the station after
that, but went TO his home in Grsat
Falls, Va, in an automobile with
Archie Cummings and Horace Tram
mel. On cross s-examination he told
the board that ne had never ridden
home with these men before that
night. Asked when he first heard Of
the alleged beating he said he never
knew there had been a beating. He
also testified that he never heard any
discussion OF the alleged affair in the
station house the following morning.
Capt. Besn Testfnes.
Capt. r r. Bean. commanding police
precinct No. Z, testified as to his in
vestisation Of the incident when it
was called to his attention by In
spector Pratt of the Police Depart
ment. He testified that when he went
to the hospital Davis told him he
recognized Pierson by his voice and
that he also told him then and sub
sequently that Proctor was not i'm
plicated in the alleged affair. Capt
Bean also testified that Davis in
formed him at the hospital that It
was Pierson he heard say: Go ahead
and give II to him."
Capt. Brown, a member Of the trial
board. asked Capt. Bean IL he asked
Proctor. who was on duty at the time.
why Davis was sent to the hospital.
Capt Bean said he had, and that Proc
tor informed him that Davis had COM
planned of pains in his side. Proctor
also told Capt Bean, upon further ques-
tioning, the latter testified, that the po-
lice had had no trouble with him at
the time he was taken into custody.
Rules Out Question.
Attorney Ryan asked Capt Bean
why II was so dangerous to permit po-
lice to enter the cellroom. but the Ques-
ton was ruled out by President Wahley.
II had previously been testified by other
witnesses that police had been refused
permission to enter the cellroom on
orders from Lieut. Pierson. Davis was
in a cell at the time
During the morning session yesterday
Attorney Ryan sought to get In the rec
ord the name of the police informer who
told who had assaulted Musselman.
However the board would not let Police
man Robinson. who WAS on the stand,
answer the question:
Neighbor Testified.
Mrs. Ruth Anderson, 1241 Thirty
third street northwest, a next-door
neighbor Of Policeman Carroll, one Of
the defendants. testified that she saw
Carroll come home about 1915 o'clock
on the night of the alleged beating. She
fixed the time by the arrival OF her
mother from work On cross ss-examina-
tion the witness testified that she had
never before noticed what time Carroll
came home.
The proceedings yesterday were EN-
livened somewhat by frequent clashes
between counsel and between President
wahly of the board and Attorney P. j.
Ryan for the prosecution.
After hearing Capt. Bean the board
adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow,
and President Wahly expressed the hope
that the presentation of the evidence
and the arguments Of counsel could be
concluded at that session.