Evening star., 1924-12-14
RONE'S ACQU|TTAL
IN. RUM CASE SEEN
Policemen Associate With
.BootIeggerS to Get Tips,
Trial Reveals.

Local police associate with boot
loggers la order TO get tips on VIOLA
tions of the prohibition laws, it was
testified yesterday before the Police
Trial Board, sitting at No. precinct,
when Precinct Detective Guy Rome
was placed on trial. Rome is charged
with neglect of duty and conduct
prejudicial to good order and police
discipline, growing out of the dis
Covery of Rome and Harry Grossman
in the cellar of the home of G.. w.
Forsberg, 1907 Fourteenth street
northwest early, in the morning of
July l last. The specification Of the
second charge was that Rome asso-
Giated with GroSsman, who, it was
testified at the trial yesterday, is
a bootlegger.
Upon the resting of the prosecu-
ton yesterday, Attorney l.. NJ. Van
Doren, for Rome, moved dismissal
of the case, which the board took un-
der advisement and Immediately went
into executive session. Upon conclu-
sion, of the session President w. NJ.
Wahly of the trial board announced
that the papers had been turned over
last night to the night chief of detec-
tives. Questioned as to whether he
had set a date for hearing the de-
fense, he answered in the negative;
and this in conjunction with the fact
that the papers have been sent for
ward and not retained by the board,
is taken to indicate an acquittal for
Rome.
Identified as Omcers.
Detective Brown of No. 10 precinct
testified as to the reports received of
robberies in the Forsberg home and
of detail of police there and OF
Two men entering the cellar. one or
them put his hands on "a package,
he said then went into the wine room,
and as soon as they emerged were
taken into custody. They were
identified as Rome and Grossman.
Lieut.. F. NJ. Cornwell, No. s, testi-
fed that Rome left the station on the
night in question and told him he
was going home. Before he left, how
ever, he said he received telephone
call. Asked If detective was pro-
hibittd from going out Of the pre-
cinct. he said he really had never
heard of the question being brought
up before.
on ross-eXamination, Lieut.. Corn
we'll testified that Rone's reputation
was of the best and there was no
better man who ever wore the uni
form" He said there was nothing in
the police manual which prohibited
a precinct detective from leaving his
precinct on a. case.
Capt. Stoll, a member of the trial
board. asked Brown if there was any
liquor in the wine room, to which
the witness responded in the affirma-
tive. But he said neither Rome nor
Grossman had any when they came
out.
Detective Sergeant C. J. P. Weber
testified as to the arrest, and said
that when Rome saw him and the
other police, he drew his hand from
his pocket, and held his police badge
in his hand. at the same time saying
Police Department"
Attorney Van Doren sought to get
from Weber why he testified before
Chief Justice Mccoy, at Rone's trial,
that Rome made certain statements
not remember them here, to which
Weber replied that he answered the
questions. there as asked and as he
had been instructed to.
Lieut.. Walsh, No. 10, testified as to
examining Rome, at the time of ar
rest, and also that he knew of moth
ing in the manual which prohibited
policeman from leaving his pre-
cinct.
Capt. Ira Sheetz, No. precinct,
called to the stand, testified that he
knew Grossman and that he was a
bootlegger. On cross-eXamination he
said he had known Rome for num-
Der of years; that he was an excel
lent police officer, and while under
him brought in more large cases un-
der the prohibition act than any other
man.,
He said that the main way of get
ting tips on violations of the prohibi-
ton law was from bootleggers them
selves, and he considered 1t proper
police work to get information in
this manner. He said he didn't think
a policeman was open to criticism if
he did this. The prosecution rested
here.
Attorney Van Doren said: This
case ought to be laughed out of the
board room" Rome, he said. was ac-
quilted by a jury of IL men, and
then some one in the police depart
1nent-he would like to know who
was not satisfied, and they made these |
charges.