Evening star., 1926-06-05


that there was a single police captain
who had any respect for Headleys s
opinion in regard to traffic matters.
Without informing the police cap
tains of what was going on. traffic of
ficers under Headley's jurisdiction OPP
Grated in the various precincts and
very frequently carried on traffic work
about which the precinct captains
were ignorant.
Was Law Unto Himself.
! found number of one-way streets
all over the city, which had been desis.
mated by Inspector Iieadley, which
were not even mentioned in the traffic
regulations. He seemed to be IL law
unto himself, setting up rules and
regulations ad libitum.
am informed ON good authority
that Inspector Headley. even after
the new regulations went into effect.
acted AS a Police Court Judge on traf.
f!c acciden.S, and on two ur three oc.
caSlons my attention was called to
the fact that he would invite people
into his office who had had accidents.
that he would take up the permit of
the person whom he considered to
he at fault and would force the per
son to pay the damages fixed by the
case recall he took UP a permit
and demanded that the person pay
the other man $23 before the permit
would he restored to him. Inspector
Brown informs me that the men In
the Traffic Bureau know of a mum.
ber of other similar eases and that
there is now on file in the Traffic
Bureau n large number of permits
which were taken up by Inspector
Headley with no memoranda attached
as to why the permits We're taken up
Inspector iIeadley was heard to re.
mark only a few days after | was
appointed that he would -~--~-- Ring.
gold Hart. and that he would --~---~.
Maj. IIolcomh and he would
the director of traffic. | cannot write
out the word which he used because
| am debating this letter 10 my stem
ographer Miss Gruver. hut | will
give II to YOU and to a committee of
Congress. If | am called upon for the
information, and will produce the
witness who heard him make the
remark. Soon after was appointed
director of traffic. Inspector Headley
made the remark to a person whose
name l should be glad TO give you
If the necessity arises. II have not
been appointed director of traffic but
/ intend to see to it that the director
of traffic gets all that is coming to
him. or words to that effect.
Shrine Week Stand Cited.
Inspector Headley's attitude in re-
gard to my work as director of traffic
is similar to that which he had re-
garding the Shrine convention which
was held in Washington about a year
ago. Mr.. Mcnamara of the Sign Shop
says that Inspector Headley was
very much incensed when plans for
the Shrine convention were worked
out by Inspector Shelby and an Army
officer and that he gave instructions
TO Mcnamara to go ahead with his
regular work and indicated that he
didn't care Il damn about the Shrine
convention or whether the plans for
handling the traffic We're satisfactory.
Further information on this point
can be secured from Mr. Mcnamara
was also informed that similar
attitude vas maintained by Headley
In the case of tn" Knickerbocker dis.
aster and that because he was not
called upon for assistance he did
not let ii be known that he had in
the Sign Shop six flood lights and an
acetYlene torch which were urgently
needed at that time in order to save
the lives of many persons who were
biitiiSt ocHSdtH tTe FOOI III tnAI Ter
rlble disaster. He was heard to re.
mark, Damn the Police Department.
They didn't say anything TO me- about
II and why should 7 butt in" or
words to that effect. Details Of this
conversation can be obtained from In
spector Brown, Pvt. Mcnamara and
others.
For several weeks before the recent
change was made Inspector Headley
had been campaigning for the position
of major and superintendent of police.
have the names of one or two per.
sons who can give you further details
in regard to his campaign. Only
few minutes before his demotion took
place. he left the Traffic Bureau with
the statement that he was going over
to present his formal application to
the Commissioners for the position
of ma 'or and superintendent of police
Holds Attitude Wrong.
Capt. Headley's attitude toward the
public never was what it should be.
Numerous complaints have been made
to me regarding his pompous and
lomineerirg ways.
You will remember that l indicated
to you in a very brief manner. a day
or two before Mr.. Headley's demotion
took place, that there was lack of
cooperation and you will remember
the story which l told you to illustrate
the point. / had no idea at the time
when you requested me to give you
the names Of police captains whom
thought most of what YOU had in
your mind and did not know until the
afternoon paper came out that he had
been denoted.
In view of the above, however, ]
am fully convinced that you did the
right thing. and / wish to report to you
that we have had better cooperation
since the change has taken place and
have accomplished more within few
days than during the many weeks
when Headley was in charge of the
Traffic Bureau. We are now securing
splendid cooperation from headquar-
ters, from the Traffic Bureau, from the
cantains Of the various precincts and
from the officers all along the line.
Respectfully,
iSigned) NJ. O. ELDRlDGE,
niro~tor If Traffic