Evening star., 1927-07-13
i. s. PROBE BEGUN
IN HALL SHOOTING
District Attorney Gordon
Calls for Report on Police
Ex0nerati0n.

The Office of District Attorney
Peyton Gordon started an investiga-
ton today Of the shooting of Larry
Hall by Policeman r. r. Campbell
during a speed chase" near Soldiers
Home Sunday morning with view to
placing criminal charges before the
grand Jury il the investigation war
rants.
Mai. Gordon, upon his return to his
desk after brief absence, stated that
he had called for a report from his
assistant who was present at the
coroner's inquest which exonerated
Policeman Campbell from blame in
the shooting of Hall and that he was
now awaiting the transcript of the
record of the testimony of the inquest
before going further into the matter.
Would Seek Indictment.
He stated positively that if he found
facts warranting action, he would inn
mediately place the case before the
grand jury.
THE mere fact that a man is a
policeman engaged in the pursuit of
a speeding car which he has no
knowledge is stolen car. does not
Justify him in shooting to stop that
speeder," said Maj. Gordon. leopard
izing of human life would not be
worth the result.
II regard 1t as the duty of the Office
OF the district attorney to take action
in any matter involving loss of
life through the negligent, wanton or
wilful conduct of another. Whether
one or the other is a policeman makes
no difference.
Maj. Edwin r. Hesse, superintendent
Of police, who yesterday ordered the
case brought before the police trial
board, announced that the formal
charges and specifications could not
be compiled in time to permit of trial
this week. The trial board meets to-
morrow. Defendants are entitled to
40 hours notice OF charges. This
could not be given.
Two Alleged Violations.
Mai Hesse stated that Campbell
would be charged with two viola tiOns
Of the police manual--one. in riding in
the side car Of a motor cycle without
special permission, in violation of or.
ders to the contrary. and the other in
the use Of a pistol when not urgently
needed in the defense of his own life
and safety. Policeman William S.
Buchanan, who operated the motor
cycle chasing the speeding automobile
will be cited on one charge Of violating
the police manual. namely, allowing
a person to ride in the side car of his
motor cycle.
At the Office of the District attorney
today it was poiHffd out that the find
ing of the coronef's jury eXOnerating
Policeman Campbell in the death was
regarded as merely representative Of
the opinion of the jurors selected by
the coroner to determine the cause of
death and was not regarded as bind
ing upon any other branch of the local
government. Exoneration by the cor
oner's jury, in other words, is held not
to preclude action of the district at
torney's office in presenting the case
to the grand jury any more than
holding of a prisoner for the coroners
jury would be mandatory on the
grand jury to return an indictment
against the person held.
Senator Asks Details.
Commissioner Dougherty today
acknowledged receipt of the letter of
Senator Edwards of New Jersey re-
questing detailed information on the
shooting of Hall.
II will endeavor to get these data
for you as soon as possible" Com
missioner Dougherty wrote.
1t was said at Senator Edwards
Office today that he WAS pleased with
the action that has been taken by
the Police Department and that the
Senaor is not planning any further
steps pending the proceedings before
the Police Trial Board.