Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-12
POLICEMAN SLAYER
Of AUTO SPEEDER
IS CITED FOR TRIAL
Maj. Hesse Orders Formal
Charges Filed as Edwards
Threatens Inquiry.
PROSECUTOR STUDIES
ACTION FOR HOMICIDE
Police Superintendent Orders Full
Investigation When Aide Reports
Shooting Unjustifed.

While Senator Edwards Of New
Jersey today threatened "a sweering
investigation" by the Senate into the
shooting TO death of Larry Hall by
Policeman B. Il. Campbell early sun
day during a "speeder" chase. Maj
Edwin E. Hesse, superintendent of
police, orde"ed the trial board, take
up the case of Campbell for use OF his
weapon. allegedly without justifica-
tion or excuse, and .he C of United
States District Attorney Gordon also
made ready for preliminary study of
the whole case with a view to present.
ing it to the grand jury to seek a hom-
icide indictment.
Outstanding in the report Of In
spector Charles A. Evans, assistant
superintendent of police, which inf1u-
enced Mai. Hesse to cite the police
man for trial before the police trial
board was the positive charge that
the lives of Campbell and his police
man companion were not in danger
when the shooting occurred.
Eat the time of the shooting" the
Evans report said, from the evidence
lives of the officers were not in dan
ger, as that period of the chase had
passed and they were directly in the
rear of the fieeting automobile out of
range of being crowded off the road.
and il the orders from headquarters
and the provisions of the manual had
been obeyed this death would not
have occurred in the manner in which
it did"
Formal Charges Ordered
After reading this section of the re-
port, Maj. HesSe stated he approved
entirely of it and Immediately ordered
the formal charges drawn up which
will bring not only Campbell before
the trial board on a charge of wrong
full use of his weapon. but also Police
man William S. Buchanan, who &C.
companied him, and in whose motor
cycle Campbell was riding. contrary
to the recent rule against policemen
riding in the side cars of motor cycles.
District Attorney Gordon being alb
sent, the papers in the case as OBJ
tained from stenographer at the
coroner's inquest. were being pre-
served by Acting District Attorney
Leo a. Rover today, pending the re-
turn of Maj. Gordon tomorrow. Mr..
review the transcript of testimony
on his return and then pass upon
whether the case is TO he presented
to the grand jury for indictment.
Branding the Staying of Hall as
"the fourth instance of unjustifiable
murder by a police officer in the Dis
trict within few MONTHS" Senator
Edwards, minority member of the
District committee. in a letter TO
Commissioner Proctor l.. Dougherty
demanded to know if death is the
penalty in the District for convic-
tion of speeding, being intoxicated or
transporting or possessing intoxicat-
ing liquor?
Holds Staying Uniustifed.
Irrespective of the findings of the
coroher's jury Senator Edwards de-
clared. Il am not satisfied that the
Staying was justified, and If you po-
lice authorities do not take speedy
and proper action righting the wrong
done, / shall call the matter to the at
tention of the Senate District COM
mittee and ask for a sweeping inves-
tigation."
Senator Edw~gds' letter in full fol
lows:
My dear 1Ir. Commissioner:
II will sincerely appreciate your
furnishing me w:t.i the following data
and informati,.. :. concerning the s1ay-
ing of L .rry Hall by Motorcycle Pa
trolman E. r. Campbell, near the
Soldiers Homs grounds. early sum
day morning. July 10. 1927:
I'D Detailed report of killing made
by OEicer Campbell and his immediate
superior to Supt. Hesse.
~ Names, addre Gses and occupa-
tions of occupants of the automobile
and motorcycle involved.
"(3) Detailed account of coroners in
quest.
80 Names of all witnesses to the
killing and those who testified at in
quest.
''(jl What action. it any. has been or
will be taken to punish officer Camp
bell.
IS. Rules and regulations of your
Police Department governing use of
arms by policemen.
- Is death the penalty in the Dis
trict for conviction of speeding. being
intoxicated. or transporting or possess
ing intoxicating liquor?
irrespective of the findings Of the
corOner's jury in the Hall-Campbell
l am not satisfied that the
Staying was justified and if your police
do not take speedy and
proper action in rishting the wrong
done. / shall call the matter to the at.
tention of the Senate District com.
mittee and ask for a sweeping inves
Declares 1t Fourth Instance.
1.-THE Staying of young Hall is the
fourth instance of unjustifiable MUIR
der by a police officer in the District
within a few months.
IF a motorist in the Nations Cap
tal can be killed in cold blood for
speeding. being drunk. transporting
Or possessing liquor, I believe the
Congress should be apprised of the
,act so that small degree of sanity
,an be injected into the law.
when Patrolman Campbell shot
Hall, he could have preferred one and
,nly one charge against him-speed-
ng. 1t was not known that the car
Hall was driving had been stolen. 1t
vas not even known that the occu-
PANTS had been drinking.
What conceivable justification was
here for this murder of a defenseless
nan? Hall and his companions were
lot armed.
1T is alleged that Campbells motor.
'ycle was crowded dangerously near
he curbing. If l know the Soldiers
Home grounds, there is no curbing
lround it,
1T was testified at the inquest
hat Officer Buchanan was driving the
motorcycle and that Officer Campbell
was riding in the sidecar. If this
be true, Halls automobile
could not have possibly crowded the
motorcycle to the curb and Campbell
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column a.