Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-08
OFFICER QU|zzED
IN PEEP|NG CASE
Captain Believes Man limo
cent Despite Protests He
Entered Girls Room.

While an investigation was being
started today into the complaint made
last night by tenants at 24l0 Twentieth
street that a uniformed policeman has
often peeped into their apartment win
dows and that early Thursday morning
he forced his way into the apartment
of two young women. Capt. r. E. Doyle
fthe eighth precinct affirmed his be-
lief in the officers innocence. Several
residents in the building reiterated their
accusation this morning.
The officer. whose name was withheld
until more definite informa ton is OBJ
tanned. was questioned by Capt. Doyle
this morning He admitted he had en-
tered the apartment of the two young
women about 8 o'clock Thursday morn
ing, but denied that he had forced open
the door without permission.
Capt. Doyle expressed his firm belief
In the officers integrity and good char
acter. saying that he believed his story
absolutely. The man has been on the
police force seven years and has pa
troled the vicinity of the apartment
house for the past four years. He IS
married and has two children. and has
never had a complaint lodged against
him before.
Answering Call"
Lieut. Michael Raedy. who was IN
duty at the eighth precinct last night,
received a telephone complaint about
midnight He Immediately went to the
Twentieth street address where he liz
terviewed several tenants and Ralph
Price, resident manager. who lodged
a formal complaint.
The two Young women. whose apart
n1ent the policeman is alleged to nave
entered Thursday. are sisters and one
IS a trained nurse. They say that
about PAS O'Clock TIL lrsday morning
the officer knocked on their door. The
Young women were in bed and afraid to
answer. they declared. The knock was
repeated. they say. and then the door
was forced open and the officer stepped
inside.
In answer to a query as to who he
was, he is said to have replied that he
was policeman and had received a call
that some one in the apartment wanted
an officer He was told that he had
not been summoned. it is alleged. He
replied that a man had hailed him from
a taXicab at Eighteenth street and Co.
lumbia road about Is minutes earlier
and said that "a girl there has been
having trouble with some man and
wants an officer"
The policeman in question said TODAY
that he inquired if he could not. wait
until morning before going to the
apartment. but was told it was urgent
that he so at once.
While he was inside the older of the |
two girls told him that about 2:30 |
o'clock a man had annoyed her by
calling through the speaking tube from |
the apartment house lobby. She said |
LOT 81, hot
officer who called as preteXt for en- |
tering her apartment.
The same man she declared had come !,
to her door on two previous occasions |
ct night in answer to summons she says |
were never made The first time was |
in answer to a supposed call that sew
eral automobile tires had been stolen |
The second was while three friends |
from Charlottesville, Va. were being |
entertained.
Other Complaints.
There are nine apartments on the
ground floor of the apartment house,
and Price, the manager. said that per-
sons living in practically all of them
have complained of a policeman, who
has been seen prowling around the place
at night for the past six months peering |
into bedroom windows. The description |
given by the several tenants of the ma
rauder tailed accurately with that of
the man quizzed by Capt. Doyle.
The officer told Capt. Doyle of being |
told to go TO the place by man in a
taxicsb The man appeared to be about |
IS years old and was large and well |
dressed, he declared. According to the |
policeman, one of the occupants of the |
apartment invited him in when he made |
known his identity and assisted him in
opening the door, which was stuck in the
frame. She then told him of the man
who had annoyed her through the
speaking tube. and requested him to
search the house, he asserted. The Off
Ger was not disrespectful in any way
the girls said today.