Evening star., 1928-03-26
Threatens Congress Probe
in Case of Witness Appear
ing Against Staples.
ACCUSES TWO OFFICERS
OF "FRAMING" DEFENDANT
Legislators Action Throws Hear.
ing Into Uproar-Clashes With
Chairman Wahly.

Threats by Representative BIanton Of
Texas to throw the congressional spot
light on alleged protection of a self
admitted bootlegger, called as the first
witness against Policeman OrviIIe
Staples Of the third precinct. threw the
hearings before the Police Trial Board
into an uproar this morning shortly
after the prosecution had opened.
Mr.. Blanton, who was appearing as a
'fr1end OF the court" and assumed the
responsibility Of counsel for the accused
policeman, followed his threat by con-
tending that the charges against Staples
constitute "a deliberate, wiIlfui frame
up by Policemen Frederick Schenck Of
the third precinct and Policeman j. H.
Hunt.
The threat Of the Texan was directed
at refusal Of the Police Trial Board 10
inquire into failure Of the Police De-
partment TO arrest the witness, Law
renee p. Coleman. colored. 20fs ~
street, who had made an affidavit 10 4
police inspector about a truck load of
bootleg liquor he owned being taken out
OF garage whose proprietor was the
son OF q police captain"
NEdsneS WIN Wanty.
Barred from making such inquiries
OF the witness, after Blanton had gone
over the head of Chairman William ii
Wahly, assistant corporation counsel.
the Texan warned that he would s.de-
velop that fact later and make 1t public
by another method"
Maybe that other method would be
better, Chairman Wahly replied
Blanton sought 10 impeach CoIeman's
testimony by producing the witness
former police record, which was verified
Dy corporation Counsel William w.
Bride. tcontained Upward Of 20
counts.
The trial board. however. refused
Blanton TO 60 into details after be had
brought out frst offense OF speeding
The Texan later wrl1ng from Coleman
the admission that he had been CON
yicted and fined on occasions for the
possession OF liquor.
Mr.. Blantcn had protested to the,
beard that be be permitted 70 question
the witness closely along such lines.
Here is = sclf-admitted professional
b0otleggsrs who sits here and smiles
when he tells of Violating the law" the
Texan declared hsatedly.
This man has admitted 20 police
inspector about truck load containing
IS cases Of liquor being taken out of
garage, and he was never arrested for It.
i tel y0u.s Elanton shouted, this
matter affects the integrity Of the en-
tire Police Department from the stand-
point OF the people"
This Is deliberate, willfui frame-up
on testimony that IS false as h-.b
Bianton declared. -and before this hear
ing u over. ! win show II to be as
Il want it to 20 into the record that
this witness has never been arrested
for bis offenSe.n
Held Outside Of Case.
Chairman Wahly protested that fail
ure OF the police 20 arrest Coleman fer
liquor. possession had nothing 10 Go
with the charges on which Policeman
Staples was being tried This led
BlAnton 60 make the charge that
Staples had been framed hy OficegS
Schenck and Hunt This board ought
70 hear all the evidence the TexaN
pleaded IT ought % lay down the
bars and get at the facts
The board retired from the hearing
room Tor several minutes 20 arrive a.
= decision, and tlpon returning Chair
man Wahly announced that the thre
members had decided ~unanincusfy.e
thAt they do not want 10 inquire irso
this matter and develop Il.
when the trial opened this murninx,
tne nearing room was iamnled 70 over
moving with approximately AZ Wit
nesseS. including women and police on
GERS besides Q crowd Of spectators hl
search Of sensations II was eieyeloped
at the outset that defense witnesses
would nos be required hardly before
wednesday, and they were excused fru,n
attendance today with the warning q
ne on hand at o'clock tomorrow morn.
lng Before diSuaiSSing them the trlaI
ooarue invoked on all witnesses an or.
ger NOS 70 discuss the case with any
one. ~
Walsh Il Attacked.
Owing 70 the inability OF Carr
Martin Reilly and Can't Ira SheeeS -
serve ON the hoard. Cant. Q. AZ, > Iora
and Lieut.. John N. Walsh were tleSlr-
mated % Sit This drew protest frcSn
hianson. who asked that Lieut., walsh
be removed.
Capt Lord Is perfectly satlsgacsnrya
ae sad. but would prefer some other
a lively dispute followed between
hlAnton and Assistant Cooperation
Counsel Robert l. Williams who ap-
peared IS the prosecutor. WalSh flnally
neink displaced, Capt Guy 3. Burlsn-
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