Evening star., 1928-05-17
d-Degree" Methods Al
legged in Letter to Commits
Sioner Dougherty.
BRUTALLY OFFENSIVE
ACTIONS ARE CHARGED
Secretary Praises Member of Scien-
tifc Staff-Warrant May
Be Issued Soon.

day wrote an unqualified protests
to District Commissioner Dougherty
against alleged third degree" methods
used By police in quizzing Leonard W,
Kephart, Department Of Agriculture
scientist, who is recovering from a
mysterious attack made on him In ne
Soldiers Home grounds a week ago.
Police investigation Of the mystery is
SAID to have reached a print where q
warrant may be asked :o- shortly.
Secretary Jardine declared the re-
ported rlistreatment By police cad
seriously impaired Mr. Kephart's con-
dItlon resulting from the abduction
and assault. and charged that the
ponce had implied that Kephar. was
In some way responsible for an at
tempted abduction Of E. Percival VIII
son, citizen of Chevy Chase, Nd,
some hours after the attack on Alr.
Kephart"
The cabinet officer asserted that ~ik
would appear the police in this instance,
IN their zeal to determine the RESPONSE
bility for the attempted abduction. en-
tirely disregarded not only his CKep-
hart's) rights as a citizen. but also the
fundamentals Of ordinary humanitarian
consideration"
Jardine Praises Kephart.
Mr.. Jardine described Kephart as "a
respected and highly regarded member
OF the scientific staff OF this depart-
ment," who at the time OF the attack
was en- route to the department for
the presentation OF important Official
work upon which he is engaged"
Commissioner Dougherty referred the
Secretary's letter to Supt OF Police
HesSe for investigation and report.
Secretary Jardine, it was learned.
previously had discussed the case with
Senator Capper, chairman Of the SEN
ate District committee. The latter said
today that Mr.. Jardine told him that
hepnarts associates in the department
felt ne had not received "a square
deal" from the police.
MI. Jardine's letter. In fun, follows:
Ihere has come to my attention
through items IN the press and other
channels the recent action OF the po-
lice force OF the District of Columbia
with regard to respected and hignfy
regarded member OF the scientific staff
OF this department as to which I de-
sire TO record. as the responsible head
OF this Department. an unqualified
protest
Calls Police Brutal
mfr. Leonard W. Kephart, a scientific
investigator IN the Bureau OF Plant
Industry or this department. while en-
route from his home in Takoma Park,
Nd, 10 the department last Wednesday
nlgnt Ior the presentation Of important
ofncial work upon which he is engaged.
was attacked in the Soldiers Home
grounds beaten into NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
stripped of his clothing and left exposed
20 the elements by persons OF unknown
Identity which apparently departed
with his automobile from which he had
aiighted upon their representation that
one OF their number was in need Of as
Sistance. Some hours later, after re-
covering consciousness. Mr. Ksphart
made his way to the hospital IN ths
Soldiers Home grounds. where he was
given emergency treatment and the
Police Department notified.
Members of the Police Department
staff then took him from the Soldiers
Home Hospital TO police headquarters. in
the Municipal Building. where friends
met him and took him 10 his hcnle. On
his arrival at home his personal phySt-
clan was called and attended him.
Later DR.. Roy D. Adams. no doubt well
Snown TO you as an outstanding dag
noStician. made an examination, and ]
attach It 20 statement By Dr.. Adams
OF MS diagnosis and conclusions as re-
suit or his examination. Since then he
Selll Is IN serious physical condition
as a result OF the attack and exposure
AMI the hrUtally offensive and uncalieS-
Tor action of the Police
understand nom the morning pa
peES ana nom personal information
furnished by associates OF Mr.. Kephart
who have knowledge of the matter
tiaas last evening while still suffering
and dased BY the effects Of the con-
ttiSlonS resulting nom the attack, hS
was taken 10 the tenth pTecine: polseS
station and subjected for two hours to
whas Is commonly designated as FhlrIi
degree treatment. which resulted in a
further impairment Of his condition.
the implication of his Police tnterro~
gators being that he was IN some wav
connected with or responsible for an
abduction Of E rercival
Wilson. y citizen Of Maryland. residing
in Chevy Chase, which occurred some
hours after the attack en- Mr.. ksphars
in the Soldiers Home grounds, Mr.. KEEP
hart'S stolen ear being used in the Sec
ond attack.
IneaiSition Charged.
Mr., Kephart was brought 10 the
Statlon BY his friends az the invitation
Of the police, oStenSiely 20 identity Ger
tain ef his clothes which had hSea
found. the police instead SaeiecssnS
him, III his dased physical Condition..
without ths hens1t oT c(SgnSel or
friends. 70 a two~hoUr rlQUiSitAen.
1T would appear thas Rhs police IL
this instance III their zeal to determine
the RESPONSIBILITY scr the ATTEMPTED ae-
3uetion entirely 6tSregar<le1. nos osslv
bis rights aS = citizen but also the
Of ordinary humanitarian
Of y man whose AggA
reg>ate and excellent standing his as
soeiAseS IN the public service are u
\ kssSistcM % voUcA for. and whose Ee~
soyegy nom the results Of the attack
made upon him has hSea seriously re-
iaeded by this treatment. 1 tgSaSs that
do not need 70 assure you es my
seStfe 60 co~ogSrate In every pgaettcaNle
Nay with the duly constituted aUthoxa-
les III their myeSslgaEtenS OF eFSass
'emnttted here or elsewhere, bat
,annee reFfaIn nom veictng my pro-
eSs against the eSaaFSe which appearS
. have been followed IA this instance
Win respect 70 the victim cf The AS
.att,
Il hring this matter 10 your attention
ae this time IN order not olaly that this
'aSe may oe promptly and adequately
Investigated and further abuse fene-
tailed, but thas any comparable oe-
IN thS future may ee pre-
rented"
The letter al DIR, Adams which Sex
'eeary jardlne attached TO his ecn~
slatnt read as follows.
''on SATURDAY, MAY ~. 1saa. ! made
Continued en naGe J. cahanss ~