Evening star., 1928-04-04
Tries to Get Capt. Sheetz 10
Admit Third-Degree Meth
ods Are Used.
AUTO MAN SAYS STAPLES
HAD WHISKY WITH HIM
Death of Colored Man in Cell Is
Questioned by Repre-
sentative.

L. Williams. prosecutor, and further ef-
forts of the Texan 10 discredit the
Washington Police Department marked
todays session Of the police trial board
in the hearing on charges against
Policeman OrFille Staples. Additional
evldence against Staples was introduced
by Williams, who called TO the witness
stand Walter E. Skinker. president Of
the Sk1nker Motor Co, who stated that
Staples asked him for suggestions for
putting a secret compartment in his
automobile 10 carry liquor into the
United States from Canada.
Earlier in the session today Staples
had denied that he had ever conterl-
plated going to Canada or had ever
asked about building secret compart-
ment in his car to carry liquor.
Says Staples Had Liquor.
Mr.. Skinker also testified that on one
occasion Staples came into his garage
bringin a bottle of whisky which he
said he had obtained from an attache
OF an embassy here whom he had got
ten cut of trouble.
Although Blanton tried by the most
severe croSS-examination to shake these
statements By the witness, Mr. Skinker
insisted that he was telling the absolute
truth.
Mr.. Skinker admitted that he received
a call at his garage yesterday from
Prosecutor Williams in company with
Policeman Joseph Hunt, one of the
men accused by Blanton Of framing"
Staples.
Blanton also declared that he could
prove by colored nurse that Herman
GoSS, a negro found dead IN a precinct
station cell several weeks ago, had been
beaten by a policeman The police re-
ported that Goss hanged himself.
During one Of the most exciting
periods in. the hearing Blanton en-
deavored TO persuade Capt. Ira Sheeiz
of the third precinct 10 admit that the
police Of Washington often beat up"
colored prisoners when trying 70 get in
formation from them. but made a
distinction when persons Of more i'm
portance were arrested.
Blanton Overruled.
Staples continued his testimony when
the session of the board began this
morning On croSS-examination By
Prosecutor Williams several questions
were asked about his relations with
Walter Skinker and two other men
connected with an automobile agency
at 1916 Twentieth street.
MI. b2alltuu uO3CCkeC 10 t8lE p4U>c-
cutor's questioning Staples regarding
any matters not contained in the speci-
ncationS.
Chairman wahly ruled. however. that
the questions were proper because
Blanton himself had introduced evi-
dence regarding Staples character.
Staples related the substance OF
conversation with Sktnker in which he
said Skinker told him of trip he made
10 Canada last Summer when he
brought back some whisky.
But / never contemplated going 10
Canada at anv time" said STAPLES.
When Mr.. Williams asked Staples II
he had not signed an order for . new
automobile IN January OF this wear
Blanton objected. because the board
had not allowed him 20 question Police
man Frederick Schenck about 3 dia-
nlond which Schenck wore on one Of
his fingers while he wSS on the witness
stand.
When Chairman wahly allowed the
question 10 be asked. Blanton and VIII
liamS engaged in a bitter. wordy row
over the form OF the question.
Finally Staples admitted that he had
signed an order for new automobile
but he explained IL By saving that 4
salesman whom he knew as Skip had
asked him 70 sign IL as q matter OF
form while skip" was trying 10 sell
Staples used car
One of the livelieSt incidents Of the
day occurred when Capt. Ira Shessz ct
the third precinct. responding 10 Qus$-
tons by Blanton. told Of the suspension
of Staples and then related how Staples
came 10 him later and said that Police
man Schenek was sore" az him because
he had called ScheGck down" fer
striking one OF the StepSonS % Repre-
sentative Clyde Kelly OF PennSylvanis
SchencS is one Of the men accused ey
Blanton OF Framing" Staples
Il saw that the Kelly boys were right
badly beaten up." said Capt. Sheefr
Their evening clothes were torn and
they were cut about the face, The
oldest one said a policeman had struck
him With stick in the patrol wagon
You knew 1t Was the wrong thing
for policeman 10 strike them, SlGnr
youF" asked Blanton.
Yes" said Sheetz
Charges Third Degree.
"You knew it WAS wrOng IL they we're
sons, diinr yoG1s said
What IL they had been
negroeS2"
$It was wrong in any ease said
Capt Sheets.
did you know about negro named
Herman GraSS being fo0a6 dead ~ q
een and reported 10 have hung HIM.
SEIZE" demanded Rlanton.
This question VAS ruled cut. oQt
Slanton IN \ loud voice declared thSs
he would prove BY a colcyed nurse who
had examined GroSS that there weIe
no indications OF his having been hung
But there Was every Indication thar
Ne had been hit BY Policeman" shout
sd Rlanton.
~ can't see what that has 70 do
With this case" said Chairman WahC
Il intend to show that lots ot pTiS-
>nerS have been beaten Up," said Hlan-
lon II MAS golng To tell the truth
about the third Cegrec nethca heTe,
gut the hoard won't let me Shew these
things up, and 50 i can't help nySeh.
'XNu keep the pocT witnesses waittng
around here all day long and YOU let
he flch ones suit their own convent
nee about coming, Won't let you
make fiSh Of one and hlocd ef another
Questioned further about the Kelly
>oyS. Capt Sheets said that they had
>een brought into the Station house
nom the Embassy Cafe, ON 5 street be-
tween Connecticut and Florida avenues.
'harged With disoFaery conduct,
II do nOe remember the ocASA say
ne they had been struck while IN the
tatlon house, hue the oldest said a
>olieenAan m the patrol wagon whose
,Adge he Thought was number lisS
had hlt him with club. Later when I
allied in the policeman the boy identi.
led as the man Who struck aisn, q
lcentlnued on Rage ). Column ~