Evening star., 1928-08-03
POLICEMAN WINS
CASE At HEARING
Trial Board VindICateS
Rone-ReserveS Decision
in Other Actions.

defense, Policeman Guy Rome Of tn
eleventh precinct was yindicated by tn
police trial board today on charge Q
failing to report and properly nvesti
gate an assault July E, which resulted
two DAYS later in the death of the vic
tim at Casualty Hospital
A second officer Of the same precinc
involved in the case. w F. McDuff1e
was tried later on a similar charge snt
the board reserved its decision.
Testimony brought out at the trial @
Rome was to the effect that when NJ
came on duty at midnight OF Juiy
Oficer McDuf7ie told him he had inVeS'
tieated an assault case and that there
was nothing TO II.
TWO davs later Lieut.. Sidney J. Marks
was notified that Daniel Dyson, col
ored, of 1926 Forty-eighth street north
east. had died at Casualty Hospital
from, an injury on the head inflicted
hv a monkey wrench. He notified head
quarters and Officer Rome arrested q
colored man named James Henson,
who was charged with the assault.
Lieut. Marks testified that no Incidental
had been made out concerning the
assault.
Other testimony was given 10 the
effect that when McGuf1ie was notified
about the assault having been made AT
the Forty-eighth street address he had
told the desk sergeant he already ha6
made a partial investigation and there
vas no need for him to so to the hos
pital.
Attorneys Joseph B. Kelly and Harold
+. Stephenson asked the board TO dis
- - az
The trial board also heard the cases
Of FIVE other officers this morning, re-
serving its decision.
Pvt. J. W. Smith. who was charged
with being asleep on duty July lS, de-
clined TO present a defense. Another
private. B. H Huffman of the four
teenth precinct pleaded guilty to failure
TO patrol his beat and entering a lunch
room on the morning of June II.
PVT. w. H. Bell of the tenth precinct
admitted being in a lunchroom the
morning of July is. when found there
hy inspectors He was reading a paper
after finishing his breakfast.
Two other cases involved Pvt w A.
Lawson Of No. Z. charged with neglect
ing TO call up his station on July i3.
ard II. 8. Miller. crossing policeman at
Seventeenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue.
Sergt. B. NJ. Mcdonald testified he
observed Miller for an hour and 10
minutes the night of July Is lettering
about the corner instead of standing
II the middle Of the street directing
traffic.
Fined for Beating Prisoner.
Charged with beating Frank A. Lewis,
celored. 223 Third street southwest, Po-
iiceman f. c. Redding Of the fourth
precinct was found guilty by the police
trial board yesterday afternoon and
fined $50. Policeman r. NJ. Teates, who
was with Redding when he arrested
Lewis on a disorderiy conduct charge,
was fined SIS for permitting the as
sault. An additional charge of making
an unjust arrest was dismissed.
The trial board had to choose between
two entirely different versions Of the al
fair. which took place the night OF
June al the Third street address. Both
policemen made categorical denials that
Lewis had been struck by either Of
them.
Five witnesses we're produced by D.
Edward Clarke. attorney for Lewis, and
an equal number of police witnesses
we're put upon the stand by E. Russell
Kelly. attorney for the policemen, TO re-
fute the accusations As a result OF his
injuries Lewis was confined TO his bed
for 10 days He was beaten over the
side Of the head and mouth by Red
dings baton, according to his testimony.
Redding and Teates testified they
heard Lewis say that II q policeman
came to his house and broke down the
door without making an arrest he would
have him investigated. His remarks,
they declared. were accompanied by
profanity. Since the two policemen had
done that very thing at the home Of
Ernest Scott, colorec. short while be-
fore. they put Lewis under arrest for his
alleged remark Lewis. Scott and sew
eraI others were talking in the yard at
Lewis home when the arrest occurred.
Hearing the remark, Redding walked
up to Lewis and asked him If he lived
in the house and slapped his face.
Scott and Walter Hawkins both colored,
backed up Lewis testimony. The prison.
er went quietly 10 the box with the
two policemen and on the way there.
II was charged, Redding beat him
ever the head with his baton.
Posted Collateral
Arriving at the station. Lewis put up
SIS collateral for disorderly conduct.
station Clerk Irving Rosenberg and
sergt. Henry H. Bailey testified that
his face showed no marks Of injuries
ard that the prisoner had made no
complaint Of nistreatment
Attorney Kelly tried tn discount the
testimony Of Scott and Hawkins by
showing they had police records. He
also pointed out that there was no evi-
dence 70 show what had happened TO
Lewis between the hour Of midnight
when he left the station house and
2 am. when Dr. G.. r. Marshall was
called 10 treat him at his home. Teates,
first 10 testify, said he had been ar
resting officer and had done all the talk
ing, and that Redding had not said a
Uorc.
The trial board also heard the case
Of Policeman J. w. Connors Of the fourth
precinct, who was found guilty of hav-
Ing been in place known TO police
where the prohibition law had been yio-
lated He vas fined SIS for conduct
pEeludicial 10 the reputation and dis
eipl.ne o. the police force
A charge that ne had engaged I'm
q fight with brother officer In the
establishment was dismissed Police
man Lawrence O. Miller Is on trial
for having assaulted Conn0rs al the
time AS a result Of his injuries, Con-
nors VAS unconscious for two days, he
testified. and off duty more than q
month, During that time he received
no pay lie gave hts version Of the
fight IN his testimony yesterday.