Evening star., 1928-03-08
DOUTHITT CLAIMS
HESSE RADICAL ON
DRY ENFORCEMENT

DRY ENFORCEMENT
Continued from First Page)
a second offense. and q two-year sem
tencc for all subsequent offenses.
Commissioners Responsible.
1t places responsibility for enforce
ment on the District Commissioners. ne
said Any officer or person responsible
for enforcement Of provisions OF the act
who shall fail to comply with the pro.
visions would be fined from $500 to
81 900 and a forfeiture Of office. IL
holds that these cases Of officers derellct
in their duty BE- handled in the Supreme
Court by The United States district at
torney.
Prosecutions in other cases would be
filed In the Police Court by the corpora
ton counsel of the District. The cor
poration counsel and the superintendent
of police would be given the right TO
Issue search warrants which Is now
done by the United States commissioner.
The proposed bill makes mandatory on
the corporation counsel to notify the
owners of property where man Is
arrested for violations. and II he Is
arrested a second time on the same
property The place would be padlocked
for one year. Any person found IN
room where liquor Is found under a
search warrant would be guilty Of aid
ing and abetting in the sale Of liquor
and fined S25 under this bill.
Mr.. Hammer protested that the pres
ent law Is drastic enough. but said,
you can't enforce 1t with policemen
who are paid to protect the bootleggers.
but you can do it with honest-to-
goodness policemen. Mr.. Douthitt in
sisted, you can't do 1t without war
rant" Another tense period In today's
hearing was reached at this point.
Never Smclled Liquor.
Mr.. Hammer leaned forward with
unusual deliberation and said:
I'm not going to ask you about the
personal habits of anybody. but there
have been two witnesses here who have
testified about the chief Of police. One
has said that he has seen him intoxi-
Gated. Another has said that he has
smelled liquor on his breath when he
was on duty. You say you have seen
him practically every day?"
Mr.. Douthitt answered. "Yes. sir"
Have you come In close contact with
him?"
"Ycs sir"
You have talked to him face to face
-~near TO him?"
Yes, sir"
observed him?"
Yes. SIR
You have been a prohibition en-
forcement officer?"
Yes. SIR
And YOU are an observer of course
OF men?"
Yes. sir" .-.
Il want TO ask you II he Is man
who Is intoxicated every day?"
Il never saw him intoxicated nor
never smelled liquor on his breath"
1t has been stated before the COM
mittee." continued Mr.. Hammer that
Maj. Hesse has been drunk every day
since he has been In ,ftice--not By any
witness. but that assertion has beer
made"
II have heard it," said Mr.. Douthltt.
Il have never seen the man more than
three or four times" said Mr.. Ham.
mer; never had private conversation.
only twice. and that only for a few
minutes / have never discussed with
him whether he drinks or not" said
Mr.. Hammer
Il have. and he says no. said Mr.
Douthitt.
May Call Mrs. Willebrandt.
Representative Gilbert asked Mr.
Hammer to draft memorandum for
the committee on decisions regarding
prohibition enforcement.
Chairman Gibson suggested that Mrs.
Mabel Willebrandt, assistant to the Al.
torney General In prohibition enforce
mcnt. should be invited 70 testify be-
fore the committee 10 give authoritative
information regarding the need for ad-
oitionai legislation In the District to
Mr.. Gilbert stated 1t would BE- inter-
esting to have her testimony. but not at
ell conclusive"
Mr. Douthitt put into the record q
statement regarding the number OF
prohibition enforcement cases In the
District during May and the DISPOSE
ton Of these cases.
Al the opening OF the hearing today
the subcommittee had before Il the
brother-in-law Of one OF the alleged
bootleggers. whose liquor. 1t Is claimed
b. Mr.. Blanton. was hi-jacked by two
local policemen after the booticggers
had been assured protestion.
The witness had very poor men,
dissatisfied. but promised him q later
hearing. with other witnesses to con-
front him who might refresh his
memory.
The hearing will be resumed tomor-
row morning at 10 o'clock.
City Action Delayed.
Carrying out their previously an.
nounced intention OF delaying the in
vestigation Of Representative Blantons
charges against the Police Department
and Maj. Hesse. the District Commits
sioners today took no action whatever
with respect to the case.
Proctor l., D0ugherty. chairman OF
the board OF Commissioners. reiterated
that the probe would not be started
until the Gibson subcommittee COM
pletes It's hearings with "espect TO
Blanton's charges and all data bear
ing on the case have been submitted
to the Commissioners.
Commissioner DouRherty also said
that no decision has yet been reached
as To the procedure to be followed In
investigating the accusations uf Hlan-
ton. Sentiment Is strong for public
trial Of Mai, Hesse before the board of
Commissioners. but Mr. Dougherty
said the Commissioners would deter
mine whether tnis procedure should be
adopted after the testimony before the
Gibson body Is studied and analysed.
Maj, HfSse would make no further
comment on the case, but his friends