Evening star., 1928-04-05
Williams Says "Decency Has
Been PiIIoried" in Con-
duct of Case.
PROCEEDINGS NEAR END
AS WITHDRAWAL OCCURS
Religious Issue Is Injected Into
Session Today-Debate
Is Bitter.

loried' and the record ''cluttered with
vIleneSs' in proceeding that could not
be called a trial. Prosecutor Robert L.
Williams abruptly quit the hearing be-
fore the Police Trial Board today near
the close Of the case against Police
man Orville Staples. charged with
bootlesging, hi-jacking, accepting bribes
and annoying women.
Williams refused to argue the case.
although he had been granted hour
and 20 minutes for that purpose, but
in few short, pithy sentences scath-
ingly attacked Representative Blanton,
who has been acting as counsel for
Staples, and incidentally criticized the
board for its conduct Of the case.
Williams Leaves Room.
Just as Blanton arose to sum up the
case for the defense Williams left the
room. an. the Texan was in sole COM
mand of the field. as he turned away
from the board and began TO address
the spectators in loud voice. The last
thing Williams did before he left the
room was to ask the board to wipe out
the whole proceedings and start the
trial anew.
said Mr. williams, without asking
favors. and without fear. and / leave
without fear. I tried to handle this
case in a lawyer-like way. / had no
thought Of personalities. and I have
none nov.
This has been an unheard-of affair.
A man cannot be at the same time O
friend of the court, a self-appointed
friend OF the court, like this gentle
man here. and also counsel for the de-
fenSe. We have the spectacle Of this
so-called friend Of the court appealing
to outsiders to determine whether the
the spectators and securing a rising
vote on a matter before the board.
This has not been a trial, nor a
hearing. nor even a proceeding It Is
something I never heard OF before.
There is no word in the English Ian
guage to cover il.
we have had read into this stenog-
raphic record Instructions 10 the prose-
cutting colinsei-nct instructions TO
withdraw from the case. but TO sit here
supineiy. Decency has been pillofisd
witnesses and the board have been IN
| timidated and browbeaten. The steaog-
from beginning 70 end. II is cuagmire
covered with fog.
Sorry for Board"
I pity you gentlemen on the board
am sorry for you-Sorry that you
have been compelled 10 sit here in the
face of such thing as this. II cannot
help but leave stencil in the noStrilS
Of every decent citizen. This Self-ap-
pointed friend Of the court. this counsel
for the defense. Mr.. Blanton. has
= svzNf InNA k..N -. E.r
not done it.
II have been treated by this board
in the most demeaning manner"
Il say 10 you gentlemen that there
Is but one honorable and decent thing
that YOU can do, in fairness 20 your
citiEsnry. and that IS 70 stand up and
say; We will wipe this thing out Of
existence and proceed anew when there
can be decency and decorum"
Il respectfully ask leave 70 withdraw"
You had better stay. because am
going 70 talk about YOU" interiecteo
Blanton
7 expected that" retorted Williams
hotly. Il have closed my argument"
Williams turned on his heel and
Strode out OF the room, closing the
door.
THAT is the only decent thing be
has done since he has been connected
With this trial" declared Blanton.
The Texan then began his summing
up argument in defense OF Staples, He
said he was going 10 show that II he
had not left his work at the Capitol
20 defend him. Staples would have
been convicted on 'periured testimony"
Il have stood against every crook m
Washington" continued Blanton, Il
have p.~ved that every charge IN this
raSa is aS fatSN a. hell I"
BIanton Talks 10 Crowd.
Il have done my DUTY. II is iTngla-
teriSl 10 nle wha, this board does. This
board may not like me- have fought
this case inch by inch. but I tSKe il
that this board. even though il may
have grown tired Of me. will not con-
vict this policeman because IL DIES not
like me nor because ! have Saroated
1t, take IL that this board Is made W
of honest men and Will do the right
thing"
Turning and addressing the Spscts-
tors In the crowded hearing ROOM. Blan-
ton then took up the specifications IL
detail.
This counsel for the prosecution did
not have the courage 10 stand ap be-
fore me" said Rlanton At one pcint
Il shall show that these charges. cne
w Nl&N-s &AN G@kSkakANkC-
Reports that Williams had tslephonsd
his resignation 10 the once az the cor
poration counsel were met by state
ment nom Corporation Counsel Bride
that Williams may have wanted 70
resign IN the excitement of the moment,
but he will not resign now" Mr. VII
liamS was IN conference With Mr.. Bride
this afternoon
III the midst og what Prosecutor VII
hanS called the "delirnsm" OF the trial
today the religious issue and the XII
khiN klan we're brought prominently
into another angry controversy between
the prosecutor and Representative Rlan-
ton,
II VAS charged by Rlanton that VIII
Hams was "Mggh9 IN" the religious
question for the benefit Of the Khan. cE-
ficerS Of which. Rlanton said, had eesa
III attendance at the trial.
Debate Is Ritter.
This was only one of many SenSA,
ttunal incidents at tcday's SeSStIa,
Time after time Blanton and Williams
engaged IN acrimonious verbal battles.
and Chairman WAhsy Was frequently
forced 10 intervene To restore e1xsey,
AZ one point hlAnton declared that
u Williams were ecndueting this case
before court, and tried 80 plfiuenee
IL the WAY hAantcn claimed ne was
trying 80 mtinanca the hoard he would
De pat Ia 1An for 30 years for eor-
lemnt alaaton eharged williams
,centinasd On Page Z. ceiama Z