Evening star., 1928-05-18
CApPER PROTESTS
: IN KEPHART CASE
Senator Backs Jardine's
View of Alleged Third
Degree" Methods.

Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas
chairman of the Senate District Com
mittee, today added his protest to tha
of Secretary Of Agriculture Jardin,
against alleged third degree" methods
employed by the police in questioning
Leonard w. Kephart, scientific investi
gator for the Bureau of Plant Industry
Senator Capper announced that he i
preparing letter which he will send K
Commissioner Proctor L, Dougherty in
CiorSing the stand taken by Secretary
.Jariine yesterday and expressing tht
hope that Kephart will be accorded fail
treatment by the police in their inves-
tigation of the mysterious assault made
upon Kephart last week and the theft
Of his automobile, which later was used
in the attempted kidnapping OF E, Per-
cival Wilson, Chevy Chase resident.
viii Not Go Into Details.
Senator Capper said his letter will not
so into the details of the alleged brutal
police Quizzing of kephart, which Sec
retary Jardine declared "diSregaroed not
only has IKephart'sl rights as a citlzen.
but also the fundamentals of ordinary
humanitarian consideration. The Kan
SaS Senator's communication Will be
brief. he Indicated and will contain
little more than an Endorsement of Sec
retary Jardine'S letter and an appeal Tor
fair play in the future conduct OF the
case
Eephart was described by Senator
Capper, who is well acquainted with the
scientist, as "a high-claSs citizen.
Senator Capper's announcement follow
ed a conference late yesterday after
noon between him and H. E. Allan
son. assistant chief of the Bureau OF
Plant Industry, and ]. P. Wenchel, at
tnrney in the solicitors office OF the
Department of Agriculture, who has
heen retained by Kephart to handle
the legal phase Of the case.
County Oflicials Confer.
Montgomery County officials today
held a long conference with Mr.. Wenchel
and other friends of Kephart at Rock
vile, Nd. but refused TO make any
statement other than that they will con-
tEnue their investigation Of the case be-
fore taking any definite action.
There is no chance of a warrant
being issued in the case today" States
Attorney Robert Peter stated following
the conference. There may not be
warrant issued at any time for any per
son now implicated in the case"
Mr. Peter refused TO say whether this
statement may be taken to mean that
he has definite information regarding
the alleged aSsailant of Kephart and
kidnaper of Wilson.
The conference was held in Mr..
Peters Office. at Rockville. and was at
tended by Attorney wenchel, J. Bond
Smith. prominent Maryland attorney
and friend of Kephart: two other
friends Of Kephart, who are his neigh
bors in Takon1a Park, Nd: Police Chief
Alvie A. Moxley and Sergt Earl Bur-
dine Of the Montgomery County police
force Mr.. Smith said he was not in
terested in the case as an attorney Tor
Kephart but merely as friend OF the
Government scientist and of Kephart's
friends.
Headquarters Detective r. A. Yarney,
who participated in the examination of
Kephart at police headquarters which
aroused the ire Of Secretary Jardine.
has been ordered by Maj. Edwin B.
EeSse. superintendent Of police. 70 sub
nit q fun report on the manner in
which that examination waS conducted.
Detective Varney said today thar he
has not completed his report and re-
fused 70 discuss it in advance OF
trs submission TO his immediate supe-
Tior. Inspector Henry Pratt, chief OF
detectives.