Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-28
BOARD POSTPONES
TRIAL OF DOYLE
Weeks Delay Granted to
Give Counsel More Time
to Map Defense.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
ton could be vastly improved If the
United States attorneys Office were
aroused and efficient.
1T is vicious circle of logic and one
which harms society when the United
States attorneys Office blameS the de-
lay of justice to court conditions; and
tthe courts in turn criticize the evidence
presented by the police and throw it out
on technicality, and then the Police De-
partment feels the hopelessnesS Of in1-
tiative under such conditions"
Refers to Allen and Doyle.
care Allen and Doyle correct" he
asked, Gin stating that the stockbroker
Moffatt had twice been indicted, but
never tried, although year had elapsed
since indictment? Could this be so if
the United States attorneys office is
aroused and eff1cient?" DR.. Pierce then
observed, Failure to enforce the law
does more to impair the reputation, the
good order, the discipline and morale of
the police force than all the DoyleS and
Aliens in America ever could be accused
of doing"
He referred to Policeman Allen, whose
investigation led to the indictment Of
Robert A. Mcpherson, Jr., for the muir
der Of his wife, and Capt. Doyle of the
eighth police precinct, to which Allen
was assigned. Both have been suspend
ed and await hearing before police
trial board on charges growing out Of
the case.
Referring to the Rothstein murder
case and recalling that the police COM
missioner of New York was compelled
to resign" when he failed to find the
murderer Of the gambler, DR.. Pierce
said how differently We proceed in
Washington.
"A young woman meets a violent
death on September 49," he continued,
heads of our Detective Bureau announce
1t to be suicide. Largely upon their
testimony, as presented by one of them,
and without hearing other witnesses,
excepting three doctors, coroner'S
jury of six men, acting in manner
which the grand jury pronounced to be
merely matter of FORM" found the
death suicidal. Possibly it was.
Jury Findings Cited.
but the grand jury was led to inves-
tigate the event, and the grand jury
pronounced it murder and returned an
Indictment. The grand jury found that
the heads of the Detective Bureau On
spector william S. Shelby of the De-
tective Bureau and Lieut.. Edward j..
Kelly of the homicide squad showed
ineffectiveness, destroyed evidence,
failed to interview important witnesses,
while under oath attempted to miSlead
the grand jury, told other witnesses
what, they should testify and what to
forget; and in view of these findings the
grand Jury requested the superintendent
of police and District Commissioners to
suspend these two officers from their
duties pending investigation.
The answer of these authorities Is to
transfer these officers with pay and
without trial, but to suspend without
pay and with trial Officer Allen and
Capt Doyle. I have never seen Allen
or Doyle to my knowledge" DR.. Pierce
said. II hold no brief for them, though
I wish them we'll"
Two other cases were cited by the
pastor. Three colored persons arrested
ON murder charges before Thanksgiving
last year, he said, were not indicted
until January 20 last and were not
tried until last week, NEARLY a year
after the crime" Why this delay II
the United States attorneys Office had
been aroused and efficient?" he asked
Suggests Self Government.
DR.. Pierce addressed himself in par
ticular to court procedure. us 1t true"
he asked, that courts do not open until
10 am, take an hour off for luncheon
and close at 3 or sometimes 4 o'clock?
Is it true that courts function on an
average five days a week? Is 1t true
that judges take three month vaca-
ton? Is 1t true that courts often adj
journ because judges are indisposed or
enjoy poor health?"
Suggesting that the Chief Justice Of
the United States or the Department OF
Justice has authority to assign judges
to relieve court congestion, DR.. Pierce
asked, Would not aroused and efficient
officials make that requeSt?"
He asked his congregation to consider
whether this situation" would arise If
the citizens of the District elected the
Commissioners and were self-governing.
we might be IN a worse situation" he
said, but at least 1t would be different
Our problems then would be of self
governing people"