Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-24
Doyle and Allen Receive
Assistance of Many Attor-
neys as Date Approaches
to Go Before Tria! Board.
BLEASE RESOLUTION
HELD UP BY DEBATE
Effect of Act Would Not Bind
Commissioners to Suspend Super
intendent. Regardless Of Action
of Upper House of Congress on
Proposal.

Unmoved by the bombardment
in the Senate against the Police
Department and the resolution
which Senator Blease of South
Carolina has drafted calling for
his suspension unless Capt. Robert
E. Doyle and Pvt. Robert j. Allen
are restored to duty, Maj. Henry
G. Pratt, superintendent of police,
today calmly continued plans for
the prosecution of the two officers.
In the meantime, Allen, whose
criticism of the United States at
torney'S Office for failure to prose-
cute William L. Moffatt, an invest
ment broker, indicted in 1923
and arrested last week on a new
charge, led to his own suspension
and the suspension of Capt. Doyle
for defending him, announced
that he proposed to furnish
United States Attorney Leo A.
Rover with new and startling in
formation" in another case in
volving an investment broker.
Allen indicated that the information
he intended to give Rover concerned
the unusual action Of grand jury back
in September, 1928, in failing to return
an indictment against the broker, who
had been charged with defrauding a
woman out Of S39 900, when the jury
was told that the broker had promised
to make restitution to the amount of
$4,000 If he was not prosecuted, and
thus save the woman from the poverty
which she faced. The grand jury re-.
turned no indictment.
With Senator Blease, Democrat of
South Carolina, waiting for an oppor-
tunity to introduce the resolution seek
ing to have Maj. Pratt, Inspector Will
liam s. Shelby and Lieut.. Edward j.
Kelly suspended, further developments
may take place at the Capitol this aft
ernoon.
In preparing this resolution yesterday,
Senator Blease explained that If Capt.
Doyle and Policeman Allen are to be
deprived Of pay pending trial, he
thought these other officials should be
placed on the same level until the Sit
they should either all be kept on duty
or all suspended pending final DISPOSE
ton Of the questions involved.
Resolution Blocked.
Inspector Shelby and Lieut.. Kelly
were the officers whose manner OF In,
yestigating the Mcpherson case formed
the basis of charges of police inefh-
cheney made by the grand jury.
When the Senate met this morning It
began Immediately to consider an
amendment to the tariff bill, and Sem
ator Blease did not have an opportunity
to bring in his resolution.
With the return to Washington to-
morrow of Chairman Sackett of the
Senate subcommittee appointed to in
vestigate police conditions generally.
further developments in the inquiry are
looked for.
Senator Sackett is expected to call a
meeting of the subcommittee within a
few days. He already has report from
Supt. of Police Pratt containing the
explanation of the police chief regarding
the first suspension of Policeman Allen,
following his action in beginning
separate investigation into the McPher-
son case several weeks ago. This report
is not to be made public until the sub
committee meets.
If the police situation is to be pre-
sented in form requiring action only
by the Senate 1t would not be an act of
Congress, but would be an expression of
the opinion of the Senate.
Friends Offer Aid.
Aside from the support m the Senate.
Doyle and Allen found themselves con-
fronted with numerous offers of assist
ance today from countless friends, who
rallied to their defense when this an
nouncement of their suspension was
made known.
Several of these lawyers were Capt.
Doyle'S classmates at the National Uni
versity Law School from which he re-
ceived the degrees of bachelor and mas
ter of laws. He indicated that he most
likely could choose his counsel from his
alma mater" as he put it.
Capt. Doyle said he planned to make
for the trial just as soon
as he selected his lawyer and that he
had no fear of the outcome The officer
was in a jovial mood and declared that
he did not know he had so many friends
until he was suspended.
Telephone Kept Busy.
my telephone has been ringing al
most inceSSantly, he said, land letters
of commendation for my stand and
offers of assistance have come to me
by the scores. Why some good Christian
friend even sent me beautiful basket
of flowers
Whether he will stand trial jointly
with Allen or demand a separate trial
Is one problem Capt. Doyle intends to
decide as soon as he chooses his counsel.
1t is likely, however, that Doyle and
Allen will be tried separately since the
latter has announced that he would
object to being tried by the regular trial
board composed of Inspector Louis j.
Ston and CaptS. o. T. Burke and Will
liam G. Stott. Capt. Doyle on the other
hand said he was willing to stake his
fate with the regular board.
Allen likewise had not decided on the
attorney that will represent him at the
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