Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-19
PRATT D|SPLEASED
BY ALIENS REPORT
Rejects Statement in Which
Policeman Defends His
Right to Investigate.

Dissatisfied with the procedure fol-
lowed by Capt. Robert E. Doyle of the
eighth precinct in forwarding the de-
flant report Of Policeman Robert j.
Allen explaining published statement
that he proposed to in 'estigate the
United States attorneys Office for fall
ure to prosecute a man who had been
indicted for larceny after trust, Mai.
Henry G. Pratt, superintendent of po-
lice, today returned the report to the
precinct commander and directed him
to make definite recommendation.
Maj. Pratt let it be known that he
was particularly displeased with the
tone" Of Aliens report and pointed
out that Capt Doyle, in transmitting
the report to headquarters, had over
looked a provision in the police manual
requiring commanding officers to make
a recommendation on all complaints
sent to them for investigation. Capt.
Doyle made no recommendation what
ever in his letter of transmittal, but
pointed out that Aliens report was
self-explanatory.
In returning Aliens report to Capt.
Doyle Maj. Pratt said:
I'm view of the tone of the state
ment of Policeman Robert j. Allen,
a member of your command, you are
directed to comment and make definite
recommendations as provided in section
seven of the police manual"
Maj. Pratt indicated that no further
action would be taken pending the re-
ceipt of Capt. Doyle's recommendation
Maj. Pratt, today also received from
Senator Sackett, Republican of Ken
tucky, chairman of the subcommittee of
the Senate District committee, investi-
eating police affairs of Washington, a
letter asking for replies to four ques-
tions.
The questions were:
/. Why was Pvt. Allen suspended from
duty?
g. Why was it necessary to assault
Allen in suspending him from duty?
3. Why had not Allen been restored
to duty following vindication of his
actions by the grand jury as promised
by Asst. Supt. William S. Shelby and
Supt. Pratt?
4. Assuming that Allen had been re-
stored to duty. what comments did Mai.
Pratt care to make on this subject?
Doesn't Know of Assault.
Maj. Pratt said that the letter would
be answered promptly, but did not state
what the answer would contain. He
said, however, referring to the second
question, that 1t was the first intima-
ton he had had that Alien was as
saulted when being suspended from
duty.
In his letter Allen also takes excep-
ton to the alleged remarks of Commits
Sioner Proctor L. Dougherty, quoted in
a Washington newspaper. to the effect
that Allen, frequently quoted in the
newspapers, has later denied he was
quoted correctly when brought up ION
the carpet" by his superior officers.
He tells Maj. Pratt: You will, Of
course, realize that such an insinua-
ton upon the part of a superior and
directed toward q subordinate would
be a serious matter If the inSinuation
itself was untrue"
Allen declares he has never been
called upon by Maj. Pratt's Office either
to affirm or deny his quoted remarks
in the newspapers.
Text of Aliens Letter.
Aliens letter follows in part:
Capt. Robert Emmett Doyle has
transmitted to me your order that /
certify to the correctness of an alleged
quotation which is attributed to me
and which appeared in a local news
paper October II, 1929. The said
alleged quotation which your order
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