Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-09
INQUIRY STARTED
into CHARGES Of
POLICE BRUTALITY
AccuserS of Officers Testify
Before the Gibson Sub
committee.
SCAR SHOWN BY C0L0RED
MAN TO SUPPORT STORY
Carpenter, Who Claims Patrolmsn
Beat Him and Family, Is
Another Witness.

Investigation of alleged police brutality
was started today by the Gibson sub
committee of the House District COM
nittee with two men who charge they
were recent victims as the first
witnesses.
One of them was William F. Car
penter, 4s1 H street southwest, who
claimed that IL policemen broke into
his house early last Saturday, and
some of them beat him and his two
sons and blackened the eyes of his
wife and daughter
The other, Alfonso Wood, colored,
On employe of James B. Henderson.
1l08 G street, showed scars to support
rs story of being attacked by several
members of the eighth precinct. Wood
displayed a bullying left eye. partly
closed swollen bruise on his forehead
and a scar on his ear.
Charges House Ransacking.
The committee also heard Richard
Blunt, colored, an employee of the Sem
ate document room, who charged that
police of the fourth precinct forced
their way into his house, at 323 Third
street southwest, January Is and ran
sacked the place, but found nothing.
Wood charged he was beaten with
police make raid on colored cabaret
on U street. and then taken to the
eighth precinct station, where he was
again assaulted. While in the station
house, he said. he witnessed the police
administer beating to another COL
ored man.
Carpenter repeated substantially the
story of the assault on his family as
given to Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, super
intendent of police, which resulted in
charges being preferred against accused
officers. THE police beat everybody in
the house except my little granddaugh-
Ter" he said, "and she happened to be
upstairs in the bedroom when they
came in"
Carpenter also told the committee
that there were SO many policemen in
his house that some had nothing to do
and went into the parlor and smoked
cigarettes.
Chairman Gibson announced at the
outset of the hearing that the COM
mittee intended to make an investiga-
ton of all complaints against the con-
duct of policemen that are supported
by reliable citizens. 1.-The committee
has received large number of COM
plants with respect to the conduct of
members OF the Police Department" he
take up all of them, those backed by
reliable people will be investigated and
the Police Department will be given op-
portunity to reply" Sensation seekers
will be taboo.
Letterman Testifies.
Sergt. o. j. Letterman. in charge of
the police liquor squad, followed
Carpenter on the witness stand. He
was asked what he meant by a state
ment he was quoted as having made to
the effect that he was unable to arrest
Frank Mccormick when he raided his
establishment sometime ago because
tnere was something crooked some
where
Letterman denied he made such a
statement. He said he went to Nc
Cormick's establishment, 2l2 Ninth
street, to arrest an employe by the
name OF Rockelli and was not looking
for Mccormick. Mccormick was there.
however, he said, and told him that he
vas a good fellow and asked the police
to give him "a break It had no war
rant for Mccormick and no intention
Of arresting him." Letterman said.
Asked by Chairman Gibson If he
knew Mccormick, Letterman said that
he knew him as a gambler" who at one
time operated number of establish
nlents, but now. according to his m
formation, he has few or none and is
"broke."
The Rockelli referred to, was Harry
Rockelli of the 1000 block of Four-and-
a-half street, who was charged with
sale and possession as the result of the
raid, but who was acquitted in Police
Court.
AT the time Rockelli was arrested Nc
Cormick, according to court officials.
was under injunction to restrain him
from selling liquor at the Ninth street
address.
Gibson then said that information
had come to the committee that there
are 5000 slot machines in Washington.
some Of them located near school build
tngs and are played by school children
with lunch money. Letterman said he
thought the number would not exceed
8C0 and that they are vending machines
and therefore escape the law.