Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-12
CITIZENS MAY TRY
BURL|NGAME CASE
Official of Municipal Govern.
ment Seen as Third Mem
ber of Trial Board.

The extraordinary trial board to be
created to sift the charges against Guy
E. Burlingame, suspended police captain,
may be composed of two representative
citizens and an official of the munich
pal government, it developed today as
the Commissioners turned their atten-
tiou to plans for diSposing of one of
the most unusual cases in the history
Of the Metropolitan Police Department
Meanwhile, at the Capitol, Senator
CarawayE Democrat, of Arkansas, who
attacked Capt. Burlingame on the floor
of the Senate last Saturday, announced
that he had received information re-
lating to crime conditions in the Dis
trict which he Is considering turning
over to the Department Of Justice.
The Senator did not reveal the exact
consisted of statements made to- him
by persons he regarded as reliable and
which, he said, may have "a very salu-
tary effect" on local conditions.
Senator Caraway said he wanted to
emphasize that he is not conducting
"a police crusade" but that his present
intention was to have the Department
of Justice look into the information
that has come to him about local con-
ditionS.
Although the Commissioners have
given but little consideration as yet to
the makeup of the special board, due
to the pressure Of other affairs, it is
known that they propose to go outside
Of the District government for a ma
jority of the personnel because OF the
desire of Police Supt. HesSe to get the
case away from Police Department
Jurisdiction. The board, under tentative
plans, would be composed Of a prom
inent lawyer, an outstanding business
man and an Assistant Engineer Com
missioner of the District who Is familiar
with Army court-martial procedure.
Mai. Donald A. Dawson, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner, probably would
be the representative of the municipal
government on this board. The citizens
mentioned prominently to serve with
him are former Justice A. A. Hoehling
of the District Supreme Court and
Edwin G. Graham, former president
Of the Washington Board Of Trade.
Graham Would Be Unable to Serve.
Mr.. Graham, however, said he would
be unable to accept an appointment
on the special board If it is proffered
by the Commissioners. 81 am too busy
to take on any additional work." he
said. Moreover: I am going out Of
Judge Hoehling declined to indicate
whether he would serve on the board
AS neither the Commissioners nor any
one else had suggested his appointment.
the former Supreme Court justice said
he "had nothing to say"
Citizens appointed on the special trial
board. it was pointed out, would have
to serve free, as the District has no
funds available to pay for such service.
The only compensation for the men,
bers, 1t was said, would be the distinc-
tion of performing a public service.
Tt is foregone conclusion that either
William w. Bride, corporation counsel
of the District, or his assistant, w. H.
Fowler, who has acted as prosecutor
before the police trial board since its
reorganization last Summer, will be
chosen as the prosecutor and legal ad-
wiser on any board named by the Com
missioners to try Capt. Burlingame.
The Commissioners have intrusted to
Mr.. Bride the preparation of the spe-
cific charges to be made against the
suspended captain.
Legal Doubts Cleared.
Some doubt was expressed today
whether a special trial board such as
the Commissioners. plan to appoint
would be legal, but this was cleared up
by Mr.. Bride and Ringgold Hart, prin-
cipal assistant corporation counsel.
Both of them ruled informally that the
act Of Congress of June s, 1906, regu-
lating the Police Department, as amend
ed, gives the Commissioners the au-
thority to name any one they choose to
try police officers. Paragraph S, of
CONTINUED on page 2, Column y.