Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-26
BIeaSe Cites Days Record
of Police in Urging Re-
lief of Chief.
CLAIM DOYLE DEFENSE
BLOCKED BY DELAY
Attorney Says Failure to Make
Known Specific Charges
Hampers Plans.

the Senate this afternoon, Senator
Blease, Democrat, of South Carolina,
renewed his demand for the suspension
of Supt. of Police Henry c.. Pratt, and
declared he was surprised that Presi-
dent Hoover has not taken some action
to improve conditions in the District.
He also reiterated his belief that In
spector w. S. Shelby and Lieut.. Ed
ward ]. Kelly should be suspended
pending the investigation now going on.
Referring to the President, Senator
Blease said:
100 be frank about it, do not want
TO criticize him, but I am surprised at
Mr.. Hoover; am positively surprised.
When I was the Governor Of South
Carolina, and had the power to appoint
law enforcement officers, If the re-
ports had come to me about commits
sioner that have come to Mr.. Hoover
about the three Commissioners OF this
District; If the reports had come to
me about detectives working under him
as they have come to him, would have
discharged every one of them, even II
every one of them had been the closest
friend I had in the world. 1 do not
see how he can sleep peacefully when
he knows what Is going on in this
city"
The South Carolina Senator began
by reading from one of todays news
papers a summary of the different
stories relating to police affairs, includ-
ing one about the Scrivener case, an
other about the Mcpherson case, and
enc relating to the arrest last night OF
q precinct detective on prohibition
charge.
Record for One Day.
'That is Just part of the record
OF the District Police Department and
attorneys Office for one day." Senator
Blease continued. And yet we are
told that Allen and Doyle should be
suspended, and that Pratt should be
allowed to discredit Allen"
After declaring that Policeman Allen
is to be fired soon, Senator Bleass ex-
pressed the belief that ct VIII be a
packed Jury" Senator Blease declared
that it does not make any difference
what showing he makes because Pratt
wants to shield the department in these
two horrible murders"
st say, and repeat, Pratt, Shelby
and Kelly should come out Of there"
Senator Blease continued. IF you
don't do something in this matter, this
city is going to be Hades OF crime.
It is getting worse every day We ought
to take some action and take 1t right
away"
Senator Blease said the men in
charge of the government here should
be made to establish peace and order.
A vigorous protest against the delay
of the Police Department in serving
formal charges on Capt. Robert E.
Doyle, commander of the eighth pre-
cinct, who was suspended with Police
man Allen because of his outspoken
defense of the officer, was made today
by Attorney T. Morris Wampler, who
has joined Attorney Chapman w. Fow-
Ter to defend the veteran police cap
tain before the Police Trial Board
Wednesday.
Wampler was named as another
member of Capt. Doyles counsel late
yesterday and Immediately proceeded to
go over the details of the case with
Fowler. He has been handicapped in
preparing the defense, he said, because
of the failure of the Police Depart
ment to make known the formal charges
against the officer.
Can't FathOm Purpose.
at can't understand the purpose of
the Police Department in delaying the
charges" he declared, since it is the
intention to have Capt. Doyle go to trial
Wednesday. AS result Mr.. Fowler and
I must grope around blindfolded in an
effort to make whatever Roadway We
can preparing LIlC CASE 1CE IEldl.
In answer to Wampler'S complaint of
the delay in serving the formal charges,
both Maj. Pratt and Luckett pointed out
that the police manual provides that
charges may be preferred against a po-
lice officer 48 hours before he is or
dered to trial, exclusive of Sundays and
holidays.
This would give the Police Depart
ment until Monday morning to serve
nt1n YH1IsA
Department, but assurance was given
that Doyle and Allen would receive the
papers before nightfall, thus giving
counsel for the two officers more than
80 hours to prepare their cases before
the trial.
PostpOnement Seen.
The trial of Allen, however, is expect
ed to be postponed, since there is a
strong likelihood that he will demand
the creation of a special board Of
civilians to try his case.
Maj Pratt explained that the final
makeup of the Police Trial Board,
which has been reorganized for the
trial of Capt. Doyle, will be left entirely
to Inspector Louis j. Stoll, chairman
of the board. Capts. William G. Stott
and 0. T. Davis, members OF the regu-
lar board, were removed as result OF
q challenge by Attorney Fowler. CaptS.
William 4. SANFORD ana ". +. M. LOrQ,
the regular alternates. were substituted.
Pratt, however. appointed Capts. Charles
r. Peck and j. E. Wilson as substitute
alternates, and explained that Inspector
Stoll has the option of using these two
officers on his reorganized board In
place of Capts. Lord and Sanford.
In the meantime renewed efforts were
made at the District Building to put
the formal charges in final shape sc
they could be served before night on
both Doyle and Allen, who, likewise
must face the trial board because Of
the defiant letter he wrote Maj Henry
@, Pratt, superintendent Of police, ir
explanation Of his statement that M
proposed TO investigate the United
States attorneys office for its failure
to prosecute an investment broker, in
dicted more than a year ago.
Revision Instructed.
It had been originally planned to
serve the charges on Doyle and Aller
last night, but Corporation Counsel
William w. Bride, after reviewing tbs
papers, decided the specifications were
too general and directed a revision tt
make them more specific.