Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-03
DEFENSE ATTACKS
ELG|N TESTIMONY
IN GRAvELLY TRIAL
Conflict in Evidence Given
Police Court and Board
Claimed by Counsel.
ILLNESS OF CROTTS
REPORTED BY LAWYER
Says Client Would Stand on His
Rights and Refuse to Talk
Even if Present.

charges py ue1euSe COUNSEL IiIot q
prosecution witness was failing to tell
the truth marked the hearing of Spots
wood Gravelly. suspended third precinct
detective, before the Police Trial Board
today on charge of unauthorized use
Of a flrearm.
Gravelly's lawyer, James j. O'Shea, in
cross-examining John G. Elgin, attempt
ed to show that Elgin's testimony before
the Trial Board on direct examination
was in conflict with statements he made
recently when Gravelly was tried in Po-
lice Court for firing on James CrottS,
q young carnival Snowman, in an effort
to capture CrottS after he is alleged
to have attempted, with Ardie G. Swort-
eel, suspended fourth precinct police
man and Elgin, to extort money from
Rose Marie Foster, an occupant of an
apartment house in the 1900 block OF
First street.
O'Shea succeeded in drawing from
Elgin the statement that he had not
told all in Police Court.
Points to GraveIly.
Just before Elgin was excused from
the witness stand, Capt. G. T. Peck of
the eleventh precinct, member Of the
trial board, asked him who fired on
Crotts. Pointing to Graveliy, Elgin re-
piled, "He looks like him."
But didn't you say on direct ex-
animation" Capt Peck demanded,
that you didn't actually see the shoot
ing at ALL"
Yes, sir"
Elgin testified he was sitting in an
automobile with Crotts waiting on
Swortzel to return from the Foster
girls apartment when a machine drew
up in front of the car and two men
jumped out. He said he told Crotts
his companion then leaped from the
car and fed. He added he heard four
or five shots short time later.
Prefers Not to Answer.
Stanley Deneale, assistant corporation
counsel in charge of the prosecution,
attempted to learn from Elgin what
had taken place while he was in the
Foster girls apartment before the
shooting. O'Shea objected and Inspec-
tor Louis j. Stoll, chairman of the
board. asked Elgin whether he thought
he might incriminate himself by an
swering the question.
I'D rather not answer" the witness
replied.
Myron Ehrlrich, an attorney repre-
senting Raymond Neudecker, chief of
counsel for Crotts, told the board his
client was unable to attend on account
of illness. He added. however. that even
if he were present he would stand on
his constitutional rights and refuse to
testify.
Witnesses Praise Gravely.
The trial opened with procession
of character witnesses to the stand, all
Of whom informed the Trial Board that
Gravely has an excellent reputation,
both on the police force and in private
life. Seventeen men, including five po-
lice officers, an Army officer, an assist
ant United States district attorney and
several civilians, appeared.
The first witness was Inspector AL
bert j. Headley, who was followed by
Capt. F. S. w. Burke, commander at
the first precinct, both of whom rated
the accused man highly as a policeman.
The next witness was Capt. g. Q.
Rathbone, u. S. A., who was Gravely's
commanding officer when the policeman
was stationed at Fort Benning. Ga, as
an instructor in the Infantry school
there. Rathbone told the board that
Gravely was under his command for
two and one-half years, and was first
class soldier. He said that Gravely held
a commission as lieutenant during the
World War, but voluntarily resigned at
the termination of the conflict to be-
come master sergeant.
Tells Overseas Heroism.
Warrant Offlcer Thomas. F. Darcy,
who has known Gravely for Is years,
serving in the same regiment with him
on the Mexican border and overseas,
said that Gravely was an efficient SOL
der. He related a story of how the
accused man with three others volun-
teered to go across no mans land in
broad daylight and capture a machine
gun. He said they succeeded.
Assistant United States District At
torney r. F. Camalier said he had found
Gravely an unusually truthful officer.