Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-10
BURKE, ACQUITTED,
RETURNS TO DUTY
Cleared of Unbecoming Con.
duct by Trial Board in
Unanimous Vote.

Acquitted Of a charge of conduct I'M
becoming an officer by the unanimous
vote Of the Police Trial Board, William
F, Burke today was reinstated and re-
turned to duty as third precinct de-
tective.
The case against Burke resulted from
his successful efforts to have Charles
B. Murray, an assistant District at
torney, nolle PROSE- charge of operat-
ing o diSorderly house placed against
her arrest at her apartment in the 1900
block OF First street.
The girls temperance here came to
light when she reported an alleged
"Shakedown" attempt at the apartment
which was climaxed by the shooting
Of James Crotts, accused IN the case,
by Detective s. F. Gravely.
Testifying in his own behalf, Burke
declared he had believed Washington
failed to return to the city. He said
she was In York, Pa, ct the time he
asked Murray to drop the case against
her. Burke was rewarded with mods of
approval by members of the trial board
when he charged that the Foster girl,
referred to by other witnesses as "the
Spanish queen" was the type Of person
who caused police "a lot OF trouble"
York Policeman TeStifies.
The defense case was strengthened
by q surprise witness, Adam Strayer, q
York policeman. The Pennsylvania
said the Foster girl was In York the
day the charge against her here was
nolle pressed. He said abe was widely
known there IS the Spanish queen"
He explained he remembered Miss
Foster had been In York, February ~,
the day In question, because he arrested
her only O short time later on charges
Of being an inmate, Of q disorderly
house and disorderly conduct. He added
she gave the name OF that time Of
Dolores MendoSo.
Miss Foster, q witness for the prose-
cution, denied she ever had said she
was In Washington the day Murray de-
cided not to prosecute her. She IN:
sisted she was In York. She compelled
counsel, to reState every question four
or five times.
Herbert q. Wannamaker, drst pre-
cinct detective, took issue with the
Foster girl, testifying she had said in
his presence that she was across the
the street from Police Court" when
Murray nolle pressed her case.
Camalier Tells About Raids.
Murray explained Burke suggested
that the charge against the Foster girl
be nolle pressed because she was out OF
town. He said this action was asked by
Burke in the presence Of Wannamaker,
who arrested her last November. Burke
was quoted by Murray as declaring the
girls bondsman would be forced to for
felt $500 unless the case was nolle
pressed. Murray concluded that Burke
was an efncient detective.
r. r. Camalier, another assistant Dis
trict attorney, testified Burke had raided
numerous diSorderly houses In Wash
ington since February ], when he was
given q special assignment to work on
such cases. He said Burke had been
responsible for the closing Of 20 or so
diSorderly houses and the padlocking
Of two in this period.
Among group OF character witnesses
who praised Burke were Capt. @. P. M.
Lord Of the thirteenth precinct, Capt.
Frank Burke Of the first precinct, Capt.
william q. Stott of the third precinct.
Capt. Maurice Collins Of the seventh
precinct, Lieut.. Edward ]. Kelly, chief Of
the homicide squad: Lieut.. William e.
Holmes Of the third precinct, and
Thomas Sweeny, o member Of the horni-
eide squad. ISL.
Burke was represented by James J,
O'Shea.