Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-21
Suspended Officer and EIgin
viii Face Judge Hit
in Police Court.
CR0TTS is GIVEN GOOD
CHANCE FOR RECOVERY
Cases to Be Made Against Two
Women Involved-Bond APP
proved for Hummel.

Ardie Swortzel, suspended fourth
precinct policeman, and John G. Elgin
of the 1900 block of K street were to
be arraigned before Judge Isaac r. Hit
in Police Court today on charges Of
conspiracy to commit felony, to wit,
extortion, in connection with an al
legged attempt to secure $50 from two
women who occupy an apartment in
the 1900 block of First street, last Tues
day, as protection money"
Assistant United States Attorney John
r. Fitzpatrick said that similar
charge had been placed against James
Crotts of Silver Spring. who is now in
Casualty Hospital suffering from wounds
received when he was shot by Police
man Spottswood Gravely of the third
precinct, in the vicinity of the First
street apartment, when he attempted
to escape after Gravely had ordered
him to stop, while preparing to question
the men about the alleged "shakedoWn"
attempt.
At Casualty Hospital at noon today
1t was reported that CrottS was IN
chance for recovery. Previously it had
been thought that his wounds might
prove fatal.
The offense of conspiracy to extort
carries a maximum penalty of two years
in the penitentiary or $4,000 fine.
Charges Faced by Women.
At the same time United States Attor-
ney Leo S. Rover. after conference
with Police Inspector Thaddius Bean
and Capt. William G.. Stott announced
that a charge of conducting disorderly
house would be placed jointly against
Della Greathouse and Marie Foster, the
women in the case.
A search is under way for man Civ
ing his name as Richard Land, who de-
scribed himself as a jockey from New
Orleans, and who is said to have nego-
tiated the rental of the apartment in
question from the owners John P. DAILY
of the 4300 block of Thirteenth street,
saying that he wanted to use it as an
office in connection with his race horse
business. Mr.. Rover today dispatched
letter to Mr.. Land informing him that
the apartment had been used for i'm
proper purposes. This is in line with
the regular policy of the United States
attorneys once IN its drive against
gambling and disorderly houses.
At the conference between Inspector
Bean and MIR. Rover, the possibility of
lodging charges against taxicab drivers
who are said to have taken the trio and
other parties to the apartment at the
First street address, was discussed, but
it was decided that no charges could be
placed against the men,
The driver who took SwortZei, Elgin
and Crotts to the house last Tuesday
gave his name to the police and sec
ond cab driver is under investigation.
Inspector Bean said today that it was
the second man who brought Miss
Greenhouse to detective headquarters
when she complained that her place
had been held up the early hours of last
Sunday morning by some out -of-town
gangster and that the man said he
often brought men to the apartment.
HummeI to Make Bond.
Hugh L. Hummel of Plainfield, N. j.,
who has been held as a material wit
ness at the eighth precinct since the
shooting on Tuesday, was to be released
today on $500 bond. This was given
the approval of Mr.. Rover today after
a conference with Denny Hughes, at
torney for Hummel Hummel Is said
to have been in the apartment at the
time of the shooting of Crotts and 10
have overheard some conversation re-
lating to request for $50 for "protec-
ton
John c. Cornell of the Ebbitt Hotel
is still under arrest at the third pre-
cinct on a charge OF investigation. He
is being held while headquarters de-
tectives investigate his possible connec-
ton with the hold-up of the apartment
last Sunday. Gravely, while not under
arrest, has been suspended and has
been ordered to stay in the station
house at the third precinct pending the
outcome of the injuries to Crotts.
His suspension and that OF SWortzel,
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