The Washington times., 1930-03-21
U.S.DEC|DE5
To PRESS
CHARGES

Charges of criminal conspiracy
were lodged against Policeman
Ardie Swortzel, of the Fourth pre-
c1nct. and John S. Elgin, Of the
1909 block K st. N. W., this
morning by police following a
lengthy conference with United
States Attorney Leo A. Rover.
The two men were in company
with James Crotts early Wednes-
day morning when CrottS was
shot and perhaps fatally wounded
by Detective Spottiswood F..
Gravely, of the Third precinct,
near a house in the 1900 block
of First st. N. w. which, accord.
ing to police, the three men had
attempted to shake down" for
$50.
Marie Foster and Della Great.
house, alleged to have lived in the
First Street house. have been
charged With maintaining a dis
orderly house and will be ar
raigned in Police Court later
today.
Conflicting Stories Told
So many conflicting stories
have been told by principals in
the case that court officials were
frankly at a loss to determine
which side was telling the truth.
Detective w. F. Burke, also of
the Third precinct. has attempted
to justify his absence from the
Third precinct on the ground
that he was working on an al
legged hold-up case for Lieut.. Ed
ward J. Kelly. chief Of the homi-
eide squad.
According to Burke, the estab-
lishment run by the Greathouse
woman was held up early Sun
day morning and he was on the
scene with Gravely for the pur-
pose of trailing an out-of-toWn
woman he believed might lead
him to a man implicated in the
holdup.
Everyone in the case so far
has told several different stories
with the exception of Swortzel,
who still maintains that he was
on his way to the Eighth precinct
to have the house raided when
he heard shots and on returning
was arrested by Burke.
Elgin Denies ExtOrtiOn
Elgin also states that there was
talk of extortion and indicated
today that both Burke and
Gravely appeared to be on rather
friendly terms with one of the
women.
The suspension Of Gravely and
Swortzel was confirmed today by
the Board of Commissioners
after Major Henry G. Pratt had
recommended the action.
Gravely was cited before the
Trial Board for unauthorized use
Of his pistol in connection with
the shooting.
SwortZel was suspended because
he Is alleged to have told the
proputetreSS of a house in the
1900 block First Street, N. W., 20
"come across with $30," after
exhibiting his badge.
Several Conferences Held
Several conferences behind
closed doors were held in the Of
flee of Assistant United States
Attorney Charles Murray at Police
Court this morning. Inspector
Bean, Capt. William G. Stott.
of the Third precinct. the two
women, Gravely and Lieutenant
Kelly were present and it is sup
posed they went over the stories
which they were expected to tell
when they were arraigned in
Police Court.
Crotts. who is in Casualty
Hospital in a dying condition,
also will have to face the same
charge as that lodged against
Swortzel and Elgin.
Kelly, who has been most active
in attempting to furnish an alibi
for Burke and Gravely, today
denied that any gag order" had
been imposed on physicians at
Casualty Hospital. It had been
reported that Crotts was to be
held incommunicado and not
even permitted to see members
Of his family. Kelly denies that
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