Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-22
TRADE BOARD FAILS
TO VOTE ON POLICE
Public Order Group Decides
Formal Action Is UnWiSe
After Discussion.

After fun hour Of informal debate
on third-degree methods, members Of
the Public Order Committee OF the
Board of Trade yesterday decided it
would be unwise for the committee to
pass Judgment on the current third
degree investigation or specific charges
made against members OF the pofic9
force. A formal vote was not taken.
Odell S. Smith, veteran chairman OF
the committee. in closing the discussion,
declared to Gen. Herbert B. Crosby and
other Police Department and District
officials present that the committee. the
Board of Trade and District citizens
generally believed in the police force
and its integrity and hoped present din
cultieS would soon come TO close.
Gen. Crosby reiterated that he was
opposed to the brutality phase of use OF
the third degree and that IL any Wash
ington policemen are found guilty OF
such tactics. he desires to get them out
Of the department.
Mai. Pratt Scores Assault.
Mai. Henry G.. Pratt, superintendent
of police. pointed out that there is a
dividing line in various practices COM
monty called the third degree. "A per-
sonal attack made by a policeman upon
a prisoner" he said, "is an assault and
punishable by law. believe the police
of proper methods, but would disapprove
use of violence"
Matthew o'Brien. lawyer. said that
unlawful acts of any one, either In or
out of the Police Department, should not
be defended. THE Police Department
as a whole" he said, sis deserving OF
the confidence of the public, though
there are bound to be some undesirable
members in any large organization.
Charles w. Morris, secretary Of the
Board of Trade, said citizens should be
calm and patient, especially until the
current investigation Is closed incl
dent and that the Police Department
should continue to enjoy the faith OF the
public until and unless facts are pro-
duced which destroy that faith.
Col. Grant Lauds Crosby.
Charles Bates, another lawyer. said the
propriety of use OF the third degree"
was entirely a matter of degree.
I'VE must be intolerant of crime and
not intolerant Of the police" he said.
THE honest, efficient police oficer
knows how far to go In using what Is
called the third degree. The right KIND
tally in attempting to obtain informa-
ton needed to solve q crime"
Col u. 8. Grant, Sd, director Of pub
lie buildings and parks, who has super
vision over the park police, paid high
tribute to Police Commissioner Crosby.
The statement made by Gen. Crosby
while on vacation when first informed
Of the investigation Of complaints OF
third-degree tactics by some Washing
ton policemen, Col. Grant said, was
most level-headed and intelligent in
the face Of the sudden situation and
showed the Commissioner to be o pub
| lie official of sound character.
Hits "MandIin Sympathy"
Gen. Crosby, after saying he was OPP
posed to use Of brutality and wanted
to GUST from the force policemen guilty
of beating prisoners, added that he
was not willing to let the criminal
decide If police had gone too far In
| obtaining evidence.
Gen. Crosby also quoted and voiced
| his approval Of q magazine article
| which declared that criminals were
| notoriously monumental liars" and
that the public had tendency to
! display "maudlin sympathy over the
| individual criminal, although 1t alb
horred crime in the abstract.