Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-11
POLICEMEN ENTER
NOT GUILTY PLEAS
IN BEATING CASES
Continued From First Page


Court, also has been mentioned. as one
of the men who may be asked TO serve.
Indictment OF number OF other
officers will be sought before the grand
jury next Wednesday, it was said today.
The justice investigators already have
several cases ready for presentation at
that time, and other cases may be
added to the list over the week end.
The special board to be selected by
the Commissioners. it WAS said, also will
be constituted as a trial body and not
an investigating group, but the Com
time who is TO be put on trial.
In fact, the Commissioners are main
tanning a tight-lipped silence about the
procedure to be followed in passing on
the grand jurys recommendations, ex-
planning that the details have been left
to Corporation Counsel William w. Bride
to work out And Bride likewise declined
to discuss his program.
All can say at this time" Bride
declared, lis that have a very definite
program. I cannot discuss it now"
The Commissioners, 1t was reported.
decided to make the civilian board a
trial group rather than an investigating
body. because they themselves propose
u lIOO bIlC CfIdl sCo VI JlIC sA
jury that the dismissal of Staples could
not have been accomplished without
some knowledge. consent and cooper
alton Of certain members Of the Metro
politan Police Department, including
some of its officials"
False Sense of Loyalty.
Another charge of the grand jury
that the Commissioners are planning to
investigate, it was said, is that there
exists in the Police Department a
false sense of loyalty supplemented by
a vicious system of repriSals for those
who tell the truth"
These charges. 1t was reported. are
to be Investigated at a series of private
hearings at which witnesses will be in
vited 20 appear. The result Of this
quiet inquiry, it was indicated. will be
made known to the special civilian trial
board to guide 1t in it's action on the
grand jury report.
The commissioners hope to have the
personnel of the extraordinary board
selected early next week, although they
expect to encounter some difficulty in
finding five men of the type they want
who are willing to sacrifice their time
in such service. The men will be urged
to serve on the board as a civic duty,
do not have sufficient funds available
adequately to compensate them.
An appropriation of 81 900 is avail
able for the use of the Commissioners
for such Investigations as they may
deem necessary, and this fund can be
drawn on, it is believed, to pay the
Ave members of the trial board. If
the entire fund is divided among the
five members, it was pointed out, they
would receive only 5000 each-an
amount which the Commissioners be-
lieve will not afford adequate COM
pensation for the service. So, rather
than offer to compensate the men. a
plan is under consideration to give
services legal, and request them to
serve on the basis Of civic duty.
The formal demand Of Policeman Jo-
seph H. Hunt of the second precinct
for an opportunity to defend himself
against the charges of the grand jury,
it yeas said, has provided the Commits
sioners with q way out of their dilemma
in connection with his case. The re-
moval of Hunt was recommended by
the grand jury. and his formal request
for a trial is now before the Commits
SionerS.
Bride In Conferences.
Despite the grand jurys recommends
tions in the Hunt case, 1t was pointed
out, that an officer on the police force
cannot be removed until he Is found
guilty on charges after fair and i'm
partial trial. But the procedure to be
followed in getting Hunts case before a
trial board. in the event the Commits
sioners decide to send 1t there. Is an
other matter about which Mr.. Bride
will not speak.
It is known. however, that Mr.. Bride
has been in conference with Albert w.
jacobson, attorney for Hunt, and Henry
] Stoll. and that they have knowledge
Of the plan Of procedure the corpora
ton counsel intends to follow.