Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-14
STAPLES INQUIRY
MAY GO BEYOND
FRAMING CHARGES
Farley Is Held to Consider
Personnel of Board to
Hear Cases.
SECOND REPORT PLAYING
POLICE ALSO INDICATED
Rover Expects to Get Additional
Third Degree Allegations From
U. S. Tomorrow.

Personnel Of the special civilian
board to try any police oficial accused
by Citizens Investigating COMMITTEES
OF misconduct in the alleged framing"
OF former Policeman Orville Staples was
being considered at a conference this
afternoon between the District Commits
sloners and group of civic leaders.
The members of the board will not
be formally appointed unless the COM
mittee of inquiry, consisting of I'VE
prominent lawyers, reports that certain
police officers should be tried in con-
nection with the grand jury's recent
condemnation of police activity in the
Staples dismissal.
In the meantime there Is a growing
feeling at the court house that the two
special civilian groups may be called on
to extend their inquiry beyond the scope
or the Staples case. There are indi-
cations the grand jury is planning q
second report eXcoriating the police In
connection with the Governments ex-
pose OF third degree brutality.
Final Jury Action Due Soon,
Final grand jury action in the third
degree matter will be taken this week.
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover
said today he expects to receive from
the Department of Justice tomorrow the
remaining group OF cases in which po-
lice indictments will be sought, begin
ming Wednesday
Rover declined TO make public the
number Of additional cases to be pre-
sented to the inQuisitorial body, but
said that policemen other than those
Of the first precinct already under in
dictment on assault charges are in
volved.
The grand jury proceedings may be
concluded late THURSDAY, he said Sub
poenas will be issued for a long list Of
witnesses whose names are being kept
secret.
Police Commissioner Crosby TODAY
asked Maj. Pratt, police superint endent,
to investigate a published report that
third degree practices are natural re-
suit of high pressure" arrest cam
paigns Of precinct commanders. The
report quoted an anonymous police
man as saying his captain constantly
convictions" and that to get the con-
victions. forced confessions often were
necessary.
Nominations Sought.
The Commissioners invited 10 the
conference on the trial board the fol-
lowing men: George w. Offutt presi-
dent of the Board of Trade; Harry King,
president of the Chamber of Commerce.;
Mark Lansburgh. president Of the Mer-
chants & Manufacturers Association:
DR.. George c. Havenner. president of
the Federation of Citizens Associations,
and DR.. George H. Richardson presi-
dent Of the Federation of Civic Associa-
tons, colored.
Commissioner Crosby said the civic
representatives would be asked to nonli-
nate candidates not necessarily men,
bers Of their respective organizations.
The Committee of Inquiry, named
Saturday, was marking time today.
pending receipt by its members of
formal notification of appointment.
When the credentials are received. an
organization meeting will be held for
appointment of chairman and dis
cusSion of a program. The committee
is composed of Henry p. Blair, Walter
c. Clephane. j. Miller Kenyon, Daniel
w. O'Donoghue and Stanton c. Peelle.
Functions of the two civic groups have
been carefully defined. The lawyers
will investigate and bring charges and
the civilian board will conduct the pos
Sible trial or trials. The separate bodies
were decided upon in order to assure q
completely independent and impartial
sitting of the grand jury's charges In
the Staples case.