Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-04
HITS
POLICE BRUTALITY
Adopts Strong Resolution De-
pIoring Use of third
Degree" Methods.
CHARLES b. FONDA.

The Federation of Citizens Associa-
tons in a strong resolution last night
deplored the use of third degree"
methods by police, and commended the
action of Commissioners Luther H.
Reichelderfer and Herbert Crosby in
asking and supporting an impartial in
ulliry into charges that certain members
of the department are guilty OF such
practices.
The resolution, which thanked PreSi-
dent Hoover for extending the services
OF the Justice Department in the in
YeStigation, was introduced by Joseph
L. Gammell, chairman of the fedora
tons Committee on Police and Fire
Protection Several delegates spoke in
favor of the resolution as 1t stood. ana
it passed without the change of a word.
Banker Expresses Confidence.
B. Agee Bowles, Georgetown banker
and vice president of the federation,
said that although he would vote Tor
the resolution and hoped that the vote
would be unanimous, he hoped the ac-
ton would not be taken as any refiec-
ton on the Police Department, in which
he had implicit confidence.
1T is my underSt nding,' he said,
that there are 1888 men doing police
work en- the street, and that these
charges involve four men. That works
out at less than three-tenths OF ! per
cent of the strength of the force &C
cused of this practice. 1t is sad thing.
an unfortunate thing. that the action
CT these four men should cast shadow
IF suspicion over the force.
Il suppose that no thinking man
would tolerate tnird-degree practices
for a moment 1t is a cowardiy thing.
The policem an who maltreats a prlS-
oner is taking advantage of his help
leSSneSS.
Cites Clarksburg Case.
Nevertheless. 1 think that sometimes
the police are up against proposition
where they need to use some force.
Take this recent case from ClarkSburg.
There was a man who had deliberately
lured women and children into a ga
rage. forced them to give him their
property and killed them. / have no
knowledge of this case, but I say un-
doubtediy the police there handed MN
roughly in order to secure the COMES
sion, and that nobody would object to
that"
j. C. Ritter asked Nh Bowles if he
was talking from personal experience
or from hearsay.
DO / look as if I were talking from
experience" Nh. BowleS retorted IN
dignantly
Mr.. Ritter soid after the meeting that
he had been following the activities OF
Washington po ice for 25 years, and that
he had "a lot of stuff to spill. whicn
he promised he would do at the APP
propriate time He said his anger had
been aroused by Mr.. Bowles' statement
t.ect the third degree was confined TO
less than l per cent Of the force.
One Delegate Votes mo"
When the resolution came to the
vote. it was expected to pass unanl-
mously, but a single unldentlhed deie-
On the cast side of the ha / voted NO.
The resolution. in full text, follows;
Whereas, &c, tain r;emberS OF the
Metz opoli an Police Departm mt OF the
District Of Columbia nave bean publicly
charg W tn the use OF so-caled thlro
degree methods" with a view to extract
mo ConfeSS.orS to crime, and
whereas, the citiZ ms OF Washing
ton ere opposed to the brutal treatment
of prisoners by police officers and others,
and
Whereas. in the absence of the Com
missioner in charge OF ponce an airs,
the president of the Board OF District
Commissioners, DR.. Luther II. Relchel-
derfer: the corporation counseI OF tne
OtSUTlCJ Oh CCtuLuUiit. w LAhuhi " - ANN
and the major and superintendent OF
police, Mai. Henry G. Pratt, 1mmeol-
ately upon learning CT the so-caIled
'Harker Csc, took prompt action to-
ward Kidding the Police Department CT
all persons responsible for outrages OF
this character; and
Crosby Approves Action.
Whereas, upon his return to the
city. Maj. Gen. Herbert B. Crosby not
only approved of the action tnat mad
alre sdy been taken by the aforemen-
toned officials toward stamping out So
called third degree methods from the
Police Department, but Immediately IN
jected himself into the inquiry with
view to having the matter cleared up
at the earliest practicable moment,
New. therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Federation OF Clti-
Zens Associations of the District OF Co.
lumbia. in special meeting assembled
this Sd day of September. 1881, that the
federation most heartily Endorses the
action that has already been taken by
these officiels in this matter; and
Re it further resolved. That. the
Federation of Citizens Associations eX-
tends to the President of the United
States its hearty thanks for his prompt
action In having the Department OF
Justice assign trained investigators to
inquire into and report upon the con-
duct and MANAGEMENT of the Police De-
partment of the Nations Capital, ind
BE II further resolved, That, copy
Of these resolutions. be sent to the
President of The United Stes, to the