Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-14
ARREST CHAMPION
OF TRAFFIC FORCE
GIVEN SUSPENSION
Sinclair Accused of Intoxica'
ton After Calling Officers
to Home.
PVT. LA FORCE is HELD
IN NOTE-SIGNING CASE
Nemesis of Autoists Charges Dirty
Deal" Saying He Wanted to
Quiet Guests Quarrel.

While Policeman Raymond V. Gin
clair, champion arrester Of the Traffic
Bureau, was being ordered today to appear
before the Police Trial Board WedEes-
day to answer charges of intoxication
and conduct unbecoming an officer, an
other policeman, Edward j. LaForce
of the seventh precinct, was held in
$500 bond for the grand jury on false
pretense charges.
Charges against Sinclair resulted from
a party at his home, 52l8 Illinois ave-
nue., last Friday night, when Sergt. r.
B. Carroll, acting lieutenant OF the thir-
tenth precinct, reported he found him
under the influence OF liquor.
Sinclair was suspended from duty
last night by Sergt. Carroll. acting I'M
der orders from Inspector Albert j.
Headley, in charge of the second pre-
cinct inspection district.
LaForce, who was suspended Satur-
day afternoon, was hailed into Police
Court this morning on warrants sworn
out by two fellow officers. Policemen
Joseph A. Wheeler and H. G. Wanna
maker who charged he had persuaded
them to indorse a blank bank note
which he said was to have been for $50.
Later, they said, they found the note
was made out for $500.
Asked Police TO Stop Argument.
Sinclair, who characterized his sus-
pension as dirty deal" and denied
there had been any drinking at the
party, waived preliminaries and asked
to be tried at the Wednesday session
of the Trial Board. Ordinarily 48 hours
must elapse between the time of service
of charges and the date Of trial. At
torney William O'Shea will represent
Sinclair
Sergt. Carroll and Policemen Cheney,
Vessels and Talbot Of No. IS called at
Sinclairs house after midnight in an
swer to a call from Sinclair himself,
according to Inspector Headley.
Sinclair said he had called the pre-
cinct station house to send around a
policeman to quiet an argument be-
tween a woman guest and his wife.
IL NdS JuSI d
Sinclair said today. But it was such a
late hour and my wife is rather deaf
and I thought the loud talking might
disturb the neighbors. I didn't want to
be rude and ask this couple to leave,
so 1 called the station house and asked
them to send policeman around.
Charges Dirty Deal'
IT thought the policeman on the beat
bo {yofo n him
at the door and explain the situation,
thus frightening this man and his wife
into leaving without any trouble.
ITO tell the truth, don't know what
I was suspended for. I haven't been
served with the charges. 1 think the
whole thing is dirty deal and intend
to fight the case to the limit.
There absolutely was no drinking at
the party, and the idea of them saying
my wife was under the influence of
liquor is ridiculous. She doesn't drink a
drop-not even glass of wine"
Sinclair said he thought it strange"
that he was not suspended before last
night, when the party occurred Friday
night.
Holds Suspension Late.
If Sergt. Carroll thought I was
drunk he should have asked for my
badge and equipment then and there.
If had made similar call and found
policeman drunk would arrest him
1t Is an officers duty"
After the last couple left, Sinclair
said, he and his wife retired. About
the time he got into bed, however, his
dog started barking and peering out a
front window, he said, he saw the sill
houetteS OF two men on the front porch
They were Cheney and Vessels. The
former told Sinclair there still was toe
much noise and that it would have to
be stopped, the suspended policeman
said. This he promised to do.
Pratt Asks More Data.
Inspector Headley explained that
Sergt. Carroll had not suspended Sin
clair Immediately because he was only
an acting lieutenant and felt he would
have exceeded his authority. Carol
recommended suspension to him, how
ever, Headley said.
Papers In the case were forwarded Il
Mai Henry G. Pratt. police superin-
tendent, this morning, but were returned
to Headley by Inspector William S
Shelby for additional information
Shelby explained further details were
wanted from the witnessing officers who
called at Sinclair'S home.
"A MEMBER OF the Police Department
for Is years, Sinclair is probably the
best known officer ON the force Thou
sands of persons are hailed into court
annually as result of being arrested
by Sinclair for speeding. He boosted
today that he knew "one-third of the
people In Washington"
LaForce Pleads Not Guilty.
LaForce obtained the signatures Of
Wheeler and Wanamaker on June 80
1880, the complaining policemen as
serted. He told them, they charged
that he would fill the note in for $50
before presenting it to the Franklin
National Bank. When the note went
to protest for non-payment and they
were called on to make it good, how
ever, it was in the amount Of $500
they alleged. They then entered g
complaint against LaForce.
LaForce entered plea Of not guilty
and was held for the grand jury
under $500 bond, which he furnished
Police officials said any trial board &C
ton against LaForce would await dis
position of the court charge.