Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-24
new Jury TO GET
BRUTALITY CASES
Rover Indicates Evidence
viii Be Presented to
October 6 Body.
Continued Prom First Pageo

United States or District Governments"
and DO you get any money in any way
from either the United States or District
Government"
The Jurors declared 1t was perfectly
plain that he CLERK Adkins was max
ing every effort to ascertain whether
anyone might be receiving money of
any kind from the Government"
Lawyers Continue Inquiry.
Investigation of the grand jury's
charges In the Staples case, being con-
Quoted by committee of five prominent
lawyers. Is expected to be completed
within q week or 10 days. The COM
mittees report will be submitted to the
District Commissioners, who will be
guided In their action by the recon-
mendations of the lawyers
The disqualification of a member of
the grand jury who subscribed to the
charges against the Police Department
has not interfered with the committees
inquiry. Assurance has been given that
the Commissioners will not allow a
legal technicality stop them in their
case
The committee headed by Henry p.
Blair, continued its review Of the 1854
page stenographic report of the Staples
trial OF three years ago and prepared
10 question more than a score OF the
witnesses who testified in that case. A
recent check-up by District officials dis
closed that all Of these witnesses are
IN washington, and as soon as the
committee Is ready, invitations will be
sent TO them to appear and testify. AS
the committee lacks power to compel
the attendance or testimony of wit
nesseS, 1t must depend upon the volun-
tary cooperation Of those it wants to
hear.
Schenck Principal Witness.
Frederick A. Schenck, former Wash
lngton policeman, whose recent testi-
mony before the grand Jury inspired
the report condemning the police, is to
be the principal witness. Former Po-
hceman OrViile Staples, who, the grand
jury declared, was dismissed on the
basis of perjured testimony, also is ex-
pected to be called before the commit
tee.
Schenck is now confined at the Dis
trlct JAN, awaiting the committees CALL
He was brought to Washington ffom the
Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth At
the request of the Commissioners and
will be returned there to complete a 90
year sentence after the committee takes
his testimony.
The special civilian board created nv
the Commissioners to try any members
of the police force recommended for
prosecution by the committee of lawyers
is awaiting cali to service, but indica
tions are that 1t will not function for
several weeks, II at all. Unless the law
yers suggest that charges be preferred
against the officers involved in the
Staples case, the trial board will not be
needed.
DIR. Cooper Drawn for Jury.
BY coincidence, DR.. william
Knowles Cooper, acting chairman Of
the Trial Board, 1t was learned. was
drawn for jury duty in the District
Supreme Court but he is to be excused
1t was said, If 1t is found that service
on the Jury will interfere in any wav
with his activities on the Extraordinary
Police Trial Board.
District. officials already have taken
Dr. Cooper's case up with court at
taches, who are said to have agreed to
excuse him from jury service should the
Trial Board be called into action. The
officials are said to feel :. that DIR.
Cooper's service will be more valuable
TO the District at this time on the Trial
Board than on q trial jury.
Although DR.. Cooper has been resi-
dent of the District since 1908 this is
said to be the first time he has been
called for jury service, and the call
came when the Commissioners had SEE
lected him as one Of the five outstand-
ing citizens to make up the personnel Of
the Special Trial Board.