Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-30

Hear 80 witnesses.
The committee told the Commission
ers that it heard more than 80 witnesses
during its executive Investigation Of the
grand jurys charges. Three material
witneSSeS-former Policeman Frederick
A. Schenck, Virginia Hanley and Eliza
beth Hill-failed to appear, the COM
mtttee said, although requested
Aside from the findings, the commits
tee told the Commissioners that should
they be of the opinion that public in
guiry by duly constituted board should
be made OF the case, with power to sub
poena witnesses and put them under
oath, application could be made to Con-
greSs for such legislation as might sub
serve such purpose. The committee,
however, pointed out this suggestion u
not intended as recommendation.
Henry p. Blair served as chairman Of
the investigating committee. Other
members were Walter @. CIephane,
Stanton @. Peelle, Daniel wv. ODonog-
, hue and j. Miller Kenyon.
Make Report Public.
The Commissioers made the commit
ices report public, without comment,
immediately after its receipt. The text
by your letter Of September Il,
1881, you requested Henry P. Blair.
Walter @. Clephane, j. Miller Kenyon.
Daniel w. O'Donoghue and Stanton g.
Peelle, all members Of the local bar.
TO ADVISE you as to any action to be
taken by you In the matter of a report
OF me grand jury Of the Supreme Court
OF the District CT Columbia for the July
term, 1891, involving the trial and dis
mlssal OF Orville Staples from the,
Metropolitan Police Department OF the
District of Columbia. This COMMITTEES
organized at once and proceeded with
the investigation Of the subject matter
submitted to them.
The committee reviewed the entire
record OF the proceedings before the
Police Trial Board that resulted in the
dismissal Of Orville Staples from the
Police Department ana they heard
more than 30 witnesses VINO appeared
before them. Three material witnesses.
although requested, failed to appear
before the committee. namely fred
Snick a; Scnenck.. Virginia Hanley and
Elizaoeth Hill. This committee had no
authority either to compel the attend
ance OF witnesses by subpoena or to
put them under oath.
Advise Commissioners.
AS result Of our Investigation. we
advise you as follows:
The charges against Orville Staples
were investigated by Louis j. Stoii. an
inspector OF the Police Department. OF
integrity and experience. They were
tnen investigated by Robert L. wiz
hams, assistant corporation counsel n
lawyer OF integrity and experience. and
these same charges were tried before 4
Police Trial Board, the personnel Of
which was accepted by Orville Staples
through his counsel, and after a public
nearing with Orville Staples. repre-
Sented by counsel and taking the stand
as a witness and producing witnesseE
IN his own behalf, and with the o,,eS-
tion OF a frame-up' of Staples being
raised by his counsel at the BEGINNING
OF the trial, q verdict OF guilty on sew
eral OF the charges with dismissal Of
Orville Staples from the Police Depart-
ment resulted. This finding of the
Police Trial Board was reviewed bv the
commissioners of the District OF f.o-
lumbia and affirmed on some Of the
charges on which Orville STAPLES had
oeen found guilty and his dismissal
from the Police Department made finai.
Charges Made by schenck.
The trial of Orville STAPLES before
the Police Trial Board occurred in the
Spring OF 1928 More than three wears
thereafter, namely, in the Summer AZ
1881, Frederick A. Schenck, who had
been witness against OryilIe StaDies
at the trial and was thereafter disllon-
orally dismissed from the Police De-
partment Of the District of Columbia.
and who subsequently. on his pleas OF
(Continued on page . fsoI,,,-,-, q