Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-01
POLICE MAY FACE
PERJURY CHARGE
Accusations Not to BE Made
Against Those Who Tell
Truth Before Jury.
Continued From First Page.l

Continued From First Page)
prosecutor. The announcement was
made following conference with Di-
rector Hoover at the Department OF
Justice.
since there IS no statute specifically
outlawing the third degree, IN general
sense, indictments charging assault WILL
be asked. Conviction on an assault
charge carries maximum sentence OF
one year in prison.
Turn to Routine Matters.
With the Department OF Justice IN
vestigation progressing to their appar'
ent satisfaction, the District Commits
sioners today turned attention 70 ar
THE Commissioners spent the entire
morning in regular semi-weekly ooarc
meeting. but did not discuss the police
Situation. it was said. No further ON
ciaI action is anticipated, accorolng N
the officiaIs, until the Department. o.
.Justice completes its inquiry ana SUD-
mits its findings.
However. Commissioners Crosby and
Reichelderfer and Corporation Counsel
Bride are cooperating with the Justlce
Department and from time to time are
furnishing information the department
requests with respect to the orutanty
charges. =.
The Police Department, according 70
Mai. Henry G.. Pratt, superintendent
also is sitting tight awaiting the out
come of the Federal investigation. MAJ
Pratt's only comment today was II 5
getting hotter mean the weather. OF
course.
Rover Prepares Cases.
Rover devoted all his time today tc
preparation of the five brutality cases
in conference with Justice officials. Al
the evidence was examined ana tne
statements of all witnesses reviewed.
Government investigators TOOK down
verbatim the statements given tnem DS
scores of witnesses intervlWed curing
their intensive inquiry. The tnvestlga'
TORS have worked night and day ir
completing the first group OF cases.
DESPITE their surprising speed in COM
Melting virtually case a day. the EVIL
dence obtained is said to be voluminous
and, in the opinion Of the Fedora
agents, "airtight."
Approximately two dozen other IN
stances of alleged use OF cruelty 10
wiring confessions from prisoners are
under investigation. In two OF the
cases the victims are alleged to have
died as a result Of injuries inflicted
upon them by police. The use OF fists,
clubs and other instruments designed
to force suspects to admit guilt is
charged against precincts other than
the first.
Confers With Hoover.
Rover's decision to handle the third
degree prosecutions himself was an
nounced following his long conference
with Director Hoover. The decision
was made in the face Of various re-
ports that he would ask to be relieved
of the duty because Of the close aSso-
citation of his Office with the police de-
.partment. Appointment Of a special
assistant to the Attorney General to
handle the cases had been predicted.
Rover went into consultation with
Hoover Immediately upon his return
from a vacation. During his absence
Acting United States Attorney William
H. Collins had stated that Assistant
United States Attorney Goldstein
would be assigned to the prosecution.
Meanwhile the grand jury, which has
been investigating the charge that
former Policeman Orville Staples was
framed" was reported to be preparing
a report to be delivered to the court
within the next few days. Mr.. Rover
denied a published statement quoting
him concerning the contents OF the
report.