Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-28
PRISONERS FEAR
POLICE REPR|SAL
Make Statements of Brutal
ity After Assurance Officials
Would Protect Them.

Continued From First Page)
and Theodore Crown. driver OF one Of
The Stars news cars. A statement
signed By Capt. Arnold in the presence
OF Col. william L. Peake. superintend-
ent OF the Jail. published herewith,
makes 1t plain that no inducements OF
any kind were offered either prisoner
When I first visited the Jail, the
possibility of interviewing either MartZ
or Sampson did not occur to me.
was sent there to talk to Ralph Aiken.
one Of three persons held in connection
with the Staying of Mrs. Elizabeth
Jaynes, Garden T Shoppe cashier. The
assumption was that if the police we're
using third-degree methods, the Jsynes
case. which has caused the entire force
considerable annoyance, would be the
one in which such methods would be
most likely to be resorted to.
After interviewing Aiken, who insisted
the police had accorded him only the
most considerate treatment, talked to
Thomas Jordan, one of the others held
in connection with the case. He told
me he had no complaint to make other
than that a member Of the homicide
squad threatened to beat him. but was
told to cut it out" by Capt. Edward j.
Kelly, assistant chief of the Detective
Bureau, and Sergt. James Springmann,
head Of the squad.
Before returning to his cell. however,
Jordan told me another prisoner had
asked to talk to me. This man, I was
told. had heard a guard tell Jordan
Star reporter wished TO see him.
The mans name is Sampson, Jordan
said. and he told me to tell you he
was treated pretty rough by the bulls
and would like TO talk to you about 1t.
Checked SIMPSONS Story.
When Sampson was brought out, I
told him what Jordan had said and
the beginning. His statement already
has been published in The Star and
need not be repeated here.
To check up on Simpsons tale, 1
called on the two men arrested with
him. one of them at his home here and
the other at Occoquan, where he is
prisoner. The first man, a taxicab
driver. told me in the presence OF his
wife that he was beaten at the police
station. III admit to you that I was
beaten" he said, but If you quote me
in the paper, III deny it,
How did they beat you?" asked.
Did they use their fists or clubs?"
They beat me with their fists" was
the answer
They must have used something
harder than their fists" his wife broke
in, because you were all covered with
blood when saw you"
1t Is worth noting, think. that Stoll
and another inspector, T. A. Bean, told
me both the taxi driver and his wife.
denied having told me anything about
the alleged police brutality. And 1t Is
also worth noting that the cab driver
according to the records of the Police
Department, was a member of the force
for a month. but was dismissed when
he was found guilty of having made an
untruthful statement in his application.
Verifes Simpsons Version.
From the taxi drivers home. went
to Occoquan, where interviewed
Frank KoStyo, the other man named
by Esmpscn. In the presence of Capt
A. L. Petit. superintendent Of the work
house, and Frank Carter. another en-
ploye Of The Star. Kostyo readily said
he had been beaten. His stcry N'1
statement that the cab driver was as
saulted.
When I reported my findings to my
superioIs, / was told 10 obtain written
statements from both Sampson and
kostyo. Before I left the office typed
a brief statement containing the gist
OF what Sampson had told me in the
previous interview
At my request he repeated his tale
in the presence of Capt. Arnold and
Crown. 1 handed him the typewriter
statement and asked him if he con-
sidered it an accurate outline of his de-
tailed story. He answered in the af-
dTmative.
gave the statement to Capt. Arnold,
repeating the question I had put to
Sampson. The captain read the state
ment aloud, pausing at frequent inter-
Vals to ask Sampson If this or that
portion was correct. In each instance
Sampson replied afirmativeIy. Capt.
Arnold inquired if the statement in its
entirety. met with SIMPSONS approval
and the answer again was Affirmative
Sampson then affixed his signature 10
the statement. as did the captain.
Martz Agrees to Talk.
Before returning to his cell Sampson
told me Martz told him he. too. had
been beaten at the police station. At
my request, Martz was asked II he would
talk to me. and he consented.
He said he had been assaulted hut
did not know whether he should dis
chSs 1t without first taking the matter
UP with his attorney I told him The
star mad no desire to induce him or any
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