Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-28
Decision Is Reached
After Conference
With Keith.
WITNESSES COMPLAIN
OFDUALQUESTIONTNG
ID. C.. Commissioners to
Await Federal Re-
port on Case.

Mai. Henry G. Pratt, Superin-
tendent of police, today called
halt to the independent police
probe of brutality charges in third
degree methods of the metropoli-
tan police.
Mai. Pratt said the police in
uuiry had been called of to give
the Department Of Justice free
rein in its investigation of the
charges, ordered by Acting Attor-
ney General Thatcher Wednesday
at the request of Commissioner
Luther H. Reichelderfer and Cor
poration Counsel w. w. Bride.
The sudden dropping CT the police
inquiry is understood to have followed
instances in which witnesses complained
OF being questioned on identical sub
jects by successive investigators.
Hereafter, Mai. Pratt said, the police
will confne their investigation to the
personnel Of the Police Department,
leaving the questioning Of all civilian
witnesses to agents Of the Bureau OF
Investigation.
The decision TO restrain police from
uuizzing witnesses outside the depart
ment was reached following confer
ence today between John NJ. Keith,
inspector in charge of the Federal IN
vestigation, and the police superin-
tendent.
Trying to Make Probe Thorough.
This was done" Mai. Pratt said.
"to avoid useless duplication, and it
does not mean either that the Police
Departments investigation VIII stop or
that there is any friction between US
and the Department Of Justice, or that
We are trying TO cover anything up.
we are still trying to make tkor-
ough and impartial investigation, and
we think that the way agreed upon is
the best in which We can accomplish
the result"
AS the Department Of Justice con-
tinued questioning witnesses today, the
District Commissioners decided TO sit
tight and take no further action IN the
matter until the Investigators make their
final report.
The Justice operatives were deluged
with a mass OF complaints. written and
oral. involving alleged brutality on the
part Of the police Their inyestiga ton. 1t
was said probably would eventually lead
TO Gallinger Hospital, where, it is
alleged, certain prisoners were sert for
treatment after beatings.
Acting Attorney General Thatcher to-
day characterized as bunk" reports
that United States Attorney Rover was
10 be replaced as prosecutor in any
criminal action which might grow out
Of the investigation.
Crosby Expected Today.
Commissioner Herbert B. Crosby was
speeding back 10 Washington and was
expected here sometime this afternoon.
Gen Crosby has been on a vacation
since July II. Reports that he had
been summoned back TO Washington
brought a statement from DR.. Luther
II. Reichelderfer, president Of the board,
that as far as ne knew nobody had
communicated with Gen. Crosby on any
phase Of the third-degree investigation.
The question Of selecting a trial
board. made up Of members not con-
nected with the Police Department, to
try the four oficers suspended on
charges Of brutality to James Henry
Harker. a prisoner al the first precinct,
viii not be taken up at this time, DR..
Reichelderfer said today, nor viii the
question OF the selection o. prosecutor
DR.. Reichelderfer said that should in
ysstigaticn result IN charges against the
officers which necessitated a trial in the
courts, their trial before the Trial Board
would be delayed until after the action
Of the court. II might be possible that
the men would never be brought before
a Trial Board. depending on the out
come Of any cases which mig ut be in
stituted in the criminal courts.
Thus far the only Police Department
report on the investigation to reach the
District Building has been the one
recommending suspension Of four mem
bers Of the first precinct command, with
accompanying documents.
No Recent Complaints.
At Gallinger Municipal Hospital to-
day IT was stated that there had been
no complaints from patients recently
that policemen had used third degree
Continued on Page 5, Column D.