The Washington times., 1931-09-05
MAY Be MADE
ATRIAL
BODY
Entire Case to Be Rehashed;
Ho WMuCh Authority New
Group Will Have Is Doubtful

the basis of charges against any
policemen.
IF this cannot be done the
board will conduct its own inveSti-
cation. with the likelihood that
! any conclusions it reaches will be
tried before another civilian board.
The Commissioners let it be
known today also that they are
considering appointing another
board to study the police depart
ment when the final report Of the
Department Of Justice on third
degree allegations Is submitted.
No further steps toward ap-
pointment of the board will be
taken until Tuesday, the Com
iinissioners having decided to
spend the intervening period
Weighing the authority which
should be given it and considering
men for appointment.
Rover Aid to Be Sought
In the meantime the office Of
Corporation Counsel w. w. Bride
will conduct an investigation
seeking to determine what evi-
dence would be available II the
board were made trial body.
District Attorney Leo A. Rover
will be asked to furnish the board
with any information which was
available to the grand jury. How
much of this can or will be made
available to the civilian body is
problematical. In one former
case a civilian body was unable
to get any such evidence.
Virtual RetriaI Of Case
The Department Of Justice,
whose agents investigated the
Staples case also will be invited
to cooperate by turning over any
evidence which it may have.
Regardless of how the board Is
constituted, it will be given tull
authority to go into every one OF
:, the sensational Grand jury
charges. It probably will mean a
virtual retrial of the Staples case
: With additional features caused py
r the general allegations against Une
Police Department.
Arraignment Friday
District Attorney Rover an
nounced today that Policemen
= James A. Mostyn, william II.
Laflin, william C. GrOOms, VIII
nam T. Burroughs and George
z. Perry will be arraigned Friday
On the indictments returned yes
terday.
All of the defendants were out
on bond today except Burroughs
who is out of the city mad has
not surrendered yet. He will
probably report to the court
Tuesday. Grooms put up $1,000
bond today and the others did
=. the same yesterday.
New Actions Next Week
District Attorney Leo A. Rover
expects to receive evidence in
additional cases next week. 1t is
understood that as soon as the
Federal men conclude inquiry Of
new cases. they will turn the
evidence over to him and 1t will
immediately be placed before the
!. Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury is expected to
"dribble" indictments Of individu
ell policemen for a couple of
, weeks. Then, at the conclusion
of its term the inquisitorial body
: will submit to the District Su-
preme Court a general report on
the prevalence of flogging Of pris-
oners and other ill-treatment
meted out to those who fall into
the hands of the police.
To Hit Higher-ups
That this report will be com.
prehensive has already been indi-
Gated. That it is certain to hit
high officials of the department
is likewise understood. because
the jury will have to answer the
question of how four persons
could be beaten in one station
house within 48 hours without
the condonance or connivance of
officials.
Yesterdays report recommends
the reinstatement of Staples, with
hact pay from the time of his
dismissal from the department in
1928. 1t recommends the dis.
missal of Policeman Joseph Hunt
and the reprimanding of all other
officers who had any connection
with the trial of Staples.
Hunt cannot be dismissed from
4 the force without a trial on
charges. The Grand Jury's rec.
omrnendation does not constitute
charges and the board of inquiry
seems to be the only way out.
False Sense of Loyalty
Probably the most serious gen.
. eFal charge made by the jury is in
the following paragraph Of its re-
port:
1--WE believe, as disclosed by
this investigation, that there
exists In the Metropolitan pO-
h1e department a false sense Of
loyalty supplemented by q vi
ciOuS system of reprisalS for those
who tell the truth that makes 1t
impOsSible for a stationary
body, such as this Grand Jury,
10 secure evidence against the
parties who are guilty Of initial.
ing, c0ndOning or cooperating
In Such n case as this we have