The Washington times., 1931-10-30
No EVIDENCE
DISCOVERED
|NPROBE
'0nIy False Testimony Found
In Admissions by Schenck';
Policeman Hunt AbsolVed

VT HuIIIlSSIVIIS Wy 0GIiCIION
Policeman Hunt AbsolVed
The Lawyers Committee, ap-
pointed to advise the District
Commissioners concerning the
Grand Jury charge that tile dis.
r1issal of Ex-Policeman Orville
Staples was a "frame-up," today
reported it found no evidence to
support the finding and absolved
every policeman connected with
the case.
The whole affair is over, they
said, and even should the Com.
missioners desire, they are with.
out power to set aside the action
of the Police Trial Board three
years ago ousting Staples from
the force.
Hunt Is AbsOlved
After six weeks of study, the
board of five, headed by Henry
p. Blair, also found no justificar
tiOn for the Grand Jury recon.
mendatiOn that Joseph III. Hunt
be dismissed from the depart
ment.
Hunt was accused by former
Policeman Frederick A. Schenck
of testifying falsely in the Staples
trial. Schenck, himself, admitted
he aided the "frame-up," and the
coercion, duress and inducement"
found by the Grand Jury as the
method by which evidence was
gathered to convict Staples.
The lawyers explained they
heard more than 80 witnesses
in their probe of the case which
was revived last Summer by
Schenck's published statement
that he and other policemen, at
the instigation of police officials,
framed Staples.
Schenck at present is serving
two 1O-year terms for robbery.
He refused to amplify his
charges before the lawyers, al
though he was brought here
from Leavenwortf1 Penitentiary
for that purpose. He is still
lodged in the District Jail.
Two witnesses Absent
Virginia Hanley and Elizabeth
Hill, two others named as
material witnesses, also failed to
appear before them, the lawyers
explained.
The Grand Jury charges,
which the lawyers scored in every
particular, we're expunged from
the District Supreme Court re-
cords on the ground the Jury
had gone beyond its powers.
after the appointment Of the
lawyers committee.
The group Of attorneys were
named after demand had been
received for a civilian board
having no connection with the
police department or the District
Government. It was composed
Of Henry P. Blair, chairman; j.
Miller Kenyon, Daniel w.
O'Donoghue, Stanton G. Peelle
and Walter c. Clephane.
Recommendation Withheld
After noting the history of the
case the committee added to
their findings:
"This committee is Of the
opinion that the conviction and
dismissal of Orville Staples
from the Police Department is
res adjudicata and that the Com.
missi0nerS are without power
or authority to set aside that
finding or to order q retrial
of that case.
eff, however, the Commits
siOnerS should be Of opinion
that . public inquiry by .
duly constituted board should
be made of the entire matter
under consideration with full
power and authority given to
subpoena witnesses and put
them under oath, application
could be made to Congress for
such legislation. This sugges-
tiOn il not intended as q rec
OmmendatiOn."
Copies Of the report were
handed to the press by Commits
sioner Luther H. Reichelderfer
without comment.
Staples Not Surprised
Staples commented that he was
not surprised. Pointing out the
Grand Jury had authority to com.
pei testimony, he added:
"The hand-piCked board had
no such authority and IL is my
belief that the Police Depart.
ment again went In behind
closed doors and continued this
Infamous Hframeup.'
II know that q public hear.
ing before an impartial board
will mean an ultimate vindica-
ti0n."