Evening star., 1931-12-17
2OV. R|TCH|E URGES
OFFICERS 0UST|NG
Asks Dismissal of Two Who
Beat Photographer at
Tea House Inquest.
5recial Dispatch to The Star.


ANNAPOLIS. Md. December IL
Ecc,aring he would have Constable
Howard Slater and County Policeman
Ralph Brown dismissed for their treat
ment Of newspaper photographers at
the Old Colonial Tea House inquest if
they were employees of the State, Gov.
Albert C. Richie of Maryland today ex-
pressed the hope that the Prince
Georges County Commissioners would
administer prompt and adequate pun
iskmeLt"
In letter to Walter M. Grimes, pres
ident of the county commissioners, the
Governor said the report of Attorney
General William Preston Lane, jr., on
the trial Of one Of the photographers
who was arrested "diScloSeS conduct on
the part of County Officers Slater and
Brown which appears to have been in
cXcusable and to show their unfitness
l0r the responsible positions they hold
Photographer Was Acquitted.
Thomas P. McAvoy. photographer for
the Washington Daily News, was black
JACKIE by Constable Slater as he at
tempted to take pictures of Federal
prisoners leaving the inquest. Slater
then preferred charges of assault and
battery and disorderly conduct against
McAvoy The Photographer was acquit-
ted by Police Coprt Judge J. Chew
Sheriff. and copy Of Attorney General
Lanes report to the Governor on the
trial was also sent Mr.. Grimes.
Reviewing the testimony, Maj. Lane
expresses the belief that no order with
reference to taking pictures outside the
building was ever given by any one, and
that the action of the police officers
was entirely offlcious.'
Under the facts as developed in this
case, would unhesitatingly recommend
that you request The county commits
sioners of Prince Georges County to
take disciplinary measures against OFF,
GERS Brown and Slater" the attorney
general advised the Governor II per-
sonally am inclined to think they should
both be dismissed from the force" he
added
Richie Letter Quoted.
Gov. Ritchies letter to Commissioner
Grimes follows:
In response to complaints against
County Officer Howard Slater and
County Officer Ralph Brown in con-
nection with the blackjacking of
Thomas P. McAvoy, photographer Of
one of the Washington newspapers,
after the coroner's inquest in Bladens-
burg on December last, requested
the attorney general to be represented
at the hearing CT the charges preferred
against Mr.. McAvoy for disorderly con-
duct and aSsaulting an officer.
This hearing was held in HyattSville
before Police Justice j. Chew Sheriff
on December last, and Assistant At
torney General Henderson represented
the attorney general.
I have received the report OF Attor-
ney General Lane on the case. 1t dis
closes conduct on the part of County
Officers Slater and Brown which ap-
pears to have been inexcusable and to
show their unfitness for the responsible
rCsitionS they hold. If they were en-
ployeS Of the State I would direct that
steps be taken at once looking to their
dismissal from the State service. They
are not in the State service, however,
but are in the county service, and the
Governor of the State has no jurisdic-
tion over them.
Accordingly, enclose you. as presi-
dent OF the board, copy of the attor-
ney generals report to me, with the
confident hope that the county COM
missioners will not countenance con-
Continued on Page 2, Column 2.)