Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-05
CIVILIANS TO ACT
.. ON STAPLES CASE
D. c. Heads to Name Special
Board-12 New Agents
Join Probe.
Continued From First Page.)


Stapies' case entirely out Of the Police
Department and to disasSociate 1t COM
pletely with the District government.
Only outstanding representative men
whose reputation for honesty and fair
ness has been established, Will be asked
to serve.
Before the board is created the
corporation counSels office Will en-
deavor to gather all possible evidence
in connection with the Staples case;
CORPORATION Counsel w. W. Bride said
he would request United States At
torney Leo A. Rover for such informa-
ton as he has in his possession re-
lating to the case. Members OF the
grand Jury who cleared Staples Ct the
charges on which he was dismissed
from the force in May. 1928, also Will
be invited to cooperate with the cor
poration counsel's Office as we'll as the
proposed civilian board.
Until the board is appointed, the
Commissioners are not expected to take
any further action to carry out the
grand jury's recommendation. some
thought has been given. IL was said,
to the suspension of Policeman Hunt,
pending the outcome of the proceed
ings. but the Commissioners declared
they had not yet definitely decided
WIlaC 10 40 III llS CdSC'
Pay Likely for Board.
Members Of the proposed civilian
board likely will be paid for their serv-
ices. The Commissioners explained
they have an Appropriation of $1,000
which can be used for such purpose.
The decision Of the Commissioners to
create a special civilian board was an
nounced about noon today. after a pro-
tracted conference between Commits
sioners Reichelderfer and Crosby and
Corporation Counsel Bride. The con-
ference followed the receipt at 8 o'clock
this morning Of an official copy OF the
grand jury's findings.
Mr., Bride went into the conference
with a program for consideration OF the
Commissioners in connection with the
Staples case. This program contained
six definite steps for the Commissioners
to follow with respect to the grand
,iury's recommendations and one OF
Them was understood to be the creation
of the special board, which the Com
r1issioners approved. The other sug-
cestions of Mr.. Bride are expected to
be acted on later
Second Boost in STAFF.
roday's enlargement of the staff OF
investigators on the brutality probe Is
the second since the Department OF
Justice launched It's work week ago.
after an appeal to President Hoover by
DIR. Luther H. Reichelderfer, president
~ the Board of Commissioners, and w.
W Bride, corporation counsel.
The regular local force under IN
spector Keith was strengthened hrst by
the addition of se:c"al veteran UNDER
cover agents from cut OF town, among
them Gus Jones, a. mt In charge OK the
san antonio field Office of the bureau.
Jones took charge Of the inquiry DUR
ing Inspector Keith's attendance on
the grand jury proceedings IN the first
group of completed cases.
The f1rst cases resulted yesterday in
assault indictments against Detective
James A. Mostyn and Policemen Will
liam r. Latin, William T. Burroughs,
William G. Groorns and George E..
perry, all of the first precinct. Mostyn,
Latin and Perry gave bond OF 81 1000
each Immediately after the indictments
were returned before Associate Justice
F Dickinson Let's. Burroughs APP
toeared at the clerks Office in the court
mouse this morning and was released
on 81 900 bond supplied by Milton
Krorhein. Groons is out OF the city.
but court officials have been advised
he will surrender Monday and give
bail
Is Additional Cases.
Bureau agents are seeking witnesses
and evidence in approximately Is addi-
tional cases involving alleged use OF
cruelty and intimidation to coerce pris-
oners into confessing to crimes in which
they were arrested as suspects. The
charges name policemen in nearly every
precinct in the city, it is understood.
Much evidence of startling nature
has been obtained, it is reliably report
ed. 1t appeared certain today that adj
ditional cases will be presented to the
grand jury next week.
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover,
who has taken personal charge OF the
prosecution in the thirddegree cases,
said today that the five indicted officers
of the first precinct will be arraigned
before Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat of
the District Supreme Court next Friday.
Trial of the accused men will be set
for the earliest practicable date" Mr..
Rover declared 1t is said legal prece-
dents for q special trial in advance OF
the regular October term of the Grim
inal Court are being looked up. If
special session Of the court is not pos
sible the police cases will be docketed
for prompt trial in october.