Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-23
INELIGIBLE JUROR
IN THIRD DEGREE
Disclosure Brings Decision
to Represent All Bru-
tally Cases.
Continued From First page.)

Continued From First Page.)
the powers of the court, it is commended
| in legal circles. Neither has the De-
partment of Justice the right to ques-
! ton the jury.
| Since the Mcpherson debacle, in
which it was discovered after the grand
! Jury had expired that a woman MEM
| Der was ineligible because she was re-
ceiving a pension as the widow of q
/ naval officer, great care has been exer-
cised in examining candidates for jury
duty.
U. s. OfIiciaIs Vexed.
In the Mcpherson case an entirely
/ new grand jury was sworn in, due to
! the fact that the term of the previous
grand jury had ended when the in
eligibility was discovered.
Department of Justice officials were
vexed by today's developments, but de-
clined to comment for publication. They
| had announced completion of their part
of the investigation, but reopening OF
the grand jury proceedings will mean
their re-entry into the picture
The renewal of grand jury proceed
ings also may result in postponement
of Director Hoover's report to the Dis
trict Commissioners, scheduled for this
week end. 1t is believed he desires to
await the outcome of the grand jury
hearings before forwarding his report
of the Governments findings.
Legion Adopts Resolution.
The Executive Committee of the local
department of the American Legion
adopted resolutions last night express
ing disapproval of police brutality, but
declaring its full faith in the honesty,
humanity and integrity of the vast ma
jority of the police Of the District
and urging the public to withhold judy
ment until the accused have been
proved guilty.
Commissioner Crosby was visibly dis
turbed by the sudden turn CT events
and indicated that he regretted the now
apparent inevitable delay in clearing up
the brutality cases, particularly in view
of the effect it will have on the morale
of the police department, declared to be
already at low ebb. The Commits
ner, however, said he had no comment
to make on the situation. except to re-
assure the public that the efforts OF
District officials would not be relaxed
in pushing the investigation Of the
charges against the police.
Lawyers Continue Inquiry.
In the meantime, the Committee OF
Lawyers, which has relieved Corpora
ton Counsel Bride of the investigation
of the grand jury'S charges in the
Staples case, continued Us inquiry and
made preparations to interview Fred
erick Schenck, former policeman, whose
testimony that former Policeman Or
vile Staples was framed" resulted in
the grand jury's excoriation OF UNI
named members OF the Police Depart
ment. Schenck. serving a 20-year term
at the Federal Penitentiary at Leavcn-
worth, was brought to Washington at
the request of the District Commission
ers and is now confined in the District
Jail awaiting the pleasure OF the Com
mittee of Lawyers.
Functioning secretively, the commit :
tee is closely guarding the plans iC has
made to question Schenck. Whether
the interview will take place at the Jail
or in the ONCE Of Henry P. Blair, chair
man of the committee, is another detail
that has not been revealed.
Corporation Counsel Bride, however,
said If the committee desires to ques-
ton Schenck at the Jail, he will ar
range for the members to meet him
there in privacy. Otherwise, the cor
poration counsel explained. arrange
ments can be made to have Schenck
removed from the Jail to Mr.. Blair S
ONCE for the interview.
Aside from reviewing the volumin-
Gus transcript of the testimony in the
Staples case, covering 1894 pages. the
committee is questioning witnesses who
testified against the former policeman.
Corporation Counsel Bride, whose ONCE
conducted the prosecution OF Staples
three years ago. has appeared before
the committee, not for the purpose OF
giving testimony, but TO advise the
members and offer the cooperation
of the Commissioners.
Jacobson's Plans Unchanged.
Albert w. jacobson attorney for Po-
liceman Joseph H. Hunt Of the second
precinct, who the grand jury recon-
mended for dismissal for the part ne Is
alleged to have played in the framing
Of Staples, said the disqualification OF
johnson would have no effect on his
plans to seek expulsion from the rec
ord OF the grand jury report In The
Staples case.
II do not propose to take advantage
! of a technicality," jacobson declared.
1T intend to go RICH: ahead with my
plans to determine whether the grand
jury had legal right to make that
! report"
In a petition to the District Supreme
Court, Jacobson attacked the autnorNS
of q grand jury to make special reporG
on the ground that a grand 1urys
authority is solely to indict or ignore
A similar petition was filed by Henry
/. Quinn, attorney for Police Inspector
Louis J. Stoll, who was criticized IN
the report by inference. Both attor-
| news asked that the grand jury report
be expunged from the records.
Arguments Set for Tuesday.
Arguments on the petition will be
! heard Tuesday. Originally the court
set yesterday for hearing the argu-
ments, but postponed the date sor
week at the request of United States
/ Attorney Leo A. Rover.
jacobson revealed he discovered sew
| eral days ago that johnson was dis.
+, qualified to serve on the grand jury, anc
| had planned to question the legality
! of the jury IN the argument on hi
! petition. In the meantime, however, hi
! said the Department Of Justice learned
! that johnson was not qualified to serve
and SO advised United States Attorney
Rover.
, BORAH SAYS MONEY