Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-04
STAPLES CLEARED
N IN JURy's REPORT
OH.Ver's Reinstatement Is
AsIWd as Others on Force
= Are Scored.
(contin,A I'd From First Page.)

accused cert2 u oiAsioAo "a VIZ oiiSs
Department OF graft and corruption
The grand hlrv declared the charge;
against the III a Ted States attorneys
office to be "fa.S in their entirety,
and said it had I'een unable to sub
stantiate in any pa ~ticular any OF the
charges of corrupted and graft agains
any of the officials WI the Police De-
partment.
The grand jury, how yer, declared j
believes as a result of u investigator
that there exists in the metropolitan
Police Department fa Sc sense o
loyalty, supplemented by y vicious sys
tenn of reprisals for those no tell TIT
truth, that makes it impoSA 'ole Tor
stationary body, such as the a ana jury
to secul evidence against tn partle:
who are hTilty of initiating. CO noonins
or cooperating in such a case as VIZ
have Investigated"
copy of the report is to be rams
nlitted to the District CommiSsia ierS
and if they follow the grand ia "!
recommendation and reinstate StalA es
he will receive back salary amountingN U
approximately $1,000.
Staples was elated over the gram
jury's findings. and said if he Is re-
stored to duty he will be WaShington'S
model policeman.
CRared OF Suspicion.
Naturally am gratfied over the
outcome Of the grand jury's investiga-
ton and the steps it has taken to right
a grievous wrong" he said Il feel
that the cloud of suspicion that has
lowered over me since my unwarranted
dismissal from the force has at last
been removed.
AT the time of my trial before the
Police Trial Board l contended that
the proper place for the investigation
Of the trumped-up charges against me
was before a grand jury, but those in
charge at the time did not see fit to
make an impartial inquiry, which was
impossible before prejudiced beard
of police officials Now, after three
years. that impartial investigation has
been made and l have been completely
indicated"
Commissioners Reticent.
Informed of the findings CT the grand
jury in the Staples case the District
Commissioners appeared gravely con-
cerned over the recommendations and
the eXcoriation Of the police officers
involved. but declined to make any
comment pending receipt OF an official
copy of the report. Maj. Henry G.
Pratt, superintendent of police. like
wise was silent.
Maj Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, Com
missioner in charge of the Police De-
partment declared, however, that care
full End deliberate consideration would
be given the report and its recommen-
GStionS
Staples cannot be reinStated without
action of the Commissioners, and there
was no indication from them whether
they propose to follow the grand jury's
recommendations. Legal experts at the
District Building pointed out that there
is no statute compelling the Commits
SiCners to act on a report of a grand
jury and that the recommendations
can be ignored. although there is no
disposition on the part of these officials
to do so.
Information to Be Sought.
Failing to name the officers involved
in the Staples case, which the grand
jury recommends for severe reprimand
has placed on the Commissioners the
burden of eScertaining this informa-
ton. The names. however 1t was said.
are in the transcript Of the proceedings
before the Police Trial Board during
the trial Of Staples.
According to police officials only two
men remain on the force who were in
any way connected with the Staples
case. One of these was said to be
Inspector Louis j. Stoll, who investigat-
ed the charges against Staples, and
the other is Hunt. whom the grand
jury recommends for dismissal. Two
former captains, Guy E. Burlingame
and c. P. M. Lord who served on the
Staples Trial Board, are no longer con-
nected with the force. having been re-
tired since removal of Staples.
There were indications at the Dis
trict Building that whatever action is
taken with respect to the recommended
dismissal of Hunt would be left entirely
to Mai Pratt. District officials look
ard it has been their policy not to in
terfere with police administrative de-
tails.
Trial Before Dismissal.
It was pointed out. however, that
Hunt cannot be summarily dismissed
but that he will have to be tried and
found guilty on charges before the
Commissioners can remove him. This
will necessita:s a delay in acting on
the grand jury recommendations and
also involve. it is believed. a virtual
rehearing of the Staples case.
Charges can be drawn against Hunt
it was said. based on the findings OF
the grand Jury which accused the po-
liceman of securing false aff1davitS
giving false testimony and ACCOMPLISH
ing the perjured testimony of others
1t would be necessary in such an event
it was explained, to call members Of
the grand Jury as witnesses at the trial
and District officials recalled the diff
Guilty encountered two years ago when
an effort was made to force reluctant
members of the Mcpherson grand jury
to aoDear at witnesses against Inspec-
tor William S. Shelby and Capt Ed
ward j. Kelly before an extraordinary
Police Trial Board. At that time these
two officers were on trial. charged with
bungling the investigation of the death
of Mrs. Virginia Mcpherson and the
prosecution found it necessary to have
the Police Court issue Subnoen2s to
compel several members of the grand
jury to testify.
The Commissioners adjourned their
semi-weekly board meeting this morn
ing at HAS o'clock, and Police Com
missioner Crosby left the District Build
ing shortly afterward and went into
conference at police headquarters with
Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent,
and Inspector William S. Shelby, exec
utive officer.
The purpose of the conference was
not disclosed. but there was no doubt
that it concerned the double-barreled
action of the grand jury in indicting
five members of the force and recon-
mending the reinstatement of Former
Policeman Orville Staples.
ANCESTRAL KING GEORGE
AaAMclnM lc niInnuAcrn