Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-20
POLICEMEN DENY
BEATING HARKER
Mostyn, LafIin and Grooms
Testify Accuser Voluntarily
Confessed Robbery.

NOOnCnlue0 cTOm FuSC Page.)
ing the condition of Harker's back after
the alleged beating, and asked:
Did you infiict those things or
marks shown in that picture?"
II did not"
The defendants were cross-examined
but briefly by the Government. United
States Attorney Rover asked Mostyn
whether any civilians were permitted to
see Harker at the station house and the
witness said he didn't know He pre-
viously had denied responsibility for a
notation on the precinct arrest book,
mo messages in or out"
Rover asked Mostyn as to the exact
appearance Of Harker's eye when he
saw the prisoner In Police Court two
days after the alleged beating. The
witness conceded. in response to di-
be described as a black eye"
Policeman GroomS took the stand
shortly before the luncheon recess and
was to resume his testimony this after
noon.
Latin Denies Beating.
Policeman Latin denied emphatically
that Harker was given a third de-
gree" beating at the first precinct sta
ton house.
The quizzing Of the prisoner. Latin
said, was done by Precinct Detective
Mostyn and Policemen Grooms and
Burroughs and himself.
The policeman, IN response to ques-
tions by O'Shea, denied that Harker
was beaten by Mostyn with a rubber
hose or was struck with the hand or in
any other way subjected to mistreat-
ment.
In his direct testimony, Latin said
that Harker shed no blood while in the
Sergeant'S room, but under croSS-eX-
animation by Rover he said he had seen
blood spots on Harker'S shirt and I'M
dershirt when he examined the articles
of clothing in the office Of Capt. w. E.
Holmes, the day after the alleged at
tack.
Latin asserted that Harker's eye
balls were bloodshot and his eyes were
swollen, and that he had the appear
said the left eye appeared swollen
slightly more than the right. When
questioned by Rover, the witness said
Hafker's left eye was In worse condi-
ton when he saw him day or two
later, the eye being more diScolored-
between red and blue in color"
Desk Closed and Locked.
Latin denied Harker's statement that
Mostyn sat on a desk when the ques-
tioning began, the witness declaring the
desk, of roll-top variety, was closed and
locked, and that MoStyn merely leaned
against 1t. He also denied he had stood
behind Harker's chair, stating he spent
most of the time back of the desk or
near the door.
Harker's assertion that Mostyn forced
him to remove his coat, Latin declared.
was untrue, because Harker'S coat had
been taken away from him sometime
before.
Latin related that Harker allegedly
told conflicting stories as to his move
ments on the night Of the lunch room
robbery, and regarding the source Of
money which had come into his posses
sion suddenly.
The witness said Harker at first told
the policemen he was asleep in a room
on North Capitol street at the time Of
the burglary, but that, when confronted
with q man named Curtin he admitted
having lied about being home, and said
that he and Curtin had gone to the
Atlas Hotel early on the morning in
question.
Tells Conflicting Stories.
When quizzed about his sudden
he had won heavily in q crap game
with six or seven men in q vacant
house on the alley leading to the rear
OF the lunch room. When Mostyn
pointed out that this was IAN improb-
able story" Harker then declared he
got the money in Q gambling Joint"
on New York avenue, where he was
the witness stated.
"Harker was told that the place he
mentioned on New York avenue had
been closed for two months" Latin
continued, "and he then said that the
real fact was he had gotten the money
ABOUT month ago. Mostyn pointed
out that couldn't be so, because he had
been broke just q few days before"
Latin then related how George q
Price was brought to the station house
and how Harker finally admitted hav-
ing given Price $40 as q loan and x34
additional with which to buy Harker
a new suit and other clothing.
Latin said Harker a few moments
later was confronted with Curtin.
When Curtin came in" Latin told
tne court, Harker said: You squawk-
erF Curtin replied: They've got yo,,
why don't you take your rap? You've
taken 1t before"
He said Harker was questioned re-
garding what took place at the Atlas
Hotel and the prisoner said he didn't
recall having given any money to a girl
at the hotel. The oficers then asked
Curtin about some money which Harker
was supposed to have laid on a had
and. according to Latin, Curtin said
Harker had enough silver on the bed to
NIL 9 town bag and that a girl who was
IN the room took some Of the money.
aarker, the witness stated, then told Of
having bought Curtin a shirt. Curtin
then left the hotel and Harker was
quoted as saying he had breakfast and
went to bed until o'clock in the after
noon, when he went with Price to pur-
chase the clothing.
Where did you stand while this
was going on?" O'Shea
asked the witness.