Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-05
POLICE PROBE DUE
IN PRESS ATTACK
Officers in Prince Georges
Face Arrest for War
on Photographers.

Warrants accusing Prince Georges
County police of serious criminal Of
lenses were expected to be sought today
as result of a near riot in front of
the Bladensburg fire house last night
in which one photographer was slug
ged with blackjack and four others
had their equipment taken from them
or broken.
The disorder occurred when newspa-
per photographers attempted TO take
pictures of Federal prisoners being
taken away from the fire house after
an inquest into the Old Colonial Tea
House shooting.
Hit With Blackjack.
Thomas McAvoy. photographer for
the Washington Daily News, was hit
over the head with a blackjack and
knocked down in an alteration with
Constable Howard Slater. Louis Johr-
den, Washington Post photographer,
had his camera taken from him by
police, while officers also grabbed and
Perkins, The Evening Star staff photog-
rapher, and Herbert White of the
Washington Herald
McAvoy was struck as he attempted
to take a picture of automobiles con-
tanning the Federal prisoners as they
drove down the Defense Highway some
distance from the fire house His
camera was smashed.
Constable Slater took McAvoy back
into the firehouSe where warrants
charging the photographer with assault
and battery and disorderly conduct
were preferred, and his wounds dressed
by members of the Bladensburg fire
rescue squad.
After posting $3.50 bond he was re-
leased and went to Washington hos
pital for treatment.
Grand Jury Probe Looms
Attorney Robert w. Mccullough, who
represented some of the persons ar
rested in the shooting and subsequent
vice probe, was retained by McAvoy.
"A serious offense has been COM
mitted," Mccullough said Il probably
will seek warrant and carry this case
to the grand jury"
Open resentment at the rough treat
ment accorded McAvoy and the other
photographers was expressed by spec
tators, Federal agents and even some
county ConStables.
"McAvoy was taking pictures of Fed
q
the county officers had no right to in
terfere," one Federal agent said.
The seizure of the Posts camera led
the managing editor of that paper to
wire protest direct to Gov. Richie,
saying 1T Is impossible to treat with
county officials" The Posts camera
was still at the Hyattsville substation
this morning
Photographers tried in vain to Sc
cure permission to take pictures inside
the flrehouse during the inquest. Off
Gals of the fire company explained
they did not want photos taken because
they were anxious to avoid as much
notor1ety in connection with the case
as possible.
Shout mo Pictures"
The camera men then waited outside
until the inquest was over Five women
and one man, the Federal prisoners,
were then uShered into two cars as
police Gordon prevented the photog
Iaphers from getting near the ma
chimes.
The officers shouted mo pictures"
but several were taken as the cars
drove away. AS soon as picture was
snapped. however, police confiscated
the plate.
Sounty FOlceman Ralph Brown
claimed a Federal agent had ordered
MN to prevent picture-taking. Con-
stable Slater said he received his in
structions from Brown. The constable
declared McAvoy hit him "at least five
times, once in the mouth" Slater said
ne struck only one blow with his
blackjack.
States Attorney Alan Bowie ex-
pressed regret at the incident and de-
clared he had ordered Chief of Police
j. ). Crowley to make a thorough in
NveStigatlon and lay all the facts before
him.
United States Marshal George Col
Her OF Baltimore, who had charge Of
the Federal prisoners last night, said
To-Day he gave no order to prevent pic
lures being taken of the prisoners. He
aooed That no one else was authorized
10 issue such an order and he heard no
one give any directions in regard to
The only rule we have is that
pictures cannot be taken on the inside
OF government building" the marshal |
salo. i never heard of any law to pre-
vent tne taking of pictures on a public |
IllgnWay. 1t Is customary for photog- |
rapners to make pictures of our
prisoners as they enter and leave the