Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-22
II MORE TO FACE
INDICTMENTS AFTER
BRUTALITY PROBE
Several Detective Sergeants
Expected to Be Named
by Grand Jury.
ASSAULT.
AMONG ACCUSATIONS
Department Of Justice Report May
Go to District Commissioners
This Week End.


Delivering Q final broadSide at the
third degree. the District grand jury to-
morrow win indict approximately II
more policemen for alleged use OF physi-
cal violence on prisoners. 1t was ru-
mored today in court house circles.
TIE second and last group of indict-
ments win name, in addition to pri-
Yates in numerous precincts, several
detective sergeants on duty at police
headquarters, it is understood.
Five policemen. all attached to the
first precinct, already are under In
dictment on charges Of felonious as
sault, and one or two of this original
group is expected to be named again
in the presentments tomorrow before
Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat Of the
District Supreme Court.
Uncertainty exists among observers
over the question of whether the grand
jury will see At to make special re-
port condemning the third degree and
seeking to place responsibility for its
existence here. Indications today were
that the court would be presented in
dictments only tomorrow, and that q
supplemental statement of some kind
might be issued later by the jurors.
VIII Charge Assault.
The new indictments will charge sim
pie or felonious assault on nearly @
score of prisoners, chiefly colored. The
assaults in most cases are alleged to
have been in the form of beating with
fists. although rubber hose Is said to
figure again in one or two Of the cases.
It was a rubber hose that played q
part in the questioning" of James
Henry Harker, according to the jury's
charges against four first precinct ofh-
GERS three weeks ago.
Ofacials of the Bureau Of Investiga-
ton were putting final touches on their
report to the District Commissioners.
This report, detailing findings in the
Governments l1ird-degree probe, may
go to the District Building this week
end.
Staples Arguments Delayed.
Meanwhile, Justice Jesse c. Adkins In
the District Supreme Court, today con-
tinued for a week arguments on petit
tions to expunge from the record the
special report Of the grand jury charg-
ing that former Policeman Orville
Staples was removed from the force
as the result of "frame-up."
At the same time, the committee Of
five lawyers appointed by the Commits
sioners to investigate the charges against
the Police Department in the grand jury
report speeded UP its inquiry with q
view to bringing it to close as early
as Is practicable.
Although the investigating board has
thrown mantle of secrecy about its
question within the next several days
former Policeman Frederick A. Schenck,
central figure in the Staples case.
Schenck was brought to Washington
yesterday from the Federal penitentiary
at LeavenWorth to testify before the
board and is being held at the District
Jail.
Attorneys Ask Delay.
Arguments on the petitions to wipe
out the grand jury report from the rec
ords of the court were deferred by JUS
tice Adkins at the request of United
States Attorney Leo A. Rover Inspec-
tor Louis j. Stoll and Policeman Joseph
H Hunt, through their lawyers attacked
the right of the grand jury to return
reports excoriating citizens, contending
that the functions of the grand jury
is to indict or ignore.
The grand jury recommended Hunts
dismissal from the force because of the
part he is alleged to have played in the
framing of Staples" It implicated
Inspector Stoll by inference.
Lawyers Review Report.
The investigating board of lawyers Is
devoting its attention chiefly to a re-
view of the voluminouS trial report In
the Staples case, although 1t Is under
stood, several witnesses already have
appeared and voluntarily given testi-
| mony. This board lacks power to COM
pei the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and is depending therefore
on the cooperation of the grand jury
and the persons who appeared before it
during the investigation of the Shapes
case.
Henry P. Blair, chairman of the In
vestigating Board, continued to main
tain tight-lipped silence about the
plans OF procedure. He contends that
the Commissioners have asked the
board for legal advice, thus making its
relationship the same as that Of q
lawyer and client.
Schenck's Second Trip.
Former Policeman Schenck was
brought from Leavenworth at the re-
quest of District oficials for the sole
purpose of testifying before the Inves-
tigating Committee. 1t is his second
trip to Washington since his incar-
ceration for a 20-year term, and his
expenses are being paid, it Is under
stood, out of District revenues. The
Department Of Justice brought Schenck
to Washington several months ago to
appear before the grand jury.
The extraordinary board of civilians
appointed by the Commissioners TO try
any members Of the Police Department.
should the committee Of lawyers recon-
mend prosecution, has not held an or
ganization meeting and probably viii
not do so until the investigation Is COM
pleted DR.. william Knowles Cooper
will serve as temporary chairman. The
other members are Dr. Cloyd Heck Mar
vim DR. Charles p. NELL. Rabbi Abram
Simon and william II. Lewis. ir.