Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-16
FOUR POLICEMEN
F.. co TO TRIAL ON
.3D-DEGREE CHARGES
Jury to Decide Fate of Quar-
tet Accused in Harker Case
Is Completed.

Trial of four policemen of No. pre-
cinct on third-degree charges growing
out of the Governments city-wide in
vestigation of alleged police brutality
got under way early this afternoon in
Criminal Division l of the District Su-
preme Court.
Selection OF jury to try the defend
ants-Precinct Detective James A. Mos
tyn and Pvts. William r. Latin. Will
liam c.. Grooms and William T. Bur-
roughs-was completed shortly after
noon
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover
Immediately began his opening address
to the jurors. outlining evidence by
which the Government expects to prove
that the quartet feloniously assaulted
James Henry Harker in an attempt to
extort from him confession on Au-
gust % last.
Harker is Excluded.
Harker. a youthful bakers assistant
sat in the spectators section during
selection of the jury, but was excluded
along with two dozen other Govern
ment witnesses before the trial pro-
ceeded.
John M. Keith, agent Of the Bureau
OF Investigation. who directed the De-
partment Of Justice inquiry, also was
to have been witness, but when de-
Tense counsel objected to his presence
in the court room as an assistant TO
Rover, the latter announced he would
forego using the Government officer as
witness.
List of Jurymen.
The Jury, chosen after several hours
of questioning by attorneys and the
court, is composed of the following:
Hugh r. Insley, salesman, of 2906
Thirteenth street.
Stephen R. Caldwell, salesman, of
46l0 Fifth street.
H. Stewart Harris, pharmacist, TIC
Somerset place.
B. P. Davis, department store buyer,
62l0 Eight street.
William B. Davis, bank teller, BIT
Third street southeast.
Burns C. Downey, president, General
Auto Truck Co., 2815 North Capitol
street.
Eugene w. Farlee, auditor, 615 Rit-
tenhouSe street.
Charles T. Hartley, tire vulcanizer,
1922 Georgia avenue.
GcOTBG T.. DdIlk tcllcI, O61
Fourteenth street northeast,
William B. Fowler, contractor, 233
Massachusetts, avenue northeast
Howard j. Garrett. cashier, 1908
Girard street northeast.
Ward T. Mixsell, engineer, Sill Thir-
tenth street.
Defense Challenges Seven.
The Government used half of its
10 possible challenges in excusing, S
prospective jurors, while the defense
peremptorily challenged Z of those
called for jury duty.
A number of prospective jurors were
excused because they were acquainted
with principals in the case.
Rover said he would show that the
policemen compelled Harker to remove
his coat and shirt despite his continued
refusal to admit any completely in the
robbery
''Mostyn took a piece of rubber hose
from the desk and struck the boy
viciouSly on his back, arms and neck"
Rover declared.
Then they made him sit in chair
MoStyn then kicked over the chair and
struck Harker again with all his force
while the boy was lying on the floor"
Confessed After Beating"
The prosecutor said the Government
would show that Harker refused to
make any confession until he had Suf
fered beyond his endurance.
We will show you, gentlemen of the
jury" he continued, that Mostyn, after
beating confession from this boy, went
to his superior officer and told him the
mystery of the robbery had been solved
We will show you that Harker was
beaten in the first precinct by Mostyn
and Latin while their two fellow Off
GERS looked on"
Justice James NJ Proctor excused the
jury for lunch at 1890, instructing
them not to discuss the case with other
persons or among themselves
IF any person tries to discuss the
Continued on Page 2, Column Sd