The Washington times., 1931-09-02
DATA SOUGHT
BOLSTER|NG
RUMORS
D. c. Officials Willing to Hear
Stories Of Alleged Con-
nivanCe Ignored by U. S.
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HNoIIOS t9iVi w ~
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nesses were herded into a court
room near the Grand jury room,
and were guarded by marshals
and agents.
All of the witnesses heard at
the first session of the investiga-
ton dealt with the case of
James Henry Harker, who claims
that he was beaten with a rubber
hose when arrested 10 days ago
by police of the First precinct
in connection with a housebreak-
ing.
The Department of Justice took
especial steps to protect Harker
today. Instead of having him
report at the courthouse with
other witnesses, they took him to
the Department of Justice and
did not bring him to the court
house until about noon, a few
minutes before he stepped into
the jury room.
Still Bears Marks
Harker still bore marks about
his head and body as a result OF
what he terms "a mercileSS beat
ing at the hands of police"
Harker was before the Grand
Jury for about three-quarters OF
an hour. At the conclusion OF
his testimony, the jury took a
short luncheon recess.
Department of Justice agents
placed before the Grand Jury
more than a score of statements
made by policemen of the First
precinct on duty the day Harker
alleges he was beaten, in which
the officers say they saw and
heard nothing to indicate that a
man was beaten.
Harker was preceded into the
jury room by eight witnesses who
testified, it is believed, that he
had seen him a short time before
his arrest and that, at that time,
he was in perfect condition and
unmarked.
Immediately preceding Harker'S
testimony, the Grand Jury heard
DR.. H. Watson Moffett, who testi-
fled that Harker had been brought
to his office upon his release from
the station by his attorney, F.
McComas Hawken.
It is understood that the doctor
I testified that he treated Harker
: for bruises said to have been in.
flicted by rubber hose.
Other witnesses were also called
to testify as to Harker's condition
both before and after the beat
ing.
Five Officers Involved
The five so-called airtight cases
which the Department of Justice
has worked up are said now to
involve only five policemen.
Four policemen already have
been suspended from the depart
ment in connection with Harker'S
charges. They are James Mos
tyn, w. c. Groomes, William r.
Laflin and William T. Burroughs.
Reporters Are Barred
Newspapermen and photog.
raphers were ordered from public
corridors near the Grand Jury
room and District Attorney Leo
A. Rover, belated entry in the in
uuisition, forbade reporters talk
ing to the witnesses.
j. Edgar Hoover. director of the
bureau of investigation of the De
partment of Justice, who took
command of the third degree in
vestigation under orders of Presi-
dent Hoover. was the first witness
called to the jury room.
Mr.. Hoover remained with the
Jury only a few moments, outlin-
ing to its members the intensive
inquiry a score of investigators
conducted during the last week.
Mr.. Rover intimated strongly
that the reason for SequeStering
witnesses and refusing to divulge
their names was fear that they
might be intimidated. There has,
however, he conceded, been no
attempt to interfere with any
witness under subpoena.
Hoover was followed on the
witness stand in the Grand Jury
room by Inspector John Keith
head of the local office of the
bureau of investigation. He re-
NAMED in the jury room for
some time and it is believed gave
details CT the cases under inves.
tigation.
Agent Gus r. Jones, brought
here especially for the inquiry
from San Antonio, Tex, took
charge of the downtown work.
AS the Grand Jury listened tc
stories of police brutality, District
officials announced their determi
nation to investigate vigorously
complaints of graft and corrup
ton among members of the Metro
politan Police Department.
With the Department of Jus
tice ignoring the testimony of wit
neSSeS who wanted to tell OF
graft, Commissioner Herbert
, crosby declared that his office is
ready to institute a thoroughgo
ing investigation of evidence C1
connivance of police with the
criminal element.
Gets First linking
The Commissioner said thai
none Of the volunteer witnesSe.
who had gone to the Department
of Justice had as yet reported tt
him. His first intimation thai
the Federal agents were refusing