The Washington times., 1931-09-09
D. c. ASKS HELP.
IN PROBING
POLICE
Rumor Says US. Turns Down
Request; More Third Degree
Cases Ready Soon for Jury

cases Ready soon Tor Jury
A series Of conferences among
District and Federal officials to-
day presaged renewed activity to
clean conditions in the Metropoli'
tan Police Department.
While District Attorney Leo A.
Rover conferred with J. Edgar
Hoover, director of the Bureau Of
Department of JUS
tice, in regard to further Grand
Jury action on policemen accused
of brutality, District Building off,
cials attempted to work out So
luton Of the problem confronting
them as a result of the Grand
Jury report on the Orville A. Sta
pies case.
Rebuff Is RumOred
A report gained credence that
the District government had
sought further assistance from
the Department of Justice in
police matters, but had met with
a rebuff.
Following a two-hour confer.
ence of Corporation Counsel w.
w. Bride and Acting Attorney
General Thomas D. Thacher, 1t
was reported that the commits.
sioners had asked the Federal
to investigate rumors
of graft and corruption among
the policemen.
Neither local nor Federal Of
ficials would confirm nor deny
this report.
Brutality Cases Ready
Director Hoover is understood
to have told the District Attorney
that his agents would have
evidence completed in several ed
ditiOnaI third degree cases before
the end Of the week.
However, it is believed that
Mr.. Hoover will wait until next
week to take the case before that
body. It was pointed out that
Friday would be about the only
available day this week and on
that day Mr.. Hoover will have to
be in court to attend the arraign-
ment of five policemen indicted
on assault charges last week.
Corporation Counsel Bride con-
ferred today with counsel for two
men under fire because of the
Grand Jury report and. 1t is
attempted to map
out a program under which these
men could obtain vindicatiOn.
Henry I. Quinn, attorney for
Louis j. Stoll.. held a
conference with Mr..
Bride, at which, it is understood,
Stoll's challenge to the
Grand Jury to indict him for
perjury was discussed.
Mr.. Bride, on behalf Of the
Commissioners, is understood to
be sounding out the willingness Of
those involved in the Staples case
to appear before a special board
which the Commissioners are con-
sidering appointing.
Policeman Joseph Hunt, whose
dismissal was recommended by
the Grand Jury, through his
counsel, Albert w. Jacobson, has
signified his desire to be
tried before such body.
Limited in Scope
Administrative phases Of alleged
third degree practices in the
Police Department are not in
6 ed in the investigation which
department. of Justice is max
ms
Any such inquiry, it was stated
at the department today, Is a
matter for local officials and is
not embraced in the scope of the
investigation ordered by Presi-
dent Hoover.
1t was declared that the de-
partment will cOnfine itself in its
final report on the investigation
to answering two questions
Have there been instances Of
third degree practices? Are they
sufficient to warrant criminal
action?
Up to d. C. Heads
This limitation placed upon
the Federal investigation leaves
it up to the District Commis-
sioners to institute any inquiry
to determine to what
extent high officials of the Po-
lice Department countenance the
general third degree practice,
what steps should be taken in
to the cursory investiga-
tion conducted by the depart
ment when the third-degree scan.
dal "broke." and what steps can
be taken to wipe out the prac-
tice.
Maj. Gen. Herbert Crosby.
Commissioner in charge Of police,
is responsible for the statement
that the District government is
doing nothing in regard to this
phase Of the matter.
Thus, apparently, the only i'm
mediate results to be looked for
from the present condition Is the
Indictment NJ inafviHVRan rNnliNa.