Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-16
19 ARE INDICTED
IN POLICE PROBE
Civilian "Friend" Included in
True Bills Charged With
Witness Tampering.

Continued From First Page)
show cause why he should not be adj
Judged in criminal contempt.
Evidence Held "Ironclad.'
Although the Forthcoming report Of
the Department Of Justice is believed to
paint a scrdid picture of third-degree
conditions uncovered by its agents, with
references to a variety of alleged "in-
struments of torture" the grand jury
cases specify only attacks by rubber
hose wooden clubs and fists.
Through United States Attorney Leo
A. Rover, who handled the grand jury
presentation in person. the Government
offered to the jury only cases In when
it contends the evidence Is "ironclad
Justice investigators found evidence
of brutality in many other cases, put
because of inability of locating VIII
nesses conflicting testimony or opera
ton of the statute Of limitations oecl-
sion was reached not to seek fndict-
ment.
Dungeon Is Cited.
One case heard by the grand jury
involved testimony concerning "blacK
hole" dungeon in the basement OF the
first precinct, where an alleged victim
was threatened with the water cure. '
Another case presented to the previous
grand Jury related an alleged attack on
several colored boys by policemen who
drenched the boys with gasoline ana
threatened to set their clothing afire.
The three-day club attack is alleged
to have been inflicted on Thomas M.
Williams, a prisoner. by Policemen
Bremerman and Clark at the second
precinct on June 25, 26 and 81. The
indictment papers charge that Bremen
man and Clark alternated in using a
wooden club on Williams, presumably
In an effort to extort confession.
Each of the six counts alleges that
the pair of officers with force and
arms feloniously and unlawfully
did make an assault with certain
dangerous weapon, to wit, wooden
club"
Prisoner Was Cleared.
HEADQUARTERS Detective Barrett is ac-
cused of using his fists to beat, wound
and Ill treat" George B. Baber on April
last. Baber had been arrested on sus-
picion Of completely in the Jaynes muir
der case, but was cleared and released.
officers, is said to have taken Baber into
custody at the Marine Apartment House.
Thirteenth and Belmont streets. and the
assault Is alleged to have taken place
there.
Detective FINELY. also of police head
quarters, Is accused of beating Joseph
w. Birch on September 6, 1880, in a
simple assault" by fist.
Detective Messer and Policeman Jesse
- nharnod with up1dinO a
wooden club on Ralph Ware, whom they
had arrested on July 4, last.
Hasty and Policeman Groves are &C
cused in another indictment of attack
ing Ware with their fists on the same
day.
Precinct Detective Jones is alleged to
have used his fists on Robert E. Gibbs
on August IA. last.
Accused of Clubbing.
Policemen Landrum and Sirola are
jointly charged with clubbing a colored
prisoner, Henry johnson, on August 5,
last.
Policeman Sorber was named for an
alleged fistic attack on Arthur T. Paul
on August l last.
Policemen Lambert and Hazard are
alleged to have beaten Frederick Smith
with a wooden club and with their
hands on May 81 last.
Policeman Perry is charged with SIM
pie assault on John F. Miller. colored,
on August % last.
Mostyn. Latin. Burroughs and
Grooms are charged with savage at
tack with a piece Of rubber hose and
with their hands on James Henry Har-
ker, youthful baker. on August % last.
Appealed to President.
Harker's attorney, s. McComas Haw-
ken, has publicly accused the police of
brutality in connection with his client,
with the result that an investigation
was ordered by Police Supt. Pratt. The
inquiry was assigned to Inspector
Louis j. Stoll. who later submitted a
report confirming that Harker had been
beaten either just prior to or after
his arrest" This was accompanied by
written statements from all members Of
the precinct. denying knowledge Of any
assault. Stoll recommended suspension
of the accused officers, pending further
investigation.
Dissatisfied with the findings, the
Commissioners appealed to President
Hoover for a Federal inquiry, with the
result that the Department of Justice
entered the situation and took over the
probe
Detective Mostyn is charged with two
other beatings on August % and a third
on August 8. The plain clothes officer
is accused Of attacking Preston Brooks,
Harry Johnson and Walter w. Johnson
all colored
Witness Tampering Charged.
Mason, the grand jury charged, did
unlawfully, wifully and corruptly en-
deavor to influence" Baber in his
testimony against Detective Barrett
Mason pleaded guilty to a charge Of
obstructing justice when given a hear
ing before United States Commissioner
Turnage several weeks ago. He is
under $500 bond.
O'Connor was to have been given a
hearing this afternoon before Turnage
on similar charge, but his exonera-
ton by the grand jury will operate to
cancel the hearing and effect his re-
lease from the bond of $500 under
which he has been at liberty.
Mason and O'Connor originally were
charged with asking Baber to go
easy" on Detective Barrett.
Early Trials Sought.
The indictments were reported to the
court at 1890 o'clock this morning,
although original plans had been for a
presentment early this afternoon. Few
persons knew Of the grand jury's action
until the proceedings we're over.
All policemen named in the papers
will be given an opportunity to appear
voluntarily before the clerk Of the court
and give bond, pending arrangements
for trial.
Policemen Sirola, Landrum, Lambert
and Hazard were the first to surrender
themselves at the Court House this aft
ernoon. They were released on $1,000
bond each.
Rover is said to be determined to seek
early trial of the defendants. There
we're indications that the trials might
begin within a week or 10 days.
The District Commissioners were