Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20

tO0ntlnued From First Pege.)
loom for more than Is policemen who
were not named In an original present.
ment charging five officers Of the hrst
precinct with assault
The second group of indictments IS
expected to cite several headquarters
detectives for mistreatment of prisoners.
It has not been learned whether the
alleged cruelty took place at police
headquarters or in the precincts. Vir-
tually every precinct is involved In the
cases brought to the grand jurys atten-
ton.
There was no evidence to warrant in
dictment of "lnigher-ups," although tes-
timony showed police inspector and q
captain were In a station house at the
to- prisoner. They testified they did
not know the assault was taking place.
The Department Of Justice invests
gated several cases In which alleged
victims of police attacks died from their
injuries, but there will be no indict-
ments on charges more serious than
felonious assault, conviction on which
carries . possible l0-year sentence.
The same policemen were found to be
accused in several cases presented &c
the grand jury, and these viii be In
dicted on several counts. each involving
possible maximum sentences Of 10
years.
Policemen already awaiting trial on
felonious assault charges are: Detec-
tives James A. Mestyn and Policemen
William T. Burroughs. William r.. Laf-
lin, William G. Groonaes and George z,
Perry, all Of the first precinct.
Five May Broaden Scope.
The special committee Of five lawyers
appointed by the Commissioners to In
vestigate the grand jury's charges
against the police department in con-
nection with the Staples case, it was
learned last night, may be requested to
broaden the scope Of its inquiry to in
clude the third degree practices.
When the committee was created,
more than o week ago, the Commission
ers announced that 1t would confine It's
activities to checking up on the grand
jury's allegations that former Police
man Staples was removed from the po-
lice force as the result Of a. frame up"
Now, however, with the Department Of
Juctice ready to submit report to the
Commissioners on its findings in the
brutality investigation, the belief pre-
walls at the District Building that there
may be additional work for the conn
mittee.
Some thought already has been given
by the Commissioners 10 the procedure
to be followed in carrying out any
recommendations the Department OF
Justice may make, but definite plans,
OF course, cannot be made until the
report Is received. In the meantime,
the committee OF lawyers VIII continue
the investigation Of the charges in the
Staples case.
information '-'s reached District Of
fleials that e. Department of Justice
report will g cases of alleged mis-
treatment of prisoners which are not
strong enough to warrant criminal in
dictments against policemen involved,
vet deserving Of disciplinary action.
These cases are the ones on which the
Commissioners will be expected to act.
Ever since the brutality scandal de-
veloped the Commissioners have fol-
lowed "hands-oR" policy in connec-
ton with the investigation, combining
their activities to cooperating with
the Department of Justice. This policy
also was adopted in connection with
the investigation OF the grand jury,s
charges against the Police Department,
and from all indications it viii be adj
hered TO with respect TO the brutality
report Therefore, 1t viii fall to the lot
OF the committee Of lawyers to advise
the Commissioners unless another COM
mission Is created, and there Is no dis
position on the part OF the ofhctals to
do that at this time.