The Washington times., 1932-09-12
B, E.F, CHARGES
SLATED To GET
DOUBLE TEST
Congress and Court to Probe
Statements Contained in
MitCheII's Report


The accuracy of the charges
Of Attorney General Mitchell
against the "bonus army" will
be tested both in a congress
sional investigation and in the
courts.
This became certain today as
the blistering document made
public by President Hoover
again stirred the controversy
over the eviction of the veter-
ans by Federal troops to fever
pitch.
The court battle may be fought
in October, when three veterans
charged with assaulting police Of.
ficers-but not at the scene Of
the alleged riot which resulted in
a call for troops-are placed on
trial.
Trial Before Election
Attorneys for the veterans have
served notice that they will de.
mand trial before the national
election in November.
A half dozen members Of Con-
gress will demand a sweeping in
vestigation when Congress con-
wees in December.
Jesse C. Duke, who undertook
the defense of the veterans at
the time of the eviction, made
startling charges in assailing the
report of Acknowledgement
Mitchell. Duke, who has since
retired from the cases, said:
"The outstanding fact of the
entire situation is that not a
single person has been arrested
for starting the so called riot
on Pennsylvania Avenue, which
was followed by the call for
troops.
I'm fact, there was no riot.
There was a clash between
three or four policemen and q
few men. The crowd did not
attack with brickbatS until the
policemen had fatally shot two
ex-service men.
Police Were Numerous
"There were as many police
men present as ex-Service men.
The policemen, including plain
clothes men, were armed. The
trouble was caused because a
policeman lost his head and
killed a man.
"At the cOrOner'S inquest I
brought out testimony of
physicians to show that Eric
Carlson, one of the veterans
killed, was shot in the back by
policeman.
although the police have
not arrested a person for start
ing the SO-called riot, l am in
formed that they know where
some of those present can be
found. They do not want to
find them.
"It is charged that the bonus
army was filled with criminals
and nOn-Service men. But the
three men who died as a re-
suit of the eviction were ex-ser-
vice men. Carlson had dis
tinguiShed service cross.
All Had War Records
1--WE defended a dozen men
for various charges. All but one
served overseas, and the other
Was at Camp Dix.
"The three men the Grand
Jury indicted-JOhn Olson,
BrOadus Faulkner and Bennett
McCOy-all were in Jail when
the alleged riot occurred.
Charges are made that Com
munists were responsible, but
the only clash between police
and Communists came when
the latter attempted to picket
the white House at a different
time"
Senator 3rookhart (R3 of
Iowa, said:
There undoubtedly will be q
full and complete investigation
of the whole affair when Con.
greSS COnvenes in December"
A congressional investigation.
it was pointed out, could go into
matters which would not come
under the scrutiny of a Grand
Jury and would be open, instead
of secret.
Officials of the Bonus Expedi-
tionary Force have announced
that they will welcome a COM
plete inquiry into the use Of
soldiers to drive the veterans
from Washington.