Evening star., 1933-11-25
Bauer and SchIeiChert to Re-.
main Suspended Until
- Department Acts.
Jury REACHES VERDICT
TO ACQUIT IN 27 HOURS
Decision Results in Groups Abrupt
Dismissal From Further
Service by Court.

BY a jury in District Supreme Court
yesterday, Harry G. Bauer and Rudolph
Schieichert, suspended vice squad de-
tectives. must face the Police Trial
Board shortly in connection with these
charges, it was stated today.
Mai. Ernest w. Brown. superintend-
ent of police, said the mems suspension
would not be lifted as result of their
acquittal yesterday. and that they would
be tried, perhaps next week, on charges
of conduct unbecoming an officer and
prejudicial to the good of the force.
The two detectives were charged with
extorting $50 from a bootlegger in re-
turn for going easy" on one OF his
liquor runners. The jury deliberated
81 hours and then returned a verdict
OF not guilty.
Jury Is Discharged.
Upon receiving the verdict, Justice
Peyton Gordon, who presided at the
trial stared at the jurors for moment
and then said: This jury is discharged
from further service in this court"
The eXtortion charges were preferred
against the officers after they had ac-
cepted a sealed envelope from known
bootlegger. and the whole case turned
ON whether they thought the envelope
contained information or whether they
knew it contained money The jury
apparently took the former view after
listening to the arguments of Harry
Whelan and Joseph Kelly, defense at
torneys.
Both defendants, who had been at
liberty on bond, were ordered dis
charged by the court following the re-
turn Of the verdict.
Complicates Prosecutions.
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover
said today he had not as yet decided
what action would be taken in some so
liquor cases in which Bauer and
Schleichert are the complaining wit
nesses. He said he would not make
final decision until after the Police
Trial Board had acted. He indicated
the cases might be dropped even
though the officers should be cleared by
the board, and said they would GER
tainly be dropped if they are Ict
cleared.
Bauer and Schleichert were taken
into custody October 80 at Eighth and
I. streets after police officials hidden
in a moving van had watched Alfred
Dudley. liquor runner, hand an en-
velope to Bauer, who passed it to
Schleichert.
Dudley had been arrested two nights
before while making delivery OF
whisky for Henry Milton, his employer.
After the arrest. which was made by
Bauer and Schleichert. they went to
Millions apartment. While there, ac-
cording to the testimony. Milton tele-
phoned and Bauer talked to him.
Subsequently the two detectives met
an emissary of Miltons. at Vermont
avenue and street. The Govern
ment contended they then said they
would not place a charge OF illegal
TRANSFORMATION against Dudley if Milton
would pay them $50. The defendants
denied this and testified they promised
to do what they could for Dudley if
Milton would give them some inforn1a-
ton pertaining to the activities Of
another bootlegger.
Calls Police.
Milton then called police officials,
according to his testimony, and reported
that the detectives had attempted to
extort money from him. Milton told
them arrangements had been made for
q meeting at Eighth and L streets the
next morning. Accepting his state
ments, the police officials took the
serial numbers of $50 in bills furnished
by Milton ana placed lne Oils III al
envelope. This envelope was turned
over to Dudley
After the envelope had been handed
to Bauer the following morning. Lieut.:
asked first for the package Dudley
had given him. Then he asked for the
letter.
According to the testimony, Bauer
threw up his arms and said: Search
me. haven't got anything" Schlel-
ebert, who was sitting in an automobile
with the envelope in his pocket, said
nothing.
The two detectives were taken to
police headquarters. where the question
Ing was resumed When tn envelope
was again mentioned, Schleichert pro-
duced it.
Declares He Was "Dumfounded"
Bauer testified he did not say any
thing about the envelope at Eighth and
L streets because he was completely
dumbfounded" by the approach of his
superiors and the realization that he
had been framed by Dudley. Schlei-
ebert said he did not understand that
the questions asked Bauer referred to
the envelope the latter had given him
Yesterday afternoon after the jurors
had been out more than "a hours, they
returned to the court room and asked
whether there was any law requiring
policeman to give confidential informa-
tion to his superiors upon request. JUS
tice Gordon told them police officers
were required to obey the commands OF
their superiors. but that there was no
law bearing specifically on that point
The jurys question apparently referred
to testimony offered during the trial
that detectives in receiving confidential
information were not supposed to di-
vulge its source
After some question had been raised
as to the disposition of the $50. pros
ecuting authorities decided it would be
returned to Milton.