Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-10
FRAMING CHARGED
At POLICE TRIAL
Shimon and Christian Blame
Fight in d-Degree
Case-Recess Taken.

With their defense based on what
they termed 'frameup" by colored
burglary suspects. Third Precinct De-
tectives Joseph w. Shimon and William
v. Christian were waiting today for the
resumption of their police trial Tuesday
on charges of beating prisoner during
questioning.
The trial board. after hearing testi-
mony for half a day yesterday, ad-
journed until next week to allow the
prosecution to locate two witnesses, ex-
pected to bear out its contention that
the two detectives attacked Thomas B.
Washington, rs a colored tap dancer,
July 90 at the third precinct station
Testimony that Washington was
struck several times" by Raymond
Pearson, a colored prisoner, who was
implicated with him in an attempted
HOUSEKEEPING and joyriding charge,
was given the board yesterday after
noon by Stanley Petrone, 20, who said
block
Petrone. who then was under arrest
in connection with a shooting at Nine
tenth and K streets, said the officers. "
Shimon and Christian, "let them go
to it for awhile" before separating them.
After they had been relocked in their
cells. Petrone testified, he heard talk"
of a frame" inferrtng that the COL
ored men would place the blame for
Washington's injuries on the detectives
and in that way get out of their jam. !"
Awakened by Scuffie.
Andy Adelizzi, who also was arrested
in the K street shooting and who said
he occupied the cell adjoining Petrone,
told the board he was awakened the
night of July 20 by sounds of scufle. "
He said he saw washington and Pear
were fighting but denied seeing any
blows struck
The testimony of Petrone and Adelizzi
followed statements of Inspector Thad-
deus R. Bean and Capt. Edward J..
Kelly, third precinct commander, that
Washington had named Shimon and
Christian as his aSSailantS. Bean testified
he went to Gallinger Hospital the Mon
day following the alleged beating and
that Washington then identified from
a lineup of third precinct detectives
the two officers whom he claimed had
struck him.
Before he was sent to the hospital,
Washington signed statement that
he had been beaten during question
ing on the second floor of the station
house. But after identifying Shimon
and Christian on Monday, he subse-
quently refused to prosecute the two
detectives.
Pearson, called as a prosecution wit
ness, said he witnessed the attack on
Washington by Shimon and Christian.
He said the officers first slapped, then
struck, the man with their fists after
allegedly catching him in lie.
Defense Counsel Charles +. Ford, rep
resenting Christian, attempted to break
down the credibility of the witness by
proving that he had several aliases and
that he had served prison terms for
petty larceny.
Testimony Is Refused.
Washington refused to testify as to
the alleged beating, standing on his
constitutional right that to talk might
tend to incriminate himself. He was
permitted advice by counsel and was
represented in arguments before the
board by Attorney William Houston,
colored. Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Robert E. Lynch, who is prosecut-
ing the two detectives, became angered
at Houston's tactics and demanded
that the board determine what line of
testimony might tend to incriminate
him, instead of allowing him to refuse
to answer any questions.
Lynch said the Supreme Court Of the
United States upheld his contention and
requested the board to cite this con-
temptuous witness" before the Chief
Justice of the District Supreme Court
for contempt. Board Chairman William
G. Stott, acting inspector, overruled
Lynch'S motion.
Other members of the board included
Capt. Maurice Collins, seventh precinct
commander, and Capt. Joseph Morgan,
sixth precinct commander. Detective
Shimon was represented by Attorney
Harry Whelan.
In another alleged case Of third-de-
gree brutality, two second precinct po-
licemen, Frank Ashley and c. c. VIII
liams, will stand trial in Police Court
August Is on charges Of beating George
Mahoney, 19-year-old colored prisoner,
at the station house on Tuesday. They
were arraigned yesterday, pleaded not
guilty and demanded trial by jury.