Evening star., 1935-03-20
FURTHER BLANT0N
ACTIVITY STUDIED
BY CRIME GROUP
House Committee Seeks
Data on Varney Pro.
motion Case.
COMMISSIONERS DENY
SEPARATE PROBE PLAN
Representative Indicates He Will
Not Attend to Hear
Lieutenant.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

crat, of Texas is reported to have
interested himself was under lnveStl-
cation today by the Special Crime
Committee of the House.
Information has been given the
committee that Blanton communi-
Gated with Police Supt. Ernest w.
Brown with respect to Lieut.. Frank
A. Varney of the ninth precinct, who
until recently headed the eligible list
for promotion to a captaincy. Recent
efficiency ratings placed Varney's
name far down on the eligible list.
jeopardiZing his chance for an early
promotion.
Mai Brown said Blanton became
interested in Varney's case before he
undertook to assist Inspector Albert j.
Eeadley.
Brown Gives IntimatiOn.
The committee was given an init
nation of that case by Maj. Brown
when he was on the witness stand
Monday, denying he had entered into
the so-called gentleman agreement
with Blanton to force the retirement
Of Inspector Thaddeus r. Bean. so In
spector Headley could be advanced to
the rank of assistant superintendent.
The name of Narney was not men
toned at that time. but Maj. Brown
testified Blanton had attempted to in
fiuence the department in the case of
another police officer.
Lieut. Varney is expected to be call
ed before the committee to explain
the case. Blanton will be invited to
be present to hear the testimony, but
he already has announced he would
not have any further relations with
the committee, describing it as "a
tin can outfit
Commissioners Probe Denied.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen was
quick to deny this morning published
reports that the Board of Commis-
sioners contemplated an independent
inquiry of the Police Department upon
completion CT the Crime Committees
investigation
There will be no investigation by
the Commissioners" Hazen declared,
unless something unforeseen develops
to necessitate it"
The Crime Committee yesterday ad-
journed its hearing until l0:30 am.
tomorrow after hearing Hazen deny
emphatically that Maj. Brown had
advised him of the existence of the
"gentlemen's agreement to force
Beans retirement
HaZen made the denial after his
attention was called to letter writ
ten last August by Maj. Brown to
Rlanton, in which he said the Com
missioner had been informed of the
arrangement to elevate Headley
after Beans retirement and that it
met with his approval.
Denies Agreement.
II never made any agreement with
anyone declared Hazen. Inspector
Bean was promoted to an assistant
superintendent with out any strings.
A gentleman's agreement is not worth
a whoop unless the Commissioners
are in on it, and the Commissioners
did not know anything about this one"
The only reference Maj. Brown
made to the So-called deal" HaZen
explained, was that there had been
rumors Inspector Beau planned to re-
tire, and whether there would be an
objection to the elevation of Headley.
Hazen said he told Maj Brown at
that time he would consider Headley's
promotion at the proper time.
Commissioner Hazen was on the
witness stand only 35 minutes, and
in that time he not only denied Maj.
Browns statement, but made series
of recommendations for improving
law enforcement conditions in the
District.
An increase in the police force and
passage by Congress of bills providing
compulsory automobile liability nsur-
ance and for strengthening the gam
bling laws were among his principal
requests. He also urged passage of
the bill authorizing the Commissioners
to use public works funds for con-
struction of the proposed new courts
building.
The committee did not administer
the oath to Hazen when he took the
stand He was the first witness in
several weeks who did not take the
oath. Chairman Randolph explained
he did not believe it was necessary to
place the Commissioner under oath.
Only few questions were asked of
Hazen and most of these came from
John r. Fitzpatrick, committee couu-
sci. The Commissioner spent the
major portion of his time on the
stand making a detailed statement of
his position in the Blanton- Brown
IDEAL"
Backs Magistrate Courts.
The Commissioner also indorsed the
proposal of Corporation Counsel Pret-
lyman for a magistrate courts system
to handle various minor offenses, re-
lieving the Police Court of these cases.
When Hazen completed his recon-
mendations, Fitzpatrick began ques-
tioning the Commissioner about the
Blanton- Brown "gentleman's agree
ment" The committee counsel called
Hazen's attention to the correspond
ence exchanged between Blanton and
Maj Brown, in which the name OF
the Commissioner was mentioned.
May say first, with as strong Ian
guage as I know, I never made any
gentleman's agreement nor did hear
of any agreement to force the retire
ment of Inspector Beam declared
HaZen.