Evening star., 1935-03-11
KELLY ADVOCATES
MERGER Of POLICE
AT CRIME INQUIRY
Veteran officer Favors Con.
soIidation of U. S. and
City Forces.
DEFENDS PATROLMAN
ACCUSED OF ASSAULT
Probers Also Question Him on
Investigation of Bridge
Instructor.

and United States Park Police forces
with the metropolitan department
was suggested to the Special Crime
Committee of the House today by Capt.
Edward J. Kelly of the third precinct.
The veteran police officer said he
believed there are too many police Or
ganizations in Washington and that
the merger would result in increased
efficiency and prevent duplication of
work.
Suffering from a severe cold, Kelly
took the witness stand despite his
physicians orders and apparently
made a favorable impression on the
committee.
Kindleberger's Name Mentioned.
The name of Karl Kindleberger. as
sistant United States attorney In
charge of Police Court prosecutions,
again was drawn into the investiga-
tion when Kelly was questioned about
an assault case involving Policeman
Howard L. Pilling
Kelly also was questioned about a
professional bridge teacher operating
In fashionable section in the third
precinct who has been under close
police surveillance for some time.
Kelly explained the man had oper-
ated an establishment in the vicin-
lty OF Twenty-third street and Massa-
chusettS avenue. but recently moved
to the 300 block of Connecticut ave.
nue.
Tells of Pilling Case.
He was giving bridge lessons. as
far as We could learn" said Capt.
Kelly. I'VE heard he was selling
liquor Illegally and we watched him
closely. In his new location, on Con-
necticut avenue. he is still teaching
bridge-still catering to the elite of
Washington. Lieut.. George M. Little.
in charge Of the vice squad, had one
of his men in the establishment for
some time, but he couldn't get any
thing on him"
Kelly gave detailed account of the
Pilling case. He told how this officer,
assigned to the Washington Audi
torium in civilian clothes during the
marathon dance there last Septem-
ber, detected colored man peeping
into the dressing rooms of the girl
contestants. In attempting an arrest
Pilling, according to Kelly, was forced
to strike the man with his revolver
and later fire at him when he at
tempted to escape. The man was
captured shortly afterward in his home
nearby and is alleged to have as
saulted the officer.
Says Warrant Issued. !
Pilling charged the man with as
sault with dangerous weapon, but
in Police Court. Kelly said, Kindle- |
berger reduced the charge to simple !
assault and issued warrant for the !
officer on charge of assault with a |
dangerous weapon.
How could he do that?" inquired |
Representative Schultz, Democrat, of |
Indiana I
II don't know" Kelly replied, !
"That's what he did"
Kelly explained that Pilling was |
acquitted and that the colored man |
was convicted on simple assault |
charge and sentenced to 80 days in
Jail.
Later, Kelly was questioned about |
Precinct Detective Robert j. Maghan |
and two boys he arrested on charge
OF breaking into a sporting goods
store. He admitted he had talked |
with Maghan about that case, but
was unable to give the committee the |
details it wanted.
Questioned on Personnel.
As soon as Kelly took the stand he
was asked if a certain place in the |
1900 block of Columbia road was in |
his precinct. When he said it was
in the tenth precinct the line of |
questioning was Immediately shifted
to the third precinct personnel prob
lens.
1t was then that Kelly recon-
mended consolidation of the park and
White House police forces with the
metropolitan department
Kelly said he had "a men under his
command, but he needed at least 40
more to patrol the territory properly.
He explained that on some days one
officer is required to patrol two or
three regular beats covering as high |
as go square blocks.
Pointing out that the White House,
Washington Auditorium and Consti- |
tuition Hall are in the third precinct. |
Kelly told of the details that have to
be assigned to these places for special
neutrality-suspicious. at the White |
House, boxing matches at the Audito- !
rum and concerts at Constitution !
Hall.
"Too Many Polic," He Says.
Schultz asked him why the park |
police could not be assigned to these |
duties instead of going around to
the small parks in his precinct which
also are on the beats of the regular |
metropolitan officers.
Kelly replied he believed the park
police already had as much terri
tory to cover as they could handle.
but he knew of no reason why his
men could not relieve them in the
small parks and eliminate the over
tapping of services.
What is the practical necessity of
having the park police?" inquired
John r. Fitzpatrick, committee coun-
sci. 10
"I don't see why they should be-"
Kelly answered. II think we have
too many police organizations in
Washington now. I believe the park
police and the White House police
should be put under the metropolitan
force in the interest of efficiency,
economy and effectiveness"