Evening star., 1935-04-10
Commissioners Committee
Will Sift House Probe
Results Thoroughly.
HEADLEY RETIREMENT
SEEN WHEN BEAN QUITS
Morgan's Transfer Also Expected.
Group to Let AK Fall
Where It Will"

VI
counter complaints involving police
members and units investigated by the
House Crime Committee will be sur
veyed by the committee of District
officials appointed yesterday by the
Commissioners, it was revealed today
by Commissioner HaZen.
The immediate effect of the dis
closure was the crystalliZation of un-
official reports of shake-up among
police executives which may be the
ultimate result of the series of investi-
cations.
It was understood yesterday the new
committee of District officials would
study and submit recommendations on
only the fifth precinct case, which re-
volved around charges there had been
"tip-off" on a gambling raid staged
at an establishment in the 100 block
of B street southeast. However, Ha-
zen said today the Commissioners
committee would go thoroughly into
the entire Police Department situation
and would not submit its report until
after the House Crime Committee had
filed its recommendations with the
House.
Changes at Top Seen.
This set up definite expectations
in the minds of some informed OBJ
servers as to a number of changes
in the police high command. Ques-
toned about the reports, Commits
sioner Hazen would not comment.
Ever since the House committee
started its inquiry he has refused to
announce any of his own decisions,
stating he would wait until the COM
mittee completed its work.
One tentative plan in the minds
Of some officials appears to include
the following proposed changes:
That after Inspector Thaddeus r.
Bean, an assistant superintendent,
retires voluntarily, steps will be taken
| for the retirement of Inspector Albert
]. Headley. who was to be promoted
to succeed Bean under the so-called
"gentlemen's agreement" between
Representative Blanton Of Texas and
Police Supt. Ernest w. Brown. Cor
respondence about this agreement
was placed before the House Crime
Committee. Maj. Brown has denied
he intended to force the retirement
of Bean so as to make a place for
Headley. He did agree to the pro.
motion of Headley when Bean vol
unfairly retired, according to state
ments to the House committee.
Morgan Transfer Seen.
That Capt Joseph c. Morgan. COM
mander of the fifth precinct. would be
transferred to some administrative
post as an assistant. He held such a
capacity prior to his elevation to be
a captain. Capt. Morgan was ques-
toned by the House Committee about
the failure of the first raid on the B
street property when police failed to
find any evidence of gambling. A
second raid staged later by Lieut..
George Little of the vice squad re-
suited in charges being placed against
the proprietor. Approximately so per-
sons were found in the place at that
time.
The situation, as it appeared to some
observers, is being further complicated
by doubt as to whether Inspector L. 1.
H. Edwards, an assistant Superin-
tendent. now on leave of absence. will
return to active duty. He took an ex-
tended leave some weeks ago in the
hope of regaining his health. officials
said today they had not heard whether
he is recuperating.
There will be wide gap In the
police command under Mai. Brown
If the expected changes occur The
retirement of Bean would leave va
cant the post of second in command
| n fS
retired, there would be two inspector
ships vacant. If Edwards should not
return to duty. there would be two
vacancies in the post of assistant
superintendent.
Subordinate May Advance.
If Capt. Morgan is given a transfer.
lieutenant probably would be named
to Serve as acting captain until it
was possible to promote some one to a
captains rank.
The committee named by the Com
miSsioners to submit recommended
tions on the Police Department Situa-
tion Is headed by Corporation Coun-
sci E. Barrett Prettyman. The other
two members are Capt. Howard F.
Clark, assistant engineer commits
sioner. and George w. Offutt, chair
man of the Alcoholic Beverage Con-
troll Board
HaZen said this committee would
not be hasty in its study and report.
1t will receive first the lengthy fac
tual report on the fifth precinct case
prepared by Inspector Bean at the
direction Of Hazen. The text of the
report has not been made public, but
Hazen revealed yesterday the Bean
report recommended that Capt. Nor
gan be given a transfer and that In
spector Headley was criticized on the
ground he failed properly to follow up
the charges about the gambling raid
"tip-off''
Later the committee expects to
make study of the transcript of the
House committee investigation and
the report that committee is to file
with the House
Hazen said the only direction he
proposed to give to the Commission
ers' committee would be to make a
careful survey of the whole police sit
uation as involved In the Bean report
and the House committees study and.
In its recommendation to the Com
missioners, Ito let the AK fall where
1t may" He said there will be no
"whitewash" so far as he is concerned.
If the committee of District officials
and there is anything demanding at
tention Of the Commissioners.
1t has been anticipated that In
spector Bean, while refusing to apply
for voluntary retirement under pres
ent. conditions, will carry out his
earlier intention before many months
pass. From the comments Of various
officials it has become apparent there