The Washington times., 1935-03-16
.HEADLEY, BEAN
BROWN SEEN
DUE To CD
Inspector Edwards Another
Considered to Resign in
Probe Aftermath

A "new deaP' in the Metro
politan Police Department, with
requirements among high rank.
ing officials, appeared virtual
certainty today as an aftermath
of the sensational disclosures
made before the House District
crime investigating committee.
The well-known "skids" are
being creased for Major Ernest
w. Brown, police superintendent,
it was learned today, and also for
several of his inspectors.
One inspector, Lewis I. H. Ed
wards, who also is an assistant
superintendent of the force, al
ready has indicated a likelihood
that he will retire.
All Three Past Age
Among the departments high
officials, Major Brown, Inspector
T. r. Bean and Inspector AL.
bert j. Headley are the only
ones eligible for voluntary re.
tirement. All are past the age Of
80. Brown is 81, Bean, g., and
Headley, "a, which is the dead.
line" set by law for voluntary
retirements. Younger men may
retire for physical disability.
Inspector James F. Beckett is
the youngest of the officials. He
is 81. The others are Inspector
Edwards, 81, who is in i'll health;
Inspector Frank S. w. Burke, IS;
Inspector William G.. Stott, Sc,
and Inspector Benjamin A. Lamb,
81.
The practice of "skidding" po-
lice chieftains out of office
through congressional investiga.
tions started back in the days
of Edwin B. HeSse. Representa-
tive Thomas L. Blanton. the
fiery Texan, was responsible for
Hesse's downfall.
Hesse entered the Police De-
partment as a clerk and worked
his way up through inside posi-.
tions. Succeeding Major Daniel
Sullivan, who died while in office.
Major Hesse was appointed Octo-
ber 6, 1925.
Filled With Trouble
His administration was filled
with trouble, principally coming
from reformers seeking to stamp
out the illicit liquor and gambling
traffic. The chief was called be-
fore congressional committee
in 1929 and Representative Blan-
ton, through testimony furnished
by Inspector Headley, accused
him of being a liquor drlnker.
Major Hesse retired in April, 1929.
Major Henry G. Pratt, who rose
from detective sergeant to an
assistant superintendent of police
back in February, 1922, succeeded
Major Hesse. Within a. few short
years, under Pratt's regime, baf"
fling crimes and departmental
scandals broke thick and fast.
Among the more prominent were
the strange deaths of Detective
Sergt. Arthur B. Scrivener, Vir-
ginia Mcpherson and Mary Baker.
They finally led to Senate
committee inquiry. AS a result of
the Mcpherson case, Inspector
William S. Shelby and the then
Lieut.. Edward j. Kelly were tried
before the Police Trial Board on
charges of "bungling" the investi-
cation, and acquitted. Capt. Rob-
ert E. Doyle and Policeman Rob-
ert j. Allen also got into "hot
water" over this case.
Major Pratt Quits
The upshot of the Pratt admin
istration was the retirement OF the
major and Inspector Shelby in Oc.
tober, 1881. One Of the reasons
given for Major Pratt's retirement
was bad eyesight, although he had
the reputation of being one of the
best duck hunters in this section
Of the country.
Pratt's retirement paved the
way for the appointment of Brig.
General Pelham D. Glassford as
police chief. He came here as the
'fair-haired boy" of former Police
Commissioner Herbert B. Crosby,
General GlaSSford met his
downfall when he bucked not
)nly the Commissioners but the
White House in the treatment
If the Bonus Army. Although
General Glassford did not face
! congressional committee, his
hands were tied by the CommiS-
;ioners in his administration Of
he police department and he
in October, 1882.
Major Brown was appointed to