Evening star., 1936-11-06
z COUNTY POLICE
ARE SUSPENDED IN
BOND RACKET QUIZ
Warren Peake and Claude
Reese Relieved of Duties
+ In Prince Georges.
BOARD ALSO REQUESTS
COPIES OF CASE RECORDS
Officers Pay Halted Pending Com.
pletion of Grand Jury's
7 Investigation.
BACKGROUND

Armed with a1idavits taken from
Washington motorists, Keystone
Automobile Club attorneys ap-
peared before the Prince Georges
County, Md, grand jury in nearby
Upper Marlboro October 10. They
charged wholesale n1ulcting OF auto
lists under a bargain fine" system
operated through police-bondsman
collusion. A peek later the panel
recessed, recommended recall for.
further inquiry. The jurymen ,Dill
Teconrene tUithin tetD 1Ueeks.
With the suspension Of two police
men and the request for copies Of court
documents, the Prince Georges County
Board Of Commissioners took the first
step yesterday in an administrative
inquiry into charges Of law-enforce-
ment Irregularities.
Although officially refusing to in
itiate its own independent investiga-
tion Of alleged widespread graft. the
county's governing body actually en-
tered the probe of police activities by
yesterdays action.
The suspension of Warren E. Peake
OF Riverdale and Claude A. Reese of
Berwyn was instigated by suit filed
against Bondsman Elmer Pumphrey
in Circuit Court IL days ago. The pair
is named as arresting officers in the
declaration of Raymond r. Iannucci
of 308 Sixth street, who seeks $l40
from Pumphrey.
Affidavits Offered.
The commissioners unanimously
voted to request photostatic copies Of
case-disposition records from States
Attorney Alan Bowie. Recently i'm
pounded by the grand jury, the files
will be checked against affdavits taken
by the Keystone Automobile Club from
some 100 District drivers who charge
mulcting by police -bondsman tie-up.
Informally approached by several
members Of the board, Bowie said he
would permit the photostating within
several days" after he finishes prose-
cution Of Circuit Court cases. The
commissioners request followed pleas
by citizens representatives who ap-
peared before the group to demand
"some administrative action" yester-
day.
Harvey Cobb, attorney for the Key
stone Automobile Club, told the board
he would offer the af1idavits, taken
over a two-month period, for study
by the board when the photostats are
obtained. I'm checking the court rec
ords against these statements" he
said, "the commissioners can definitely
determine the extent of their police
mems involvement in this affair"
Suit Studied BY Board.
Iannucci's suit, studied by the board
before issuance of the suspension
order, does not cite the officers for
corruption or collusion. It merely
names them as the arresting police in
the case. which, according to the decla-
ration, was settled in court by an $11.70
collateral forfeiture after Iannucci had
paid Humphrey a $50 bonding fee and
el01.70 for fine and costs"
The complainant AYERS he was ar
rested by Peake and Reese for exceed
ing 60 miles per hour. According to
an attached court record copy, how
ever, the charge was reduced to ex-
ceeding IS miles per hour after IAN
nucci's payment. The Washingtonian
said he never went to court.
Peake and Reese were also named
In an affidavit given to keystone by
1annucci prior to filing of the suit.
The complainant was one of several
Washington motorists who appeared
before the grand jury.
Suspended without Pay.
Z. During the commissioners stormy
session yesterday, Cobb said he had
proof ''unalterably showing police
corruption" His appearance gave
the board its first official notification
Of the investigation. The commits
sioners voted down q resolution by
their colleague, Vinton D. Cockey, who
has consistently sought an independ-
ent inquiry by the board.
Chairman Perry Boswell declared
the board did not wish to interfere
with the legal process of the inquiry"
but he promised administrative action
against any of the constables charged
with. malfeasance upon substantial
proof"
Reese and Peake were suspended
without pay pending completion Of
the jury's investigation. The order
Followed the appearance of Chief Jere-
iniah ]. Crowley, who reiterated that
be had mo knowledge" of irregulari-
ties in his department. The two Of
Acers will be given q hearing If re-