Evening star., 1936-11-10
TOWNS REQUEST
FOR POLICE PROBE.
DENIED BY BOARD
Prince Georges Commission
ers Reject HyattsviIIe's
Plea by 81 Vote.
ALSO REFUSE TO ACT
ON DRIVERS CHARGE
Another Motorists Trial Con-
tinued Despite Protest Of
Defense Attorneys.
BY stan Correspondent OF The Star.

BY Stan Correspondent OF The Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md, Novem-
Der 1o.-A strong appeal from the
Mayor and Council Of Hyattsville ask
ing the Prince Georges County Board
Of Commissioners thoroughly to in
vestigate charges Of police graft was
refused by the board here today.
The commissioners also refused to
suspend a policeman, despite argu-
ments by Commissioner Vinton D.
Cockey, when a Washington motorist
complained of false arrest and bru-
talfty by a constable.
Cockey's resolution, seeking to in
stitute a separate inquiry by the board,
was voted down after H. Winship
Wheatley, jr., counsel for the Hyatts-
vile body, presented the letter.
Text Of Letter.
Drawn at last nights meeting Of
the Mayor and Council, the letter
read:
I'VE are appealing to you as our
representatives to give this matter
your careful and prayerful' attention
and to make every effort in your off,
cial capacity to correct this deplorable
condition.
Many Of our best citizens bow their
heads in shame, standing helplessly by
as the figure of scorn Is pointed at
Hyattsville as the seat of one of the
most dastardly rackets that was ever
perpetrated in the United States"
After reading the correspondence
Wheatley pointed out the commissions
ers' duty to supervise the police, and
emphasized that charges should be in
vestigated "by your board" Although
the commissioners voted to take the
matter under consideration, Cockeys
resolution for an Independent investi-
CATION was overridden, 3 to !. Chair
man Perry Boswell was not present.
Immediate Trial Refused.
Although the District autoist, Ed
ward K Bolton, 81, of 1860 Mintwood
place, appeared before the board he
was not asked to testify. The charges
of false arrest and brutality were giveN
to the board in an affidavit recert,y
taken by the Keystone AutomoA4
Club.
As the investigation Of alleged
police irregularities in Prince Georges
County, Md, developed yesterday,
Washington motorists plea for i'm
mediate trial, after his summons to
Hyattsville Police Court was denied
by the judge, who continued the case
over protests of two defense attor-
neys until tomorrow.
Frequently slamming his gavel to
the bench, Judge George B. Merrick,
in q heated session, refused to hear
the defendant because the case records
were Gin Upper Marlboro"
Crawford De Wees, Navy Yard em-
ploye, Of 18 r street northeast, ap-
peared to answer reckless driving
charges placed against him four and
one-half months ago after an acci-
dent on the Defense Highway.
Tells Of Arrest.
Attorneys Nicholas A. Colasanto Of
Alexandria, Va, and Louis Lebowitz
Of Mount Rainier were emphatically
informed Of the continuance immedi-
ately after the case was called. When
they sought identity Of the warrant
swearer, Merrick declared he was
running this court" No explana-
ton for presence of the papers in
Upper Marlboro was given, nor did
any complaining witness appear.
De Wees told reporters he was
forcibly taken to the Hyattsville Jail
Sunday morning by Maryland
bondsman and three other men who
pulled him into an automobile from
the street a block from his home. He
previously had been released on $1,000
bond, he said. following the accident.
He left the Hyattsville lookup after
payment Of 500 collateral Sunday
night. Station attaches, he said, told
him to appear in court yesterday.
In an afndavit given to the Key
stone Automobile Club, De Wees
averred that no charges were placed
against him when justice Of the
peace demanded the $1,000 bond after
the accident. A $50 bonding fee was
paid to the Maryland bondsman, he
said, and when he went to Hyatts-
vile two weeks later his case had been
postponed.
Refuses to Appear.
According to De Wees, the bonds
man came to his home on October
~ to request his appearance at court.
De Wees refused to attend, and on
that same day, he said, he received
. note from the bondsman instruct
ing him not to come to court. De
Wees reiterated his ignorance Of any
charges against him when he refused
to appear, he declared.
Until Sunday, De Wees said. he
heard nothing more Of the case.