Evening star., 1938-11-17
Police Clerks
Books Checked
By Auditors
City Heads Suspend
Crawford
Guarded

District auditors ana investigators
for the Police Department today
were checking over the accounts of
Howard E. Crawford, the depart
ment's chief clerk and property clerk,
who yesterday was suspended in
definitely by the District Commls-
sionerS.
Police guards were maintained
last night at the office Of the sus-
pended clerk, and locks on the doors
were changed. Meanwhile, COM
manding officers of all precincts
were complying with an order from
Police Chief Ernest w. Brown Tor
the deliverance of all receipts for
property turned over to Crawford
between October l, 1885, and Novem-
ber Is, 1888.
Mai. Brown revealed that the
books of the department headed by
Crawford have not been audited Tor
three years and that the suspension
of the clerk will remain in effect
during the audit.
Calls for Inventory.
The Commissioners order suspend
Ing Crawford, whose salary is $3,6O0
a year, specified that written in
ventory be made by two employees
of the District auditors office and
two police investigators to be named
by Maj. Brown.
Inspector L. I. H. Edwards and
Detective SeTgt. Earl P. Hartman,
head of Maj. Browns special IN
vestigating squad, were acting tor
the police today. Inspector Edwards,
who is assistant superintendent OF
police, also was acting as property
clerk during Crawford's suspension.
Crawford told newspaper men late
Yesterday that his books were IN
perfect order and he welcomed the
investigation.
Mai. Brown said Crawford was
absent without leave yesterday when
an officer sought to serve the sus-
pension notice on him.
Crawford conferred last night with
Inspector Edwards. He said he had
taken a days leave due him. Craw-
ford lives aboard his 46-foot cruiser,
the Moonbeam, anchored at the Co.
rinthian Yacht Club, and it was
said he was on a hunting trip yes
terday when the suspension order
came through.
Conference Held.
Crawford and his attorney, James
O'Shea, went to the District Building
this morning with Maj. Brown and
Inspector Edwards for conference
with officials there.
The group of men conferred with
District Auditor Daniel j. Donovan
and Corporation Counsel Elwood
Seal over Crawford's request to
have an observer at the audit and
to receive detailed receipt for all
the property now in his Office.
Mr.. Seal said he could see no
objection to these requests.
Crawford also asked and re-
ceived permission to remove from
the Office any personal property to
which he could prove ownership.
The audit will be conducted by
Paul Keen. chief property inspector
of the District auditors office, and
George KidWell, chief field exam
liner. Crawford has been bonded
for $4,000 in his capacity as chief
clerk and property clerk.
Handles Recovered Loot.
Crawford is secretary and treas
urer of the Police Relief Association,
The associations board of directors
was to meet tonight in the Traffic
Bureau to discuss another case, it
was said.
The property clerks office handles
all loot recovered by police, lost
articles found in the city and the
belongings of dead persons.
Crawford has been chief clerk and
property clerk since his appoint
ment in December of 1881 by Brig.
Gen. Pelham D. Glassford, then
superintendent of police. Prior to
that time he had served four years
as a stenographer and reporter in
the department.
Crawford was appointed a clerk
in the department in October of
1917, and was reappointed the next
year after resigning. He resigned a
second time in November of 1918
and was reappointed in February
of 1920.
A third resignation was made in
June of 1921. He was reappointed in
January of 1927.