The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1939-06-16
Civil Service Commission Denies
Plea of Paschal and Stevenson
''For The Good OF The Service

Inc application for reinstate-
ment of former policemen, Paschal
and Stevenson to the police force
was denied by the civil service
commission Wednesday,
Officers Whalen, Paschal, and
Stevenson were dismissed from the
force by Chief of Police, William
Sears, for conduct unbecoming off
, icers, following the death of Berry
Lawson. All three policemen were
convicted of manslaughter. Paschal
and Stevenson were later pardoned
by Governor Clarence Martin, and
Whalen's sentence was allowed to
stand.
The commissioners, Henry ELL
lott, Jr., David e. Lockwood, for
mer councilman, and w. ]. Mulkey
gave the following order:
1.-THE civil service commission
concluded that the chief of police
should be sustained in dismissing
Officers Stevenson and Paschal for
conduct unbecoming police Off
GERS in connection with events fol-
lowing the arrest and death of
Berry Lawson on March %, 1888,
and for the good of the service
and their petitions for reinstate-
ment are hereby denied"
The public hearing began June
and lasted two days. The case
was taken under advisement.
Testimony was given before the
reinstatement, much of which
needed an application of salt for
digestion. Officer Stevenson Gre
ated something akin to a sensation
when he testified that officer
Whalen beat the head of Berry
Lawson against the wall and
struck him three or four times.
Officer Whalen is still walking the
streets, suffering from a heart at
tack? AS the Seattle Times said
editorially, it is risky business, this
conspiracy of, silence on the part
of officers.
Rev. Fred A. Hughes, president
of the NAACP commenting on the
commissioner order said, II think
the civil service commission issued
this only"order possible, rejecting
their application for the good of
the service.
The same sense of justice does
not prevail with all men. Before
the Board of Pardons, 1 made a
most vigorous protest against any
executive clemency for either of
the officers. Mr.. Bernard Reit-
ter, a very capable attorney
handled the casee of the NAACP
from the beginning His protest
before the board was so forceful
we felt then we had halted any
idea of executive clemency.
The NAACP never quits. Leav-
ing the Board of Pardons, we con-
centrated our efforts to prevent
the reinstatement to the police
force of the pardoned officers.
None of us was actuated by
desire for revenge = just a COM
mon sense application of the moral
law"
Rev. T. M. Davis, Rev. John R.
Harris, Prentis Frazier, Mrs. l.. B.
Young, our attorney, Bernard
Reitter and I made up the pro-
test committee Each made a plea
to permit the law to take its usual
course.
Mr. Bernard Reitter, a very
capable attorney, has represented
the NAACP in the Berry Lawson
case. Their officials have often
commended him for alertness, and
have always followed his advice.
MIR. REITTER COMMENTS:
The issues in this case were not
racial issues. The question to my
mind was whether any minority
group was entitled at the hands
of the law to fair, impartial, and
tolerant treatment.
Our belief in institutions of gov
eminent is fortified by the fair
and intelligent ruling of our Civil
Service Commission. The fact
that these men were pardoned by
the Governor should not affect our
confidence. They were convicted