Evening star., 1941-07-03

months, setting forth all the work
my squad has done. I don't frater-
nize with any one in the Police
Department"
In response to further questions,
the officer said there was No one
he admired more than Maj. Brown. u
He denied, however, he had COM
planned to the major of any griev-
ance or of anything he saw wrong
with the department.
Il don't squawk," he explained.
Mr.. Hartman said his squad had
done work for the F.. B. l., the Dis
trict Alcohol Beverage Control
Board. the Commissioners, the dis
trict attorney and had investigated
new District employees to see that
they had not been connected with
subversive activities.
Question Called Ridiculous.
Mr.. Hebert asked if his squad
had made any reports on officers
for gambling.
That's ridiculous" he replied.
Mr. Hebert wanted to know if the
squad ever investigated any officers
for taking cigars and accepting
favors.
That's right down my alley" Mr.
Hartman said.
You have reported on those ac-
tivities?" Asked Mr.. Hebert.
There's a record on it," the wit
ness said.
Then came the following rapid ex-
change between the two:
Did you cause any promotions to
be made?"
No"
Did you cause any transfers from
one station to another?"
No"
Mr.. Hartman explained that when
he took over command of the squad
in 1898, succeeding Cap. Floyd
TruScott, certain complaints came
to the Commissioners involving two
members of the Detective Bureau
These men. he said, were investi-
gated and dismissed as a result.
Other than that the activities OF
the squad were routine" Mr.. Hart
man pointed out.
AT that point Mr.. Hartman de-
clared that his squad didn't go
out of the way to snoop or spy
on policemen.
Well declared Mr.. Hebert, Il
have been trying for 10 minutes
to get you to tell whether police
men had been investigated You
could have saved time if you had
answered right off"
Has Heard Rumors.
After vehemently denying that
there is a "Gestapo" in the Police
Department, Mr.. Hartman was
asked if he had ever heard rumors
of the existence of such a spying
unit.
yes, every one has" he replied
Maybe every one but Capt
Fowler" responded Mr.. Hebert.
Capt. John H. Fowler of the 18th
precinct testified yesterday that he
mad not heard reports of a Ges-
tapo in the departmentD
Representative Hebert asked Mr.
Hartman to explain how the ru-
mors started about that alleged
existence of Gestapo unit.
These reports, the witness said
must have grown out of the activitie,
of his squad.
Mr.. Hartman told the committee
that before he took command of the
squad in 1888 10 policemen had been
indicted on gambling charges as q
result OF the units investigation
but the cases against them were
thrown out of court"
Now am confused. baffled and
befuddled," said Representative
Hebert. Now you say lot of men
were indicted
1T was not my activity, said the
witness. Il was not in charge al
the time"
well, I'll call it a Gestapo," Mr.
Hebert declared.
Il resent that" said Mr.. Hart.
man.
Reported by Squad.
Mr.. Hartman explained that 81
or 10 men were involved in that
investigation. but only 10 policemen
were ''in the picture"
'The fact Is the squad did report
them," declared Hr. Hebert.
"Yes, but not me-" Mr.. Hartman
said. Il was not on the squad al
that time. That was back In 1898
"Since 1888 no men have beer
spied on?" asked Mr.. Hebert.
"Only four" came the answer.
First there was one, then two
and now four" declared Repre-
sentative Hebert.
when we have q gambling join
under observation and a man ir
full uniform walks in and makes 8
play he is reported along with
others"
Mr.. Hartman told the committee
he had been informed by reliable
source" that he had incurred the
wrath and enmity" of the Commits
sioners and would soon see him
demise"
He said that Maj. Brown has
reputation of being "wishy-washy"
but does have courage"
He described the accusations that
his squad is a Gestapo unit as q
product OF jealousy" and asked
why he should be "humiliated."
II apologize to no man for the
results of my organization" he de-
clared'
Maj. Brown said he would strike
particularly at the "Gestapo''
charges. These charges were made
two days ago by Capt. Gala
han, and several other police on