Evening star., 1944-03-14
Witnesses Repudiate
Part Of Statements
In Trial Of Maqhan


Two signed statements concern
ing the condition of Policeman
Robert j. Maghan, jr., at the time
OF his arrest last December on a
charge of drunkenness were re-
pudiated in part yesterday by wit
nesses testifying before the special
civilian trial board hearing the case
at Municipal Center.
Policeman Linwood S. Jones, last
witness to take the stand at the
afternoon session, told the board
there was an odor of liquor in Mag
hans car when he arrested the sus-
pended policeman, but that he did
not smell it on his breath. He said
he found two whisky bottles in the
car and that Maghan, in his opin-
ion, was drunk.
- Mr.. Jones identified the original
copy Of a statement he wrote in
longhand at the seventh precinct
after Maghan was arrested. but
under questioning by Defense Coun-
sci James j. Laughlin said a carbon
copy of the statement appeared to
p have been altered. He said the last
paragraph of the original state
ment was omitted entirely.
Can't Understand Two Points.
Patrolman Jones was unable to
explain why Sergt. j. c. Pipkin's
name appeared on the police blot
ter as the arresting officer when
he, Jones, had placed Maghan un-
der arrest, or why Maghan was not
booked until $40 am, although he
was taken to the station house be-
tween $50 and 7 am.
Under cross oSS-examination by At
torney Laughlin, Mr.. Jones said he
had received an efficiency rating of
81 since he testified against Maghan
IN Municipal Court where the sus-
pended policeman was cleared of
the drunkenness charge In response
to Mr.. Laughlin's question whether
he hadn't received higher efficien-
cy rating because of his work in the
case, Mr.. Jones said he didn't know.
as 1t was the first rating he had
been given since joining the depart
sment seven and a half years ago.
Z Louis Elze, night manager of
hamburger shop in the $500 block
of M street NV, who had been a
Government witness in the proceed
.ings against Maghan, threw the
shearing into an uproar by denying
sthe part of written statement
bearing his signature that Maghan
was under the influence of liquor.
Was In Argumentative Mood.
i Assistant Corporation Counsel
Fred j. Icenhower at that point re-
nuested the extraordinary privilege
of cross-examining his own witness
And in the ensuing testimony Mr..
Elze made numerous confusing
statements. The witness protested
that he was sick the morning Ma
ghan came into the hamburger shop
And demanded double hamburg"
and paid little attention to him be-
cause he wanted to avoid any argu-
ments.
3 Mr.. Elze declared he didn't say
Maghan was drunk but admitted he
was in an argumentative mood. The
witness inability to answer direct
questions propounded by both at
torneys and members Of the board
finally provoked the remark from
Henry I. Quinn, a board member,
that you can't be that dull, you
understand the question"
1 Sitting with Mr.. Quinn were Paul
ID. Cromelin. chairman, former
president of the District Bar Asso-
citation, and Fred A. Smith, past
president of the Washington Board |
of Trade. The trio was chosen to
hear the case after Mr.. Laughlin
protested that his client could not
receive a fair trial from a board |
composed of police officers.
Donald c. Edens, formerly a de-
fense guard at Key Bridge, who
made the complaint against Ma
CHAN, testified earlier that he saw
the defendant on December and
that the latter was intoxicated. He
also testified there WAS a whisky
bottle I'M Maghan's car.
Offered to Drive Car.
he SAID ne Ouered 10 QrlVe the
policeman to parking lot, thinking
he would sleep it off" When he
saw Maghan make move to drive
of. however, he said, he called the
police.
The witness also testified he had
tried to get job in the Police De-
partment, but had failed the exami-
nation twice.
He said he had written a penciled
statement for 1t. Earl Hartman of
the seventh precinct which had
been copied at the station house.
Asked by Mr.. Laughlin to spell three
words in an alleged copy of the
statement introduced by Mr.. Icen-
hover, he spelled two correctly, but
failed on the third, prosecute.
Miss Juliet Bridwell, who testified
that Maghan backed his car into
hers and then drove through two
red lights and a safety zone shortly
before his arrest, is to be recalled
for cross-examination at Mr.. Laugh
Inns request when the hearing is
resumed at $50 am. Wednesday.