Evening star., 1947-01-29
Callahan Gets Report
On Police Activities
AT Turnage Accident

A report covering ponce dcGlVlty
in an automobile accident October
% involving United States Commits
sioner Needham C. Turnage was
turned over to Police Supt. Harvey
G. Callahan today by Traffic Inspec-
tor Arthur Miller.
Mai. Callahan said he would not
make the report public, but would
send it this afternoon to the Dis
trict Commissioners, who had direct
ed him to make the inquiry.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Robert D. Wise, who prosecuted the
case in which Mr.. Turnage was
acquitted of a drunken driving
charge, had accused the police of
negligence in the way they investi-
gated the case.
Surrenders License.
Mr.. Turnage today voluntarily sur
rendered his drivers license as a
result of the accident, in which the
car he was driving collided with an
other driven by Alva Reed, 9901
Renfrew road, Silver Spring.
In addressing the jury that found
Mr.. Turnage not guilty, Mr.. Wise
said mo real investigation was made
at the scene of the accident" de-
spite the fact five charges could
have been filed under the circum-
stances
Instead, police did nothing for
nearly 10 days after the accident" "
he said.
The first the prosecutors Office
knew of the case was on November
7 when request for hearing was
made, Mr.. Wise continued. Protests
by Mr.. Reed and a private investi-
CATION started by his attorney,
James j. Laughlin, caused police to
began an investigation of its own,
he added.
Two Policemen at Scene.
Pvts. D. D. Eiland and Garland
Waters of police precinct No. 6 were
the first officers to reach the acci-
dent scene at Thirteenth street and
Arkansas avenue NV.
Pvts. Percy C. Duvall and Lionel
Couture of the accident investiga-
tion unit arrived shortly afterward.
Maj. Callahan said he had sent
Inspector Miller a copy Of The
Stars Sunday editorial entitled "Po-
lice on the Spot" and asked him to
find out what officer said police
were on the spot and why"
"It seems to me the drivers in
volved in an automobile accident
are on the spot and not the police"
Maj. Callahan said.
Turnage Sends Letter.
In his letter to Director of Vehicles
and Traffic George E. Keneipp turn
ing in his drivers license, Mr.. Tur-
mage wrote:
"It came to my attention through
The Star of yesterday that action
was pending looking to the revoca-
ton of my drivers permit. This is
entirely unnecessary.
IT have not driven an automobile
since the time of the accident in
which was involved on october %,
1916, nor have had my automobile
repaired, and I have authorized that
1t be disposed of.
81 am inclosing my permit for
cancellation because of the condi-
ton of my eyes and it is my present
intention not to apply for renewal,
and in so doing I do not admit any
civil liability on my part to the
driver and occupant of the other
car involved in the accident.
Keneipp Replies.
Mr.. Keneipp, in a letter replying
to Mr.. Turnage, who announced yes
terday his intention to give up his
license, said:
IT have your letter of January
% in which is inclosed your District
of Columbia motor vehicle operators
permit for cancellation because of
the condition Of your eyes. 1t is
further noted that it is your present
intention not to apply for renewal of
the permit.
In taking this action I feel that
you have displayed a brand of citi-
zenship worthy of emulation. I am
sure that there are many other mo-
torists now holding District opera
tors permits who are aware them
selves, or whose families are aware,
that their ability to drive car
safely has been impaired by one or
more defects which have developed
since they first qualified for per-
NIT. Yet, because they have been in
volved in no serious traffic accident
or violation the condition has
escaped official attention.
"I am hopeful that such persons
will follow the example you have set
and that whenever they are in doubt
as to their ability to operate car