Evening star., 1947-06-20
Police
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
of the other candidates in nationa
quarters.
Mr.. Barrett is known to be the per-
sonal choice of Commissioner John
Russell Young, however. Mr.. Young
probably has the support OF the
other two Commissioners, since the
Police Department is his direct re-
sponsibiilty.
Since he became chief of detec-
tives during the tenure of his uncle
the late Supt. Edward j. Kelly, In
spector Barrett has been both criti-
cized and pictured as the driving
force of the department.
In his curiously mixed records OF
disciplinary actions and commenda-
tions only a technical ruling by the
Court of Appeals and a subsequent
hung jury kept him from serving a
years Jail sentence for mistreating
a prisoner.
Indicted With II Others.
Mr.. Barrett, then detective
sergeant at headquarters, was
accused of beating up a suspect
later proved innocent, in the murder
of Mrs. Elizabeth Jaynes, cashier OF
the Garden T Shoppe in the 1906
block of Columbia road NV. on
April 3, 1881. Mr.. Barrett was
accused of waiting at the suspects
apartment with other detectives on
April 6, 1881, and assaulting the
man after he entered.
Mr.. Barrett was indicted with II
other policemen and a civilian on
October 16 of that year. The civilian
had pleaded guilty to attempting to
persuade the victim in the Barrett
assault case to go easy on charges
against the detective.
The detective was found guilty
on December 5 and the following
January was sentenced, along
with two other policemen convicted
earlier, to one year in prison. The
other two were fined $500 in addition
More than a year later, February
20, 1888, the Court of Appeals
ordered a new trial on the ground
that the lower court erred in charg-
ing the jury. The jury, according tc
the appellate body, was restricted to
consideration only of the arrest and
ignored preceding circumstances.
Justice Charles H. Robb expressed
the opinion that Mr.. Barrett, if he
had reason to believe he was arrest
ing a murderer, was justified in
using enough force to protect him
self from unnecessary risk.
ANY other rule, the justice felt
would discourage policemen and en-
courage criminals to resist arrest.
Proceedings Dropped.
An effort to try the case again
resulted in a hung jury and the
prosecution decided to drop the pro-
ceedings. Mr.. Barrett, suspended
from the force since his indictment,
returned to duty with back pay in
September, 1888.
Mr.. Barrett was made a perma-
nent captain by executive order of
President Truman last September,
by-passing civil service procedure.
This latter promotion made him
eligible for assignment as uni
formed inspector when an impend-
ing vacancy occurred.
This required permanent rank of
captain. His permanent rank at
the time was lieutenant. He later
decided he did not want the job
and Maj. Callahan filled the va
cancy with the senior officer, Capt.
Lloyd Kelly. then of No. 8 precinct.
Efficient Organization Cited.
Mr.. Barretts friends, on the other
hand, describe him as hard work
ing man whoNh has whipped the de-
tective bureau into an efficient or
ganization. He has by one means
or another obtained top men and
equipment for the bureau, they say.
And they predict that as superin-
tendent he will ride herd on the
entire department as he has on the
detectives.
He has an extremely wide circle
of acquaintances, both in and out
of the city, in some high places and
some not so high. His enemies OBJ
ject to some of the, latter, but his
friends see them as necessary in
detective work
Joined Force in 1925.
Inspector Barrett's record follows:
Mr.. Barrett, a native of Washing.
ton and son of a one-time police
man, entered the Police Department
July /, 1925. and was assigned as
a patrolman to No. precinct
Two months after his appointment
he was reprimanded for unwar-
ranted use of his revolver and
warned of serious consequences II
the act was repeated. In July, 1927
he was given duty as prohibition
enforcement officer at the precinct
and later held a similar job at No. 8
While on whisky raid, he hurt his
back.
On February Is, 1928, he was tried
by the department on charges OF
beating a prisoner with a blackjack
The charges were dismissed.
On May 10, 1928. he was charged
with maltreating a prisoner. The
charges were dismissed.
A month later he was cut on the
shoulder with a knife by a pris-
oner.
In July, 1923, he was made pre-
cinct detective at No. and shortly
afterward injured his hand while
making an arrest.
Other Cases Dismissed.
April IS, 1929, he was tried by the
department on charges of beating