Evening star., 1947-08-08

ferred before the Trial Board against
the arresting policeman and "the
commanding officer of No. pre-
einct who permitted such unlawful
detention" He further requested
that charges be filed both before
the Trial Board and in the criminal
courts against the policemen he
alleged beat his client.
Capt. Robert Pearce of the First
Precinct said Clegg was arrested by
Pvt. ]. c. Gibboney who was special
ly detailed to watch that vicinity
on the complaint of two women en-
ployed IN the neighborhood. The
women, he said, had complained
that for four days they had been
accosted by colored man, making
improper suggestions, on their way
to work.
Mr.. Rohb said he was retained by
the Washington Post, where Cleggt
Is employed, to represent him.
Tells Of Incident.
According to him, Clegg was walk
ing on Thirteenth street NV, be-
tween E and F streets, about 6 am.
Saturday on his way back to the
Post after his lunch period. when he
saw a woman leave a street car at
Thirteenth and F streets.
Mr.. Robb said Clegg told him an
automobile stopped there and picked
up the woman, apparently drove her
around the block and let her out
about the same place.
The woman then started walking
toward E on Thirteenth street about
the same time Clegg crossed the
street diagonally toward her, the
attorney continued. At that time
policeman, Pvt. Gibboney, called to
Clegg to halt, he said.
Held for "Investigation."
Clegg was arrested for "investi-
cation" and released at pm. Sum-
day, according to Chief of Detectives
Floyd Truscott. He said it was GUS
tomary for arresting officers to re-
lease prisoners, and that in this
case Pvt. Gibboney did not come
to work until pm.
According to Capt. Pearce, Pvt.
Gibboney saw Clegg walking close
to one of the women who had made
the original complaint. Since Clegg
and the woman were the only per-
sons on the street at that time and
Clegg answered the description given
in the complaint, Pvt. Gibboney
made the arrest.
y At the time. Capt. Pearce. said.
the woman tentatively identified
Clegg as the man who for four pre-
vious mornings had followed her
to work.
Capt. Pearce said he was not sur
prised that no further action was
taken by the women since the re-
1uctance of young women to appear
in court In such cases has fire
quently hampered prosecution" in
these cases.
Feels Arrest Was Proper.
Since the arrest and release of
Clegg, Capt. Pearce added, there
have been no further complaints
A1UlI WOLIicu LII LIldL area.
Capt. Pearce said he had not COM
pleted his investigation but that he
felt Pvt. Gibboney did the proper
thing in making the arrest on sus-
picion. Although the complaint in
volved a misdemeanor, he said,
persons accused of even minor sex
offenses are potentially danger
ous."
Under the circumstances" Capt.
Pearce said, "the officer would have
been derelict in his duty if he had
not made the arrest"
Mr.. Robb charged that his client
was held incommunicado until $40
pm. Sunday and was not allowed to
call his wife or his place of occupa-
ton.
He also charged he was arrested
on suspicion of conduct amounting
to a misdemeanor which was not OBJ
served by the policeman and who
had no warrant.
Slapped by Police, CIegg Says.
Not until he was taken before a
police lineup at pm. Saturday was
he aware of what he was being held
for, Clegg told the attorney.
Clegg said then it was announced
he was held on suspicion of molest-
ing white women, but nobody identi-
fled him, Mr.. Robb said.
Following that, he was taken be-
fore the bureaus sex squad and
questioned by two detectives, the
lawyer continued. He charged that
the detectives slapped him around
and that his face was so swollen he
did not go to work Monday.
Inspector Truscott said the de-
tectives denied striking Clegg. He
said the man was arrested once for
assault and battery.