Evening star., 1952-05-29
Crime

Crime
Continued From First Page.)
the Police Department. He said
his record was unsullied.
Defends Financial Deals.
The officer. who was suspended
from duty late yesterday. asserted
all Of his financial operations have
been honorable, but that he was
unable to tell. item by item, the
source Of his cash. The crime
probers charged the $4,000 was
in excess Of salaries or other ac-
countable income. ..
II can at the proper time, per-
haps the spoce of two weeks, clari-
fy everything" he stated.
The committee insisted, how
ever. that Inspector Beach had
had ample time to explain his
financial transactions. Members
pointed out he was questioned on
the subject both in January and
again in April. Senator Welker
commented hotly that the inSpec-
tor testified in April only after be-
ing threatened with suspension by
Maj. Murray.
The officers attorney, Wallace
Shubert, was rebuked repeatedly
by the Senators for interrupting
their questions.
Mr.. Shubert demanded i'm
mediate access to all official tran
scripts concerning his client, say
ing that he could not offer proper
counsel otherwise. He said he did
not know the line of questioning
the committee had planned and
he asserted that Inspector Beach
had been badgered yesterday.
Senators Neely and Welker
lectured him sternly with declara-
tions that there had been no
badgering. as the record would
show, and that Inspector Beach
had known for many months that
the committee was scrutinizing his
financial affairs. Several times the
Senators ordered the lawyer to
keep out of this as they sought
to question the witness.
May Refuse to Answer.
Mr.. Shubert said if the ques-
tionlng continued along the same
lines it might be necessary to
advise his client to invoke the con-
stitutional privilege of refusing to
answer. The District Commis-
sioners announced some time ago
that any policeman who took such
refuge during the crime inquiry
faced possible disciplinary action.
Mr.. Shubert announced he
would demand immediate police
trial board action for Inspector
Beach and termed the officers
suspension by Maj. Murray pre-
mature and rash."
This led Senator Welker to
comment heatedly that Maj. Muir
ray had shown excellent judgment
by his prompt action and that the
police superintendent would have
been derelict in his duty and
NEARLY in contempt of this COM
mittee" if he had not suspended
Inspector Beach.
The aroused members Of the
Senate committee renewed their
attack upon Inspector Beach hours
after he was suspended from duty
for failing to satisfy the probers
about his personal wealth.
The Senators suddenly ordered
him to testify in public because
they considered his demeanor at
yesterdays closed session unre-
sponsive and evasive. They said
he was not only the most difficult
witness to date in their long in
quiry, but they also questioned his
veracity. They promised his case
would be laid Immediately before
the District Commissioners and
the United States Attorney for
action.
Barrett's Spending Revealed.
At the hearing yesterday,
staff investigator told the COM
mittee that Mr.. Barrett had not
accounted for at least SIT 400 above
acknowledged income in the last
80 months of his administration
They followed quickly with
charge that Inspector Beach was
unable to explain at least $4,000
in his possession last year.
Senator Welker declared there
was direct, positive contradictory
evidence" between the police off,
Ger and his brother -in-law about
a $1,000 loan payment. Tht
brother-in-law is an employe o1
the Agriculture Department.
Inspector Beach said he hac
loaned Mr.. Selby $1,000 on Sec
ond trust for Mr.. Selby's home
He said Mr.. Selby repaid $1,000
in 1850.
Mr.. Selby was summoned anc
questioned by the committed
without having a chance to tall
with Inspector Beach. The Sen