Evening star., 1953-01-07
Jury 10 Study
Civil Rights and
Beating Charge
FBI Investigates
Police Treatment
Of Accused Knifer

A civil rights case against two
policemen in the beating and
shooting Of a prisoner. and q
knife attack case against the
prisoner will go to a grand Jury
simultaneously within 10 days.
Assistant United States -Attor-
ney John B. Diamond III said
today. .
The civil rights case follows an
FBI investigation, and the FBI
report will be presented to the
grand jury.
Disclosure of the FBI investi-
cation came yesterday when
Judge Frank H. Myers of Munich
pal Court wanted to know why
a case of assault with a danger
GUS weapon had been continued
five times since July without any
court action.
Delayed for Investigation.
Mr.. Diamond said the case
was continued while complaint
against the policemen for using
too much force and violence in
maintaining their arrest was be-
ing investigated by the FBI.
Judge Meyers released the
colored defendant, Eskiel Sieg-
Ter, 40, of Baltimore, in the GUS
today of his attorney, George
B. Parks. and informed the
prosecutor that he would dis
miss the case unless proper
action" was taken soon.
The FBI said that on August
IL full preliminary report was
sent to the Justice Department
setting forth the facts; that on
october 8 the Justice Department
ordered a full investigation, and
that the substantial portion"
Of this was sent to the United
States attorney on November Is.
The United States attorneys
office acknowledged receipt of
the November report but said the
last Of the report was not re-
ceived until 10 days ago.
Delays Defended. y
Mr.. Diamond defended the de-
lays by saying the defendants
attorney had consented to them
in order to have the investiga-
tion of the policemen completed
before his clients case went to
the grand jury.
Judge Myers ordered a 30-day
continuance with the under.
standing that both the FBI re-
port and the police case against
Siegler be presented to the grand
jury within 10 days.
Siegler was arrested on Q
charge Of drunkenness last July
Is in Clicks alley NE. by Pvts.
D. H. Taylor and A. A. Patrick
Of No. 2 Precinct. Pvt. Patrick
resigned from the police force
three weeks ago.
Officers Report Attack.
The policemen reported that
Siegler attacked Pvt. Taylor with
a knife after his arrest. A. strug-
gle followed in which, Siegler
said, he was beaten with a black
jack.
Siegler broke free and fled
under fire of the policemen,
police were told. One bullet
struck the fugitive in the head
and another grazed his chest.
The prisoner was taken to
Gallinger Hospital and released
in August under $500 bond. Some
time later, Mr.. Diamond and an
other Assistant United States At
torney, William Bryant, heard
witnesses for and against Seigler
and decided. they said, to turn
the civil rights as well as the
attack case over to the grand
jury.
Action Deferred.
Meanwhile, however, they
learned that the FBI had been
asked to enter the case, and de-
ferred this action.
Mr.. Parks said he went to the
civil rights section of the De-
partment of Justice early in
October and learned the inquiry
had been undertaken.
A few days later, Siegler was
arrested a second time, on an
other charge of drunkenness. He
was convicted and served a 30
day jail term. His bondsman on
the assault charge surrendered
him after his second arrest.
Siegler, accordingly, was held
on the first charge when he COM
pleted his 80 days in jail. He was
unable to make bond until
brought into court yesterday, al .
though the amount had been re.
duced to $500.
Mr.. Parks said he agreed to
the continuances while awaiting
the FBI report.