Evening star., 1954-06-16
Murray Sees Nothing
To Back Charges Of
Brutality on Juveniles

Police Chief Robert v. Murray
today said there have been no
facts offered or uncovered to
substantiate a charge that police
have been brutal in handling
juveniles.
The Rev. Orris G. Robin
son, chairman of the Juvenile
Advisory Committee, yesterday
charged that numerous cases"
of police brutality against juve-
niles had been reported by him
more than two months ago.
MY information is that the
situation has not changed" Mr..
Robinson said.
Calls Them UnSubStantiated.
1--WE found no facts to SUBJ
stantiate his charges" Chief
Murray said when asked whether
he had investigated Mr.. Rob-
inson'S complaints. made April /,
"T7e had no names at all and
it's difElcult when some one
comes III here and says that six
months ago juveniles were mis-
treated but doesn't give sup
porting information. I have not
received any further complaints
from Mr.. Robinson since April
l." Chief Murray declared.
"You must realize also that
boys accused of crime will not
hesitate to charge they have
been mistreated. No one likes tt
be arrested, either adults OF
juveniles, and as long as we
have police departments I sup
pose there will be such charges.
"We've done everything
humanity possible to avoid mis-
treatment of any one," he said
Mr.. Robinson declared that
police often threaten juveniles
with beatings if they do not con-
fess to crimes, that there il
evidence children have beer
beaten into confessions and that
z and 8 year old children have
been detained away from theil
homes and relatives to obtain
confessions.
Knows Specific Cases.
Mr.. Rohinson said he could
back up the allegations with
specific cases brought out ir
the Juvenile Court, but that
because of the secret nature OF
the proceedings, he would not
reveal them.
''I sat in the court Severa
times and heard the cases." HI
said. THAT is the time wher
the press could be of great helI
here, if the names and identify
ing details of the Juvenile Court
cases were withheld from print.
At that point, Mrs. Robert E
Freer interposed that the situa'
ton in the Police Department o.
brutality toward juveniles hai
grown to such a grave exten
that it is of great concern II
the committee.
At the same time, Mr.. Robin
son declared that, If the news
papers and the Juvenile Cour
could agree upon certain stand
ards and policies, the committe'
would be very happy to have tn
press attend court sessions"
think the judge edith Cockrill
would be, too"
Judge Cockrill nodded he
assent, but she said she bad in
vited editors from the Washing
ton dailies to visit the court an
confer on standards with her, bu
that the editors refused.
! Another committee member
George Pikser, urged that tn
Advisory Committee becom
more involved in the affairs Q
the court.
Ever since I've been on thi
committee I've noted the com
mittee itself has made no res
difference in the conduct Of tn
court, and my presence itself ha
made no real difference to tn
committee" he said.
Insure on Problems.
"I suggest we become more in
volved with this court. I don
feel I know intimately what tn
problems are and what the couI
procedures are"
Mr.. Robinson opened the meet
ing with a statement that "ther
| is more feeling about this tots
juvenile situation than ] had an
idea of when / became chairma
of the committee. He charge
that the press has been treatin
the court and the committee I'm
fairly editorially.
| Commenting that some new
stories have been slanted, M
Robinson added that IF I coul
ind out why I'd 60 to th