Evening star., 1954-11-15
.Carper, Taylor
Quit Force;
Lose Pension
Forfeit Poy Rights;
Pair Of No Use,
Chief Murray Says


Detective Sergt. William L. Tay.
lor, both suspended in 1852, today
resigned from the police force
after Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray told them they could be Of
no further service.
BY resigning instead of fight
ing trial board action, the two
forfeited all pay and pension
rights. Both had been tried and
cleared on charges of accepting
bribes from dope peddlers.
The designations were an
nounced by Attorney Myron Ehr-
Itch shortly after Judge Edward
A. Tamm of U. s. District Court
for the District of Columbia
formally dropped the last Of the
charges against Carper.
Judge Tamm dismissed the
case on request of Assistant
United States Attorney Frederick
Sm1thson, who told the court the
Government lacked sufficient
evidence to go ahead.
Unfortunate, Tamm Says.
Judge Tamm acted after criti-
cizing the action taken by the
Government in dropping the
charges.
81 think it is unfortunate that
these cases are to be terminated
in this manner" he said. 1.-THE
charges preferred were serious
charges, charges in which the
community obviously has taken
a great interest. It does seem
to the court in view Of the nature
of the charges that the desirable
disposition would be a trial and
disposition on the merits.
"The people in the community
have a large stake in these cases,
which have been the subject Of
a great deal of publicity. I be-
lieve that the reputation of the
police departmeptsfias been tar
nished in an, irrevocable way
by the charges in this case.
"It is the courts opinion that
the police department is a very
efficient organization. However,
am afraid that the people Judge
the police department by public
ity such as the kind that at
tended the initial charges in this
case. think the real losers
in this situation are the people
of the community who are en-
titled to have either the de-
fendant vindicated or convicted.
Justice isn't done in the case
II it is terminated on the pro-
posal by the Government"
Judge Tamm said he had no
choice. however. except to grant
the Governments motion.
In explaining the Govern
ment'S request, Mr.. SmithSon
told the judge that the Govern
ment was seriously handicapped
because some witnesses can no
longer be found, some have
changed their stories, and some
have indicated they are not will.
ing to give statements"
Chief Murray said he would
accept the designations, under
the conditions he laid down to
Mr.. Ehrlich in a letter November
4. These referred to forfeiting
pay and pension rights. He said
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
had also said he would accept
the designations on those terms.
Chief Murray's Letter.
In his November 4 letter. Chief
Murray wrote Mr.. Ehrlich:
II have been informed today
that there are no further charges
pending in the U. S. District
Court against your clients, Lieu
tenant Hielmar H. Carper and
Detective Sergeant William L.
Taylor. both members Of the
Metropolitan Police Department
in a suspended status.
I'm view fthe serious type
charges made against these men
and the wide publicity given
these cases, I do not feel that
1t. Carper and Det. Sgt. Taylor
could be Of any further value to
this Department. 1t would, Of
course, be necessary to conduct
an exhaustive investigation to
determine on what charges they
might be brought before q trial
board. In a discussion of this
matter with you few days ago,
you stated that you did not in
tend to subject your clients to
any further ordeal by the Me-
ropolitan Police Department.
Therefore, in the best interest Of
the Department and the citizens
tSee CARPER, Page A-2.)