Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-28
Thoman Denies
Offering Money
For Quiz LIST
Witness Undergoes
discrimination
At Bribery Trial

CroSS-Ex0mInutlon
At Bribery Trial
Capt. Todd o. Thoman, jr..
today denied from the witness
stand that he once offered for
mer Police Inspector Beverly c.
Beach "a lot of money" in pay
ment for a list of examination
questions in connection with
promotions from sergeant to
lieutenant.
The denial came during cross
examination of Capt. Thoman.
key Government witness in the
bribery and conspiracy trial of
two suspended policemen and
six alledged gamblers.
Isn't it fact that you went
up to this man named Beverly
Beach, who was a captain in
No. Precinct, and told him that
you would pay him lot of money
if he would give you the exami-
nation questions?" Attorney My
ron G. Enrich asked.
After a vigorous objection by
Assistant United States Attorney
John Doyle, who protested that
the question had nothing to do
with the current case, Capt.
Thoman replied:
II did not"
Seek to Discredit Testimony
The questioning was part of
defense attempts to diScredit the
testimony of Capt. Thoman, who
during IA days in the witness
chair has testified he got more
than $4,000 in bride money from
gamblers to protect their oper-
alton from police interference
Mr., Erhlich prefaced his ques-
tions by asking Capt. Thoman
whether his testimony in the
current trial was being given in
order to help him win a perma-
nent promotion to captain.
No, sir" the police captain
replied. This questioning fol-
lowed:
@. I call to your attention the
time you were a sergeant IN
1947. Is that correct? You were
a sergeant then?
A. Yes, sir.
Sought Promotion
@. And you at that time
wanted to take an examination
for lieutenant. Is that correct?
A. I believe so.
@. And did you know Inspector
Truscott gentleman by
the name of Fowler, an inspector
believe =. (and a man named
Beverly Beach. who was a cap
tain in the 7th precinct? Who
were on the promotion board
from sergeant to lieutenant?
Capt. Thoman replied that he
did, and Mr.. Ehrlich's next
question about whether he had
offered Mr.. Beach slot of
money" brought a courtroom
wrangle between the attorneys.
Judge Burnita S. Mathews of
the U. S. District Court for the
District of Columbia ruled that
he could answer.
Dismissed in 1853
Inspector Beach was dis
missed from the Police De-
partment in 1853 because of
his failure to explain salts
factorily how he and his wife
had managed to accumulate
more than $4,000 above their
reported income, a disclosure
made by the Senate District
Crime subcommittee in 1852.
The former inspector is now an
automobile salesman in Alex
andria.)
Capt. Thoman also denied
that he once got into difficulty
because he carried away" a
lot of groceries on one occasion
while he was serving with the
9th Precinct.
mo sir. that was over beer, "
Capt. Thoman replied. Some
one called up and complained
that I was drinking beer inside
the Budweiser plant"
Transferred as Result
He said that as a result of an
Investigation of that complaint,
he was transferred from the 9th
Precinct.
Earlier, Mr.. Ehrlich had pur-
sued the defense theme that the
Police Department trapped the
defendants into violating the law
On trial are Capt. John B
Monroe suspended 18th precinct
commander; Probationary De-
tective George c. Prather, sus-
pended in the 18th precinct;
Roger w. (Whitetop> Simkins
SIS, colored; Charles (Geechie
Charlie) Anderson, 40, colored;
Albert H. (Real Estate Smith
As; Curtis M. (Bozo) Taylor
80; John Hefty) Winston, AZ
colored, and Burnie King, 30
colored.
Questioned on Bride
During testimony about the
final $500 bride payment Capt
Thoman said he got from Sim
kins, there was this questioning
@. And what we're you going
to do for that $500?
A. I was giving the numbers
business protection.
@. Was that done at the order
or consent Of Mr., Rover (Unitec
States Attorney Leo A. Rover