Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-19

Department.
Thurman L. Dodson. alto
Committee. predicted that the
hearings will require ct least
several days.
Mr.. Dodson also disclosed
that his committee was sending
a new letter to Commissioner
Robert z. Mclaughlin in the
wake Of publication yesterday
Of q Justice Department letter
declaring an FBI investigation
Of NAACP police brutality
charges found nothing meritine
Federal prosecution.
The NAACP leader declined
to disclose the contents Of the
new letter prior TO its delivery
TO Mr.. Mclaughlin.
Yesterday. however. Mr.. Dod-
son expressed dissatisfaction
with newspaper accounts Of the
Justice Department action. and
he indicated this was one Of the
matters referred to In the
letter.
ROIice Protest Order
Meanwhile, the Policemen's
Association Of the District en-
tered the police-NAACP con-
troversy with q protest against
an order by the District Com
missioners authorizing police
men to give information regard
ing alleged brutality incidents
to NAACP representatives.
Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray, at the direction Of the
Commissioners, issued the au-
thcrization yesterday TO all
police precincts after unsuc-
cessfully opposing the action.
Park Police Corpl. Alfred A.
Capasso. association president,
called the order "a dangerous
precedent" and said it could
harm "the processes Of law and
order" and department morale
and efficiency.
Corpl. Capasso's statement
was authorized at a special
meeting yesterday Of the as
sociation's Executive Commit
tee. The statement pointed out
that the association has both
white and Negro members.
Witnesses Names withheld
Mr.. Dodson Withheld the names
of the witnesses the NAACP
plans to call at the hearings,
which will go into NAACP ALE
cations Of racial discrimination
in police department admins
tration and promotions. as well
as the brutality charges.
Commissioner McLa ughlin
said yesterday all three Com
nlissioners plan to attend the
sessions, which are screduled to
begin at 10 am. Monday.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said MACE
leaders earlier indicated the
presentation Of their case might
require as much as 10 days,
On this account. the city heads
are considering the possible
scheduling of some night ses-
sions, he said.
Mr.. Dodson indicated the
NAACP might object to night
hearings, however. He told a
reporter he was not prepared
for such sessions.
Presentation Mapped
The NAACP Legal Committee
met last night to plan its pre-
sentation. Mr.. Dodson said
members of the eight man
group, all attorneys. went over
a mass" Of documents. A group
of about q dozen "investiga-
tors" for the group also at
tended the session, he said.
NAACP leaders indicated yes
terday their group has no i'm
mediate plan to start interro-
eating policemen under the
terms of yesterdays order by
the Commissioners. But 1t APP
peared likely that the organ
ization would call upon some
policemen to appear at the
hearings.
Normally. policemen are not
permitted to discuss police bust
ness with outsiders without
consent Of their superiors. But
yesterdays order permits them
to do SO, where the individuals
are willing, with regard to the
NAACP's specific charges.
The NAACP submitted a bill
of particulars to the Commits
sioners listing eight alleged
brutality cases. and 1t was these
that the Justice Department
had the FBI investigate.
In q letter to Mr.. McLaugh-
lin on Thursday. Warren Olney,
jr., until this week Assistant
Attorney General in charge Of
the civil rights section Of the
department. said the depart
ment decided the veidence in
the case docs not warrant
criminal prosecution for vio-
lation of the civil rights stat
utes."
Limited to Federal Issues
The department, Justice Of
ficials said later. did not 60
into the question Of. possible
violations of District regula-
lions or of rules of proper con-
duct on the part Of policemen.
apart from the Federal statutes.
Nor was any special consid-