Grand Jury Report Criticizes Medford
Police Department; Advises Nevr Chief
(Editor's noto: Following It
tho complete text of tho roport
bsued yesterday by the county
grand jury, resulting from Its
investigation Into cireumilan
cm surrounding tho deaih of
Camp White Mambor Latter
W. Hurlay last July 14.)
la tho Circuit Court of tha Slata
of Oregon, for Jackson county:
BEPORT OF GRAND JURY
The following is the report of
the Grand Jury for Jackson
County, Oregon, for the summer
term of the Circuit Court of said
County and State, from the third
Mondav in July, 1953, through
the third Monday in October,
1053.
The following named persons
appeared on Monday, July 27,
1933, and gave testimony before
this Grand Jury in the matter of
tha Investigation into the death
of one Lester Hurley: Esther
Clark. Arthur Klatt. Anne Har
nett, Thomas Hall, Dixie Jorgen-
sen. Kenneth Williams, very
Vanoose. Raymond Seeley, Oil
ford Lacev. Loyal Heath, Clatous
MeOedie. John Snider, Dr. Ar
thur Schulz and Dr. Earl R. Leon
ard.
The written autopsy report of
Dr. Homer H. Harris, director of
the Crime Detection Laboratory,
Oregon State Police, was pre
sented to and considered by the
Jury, and at the request of the
members of the Grand Jury
copy of the Report on the Med
ford Police Survey by William
P. Beall Jr., was furnished the
Jury. Mr. Joseph E. Crawford,
foreman, was appointed to study
the report, and report its con
tents to the other members of
this Jury. Independent investiga
tion of the Medford Police De
partment was made by members
of this Jury by questioning mem
bers of that department. The
Jury also inspected the City Jail.
The following is a summary of
the facts surrounding the death
of Lester Hurley, as found by
this Grand Jury:
Lester Hurley was a man 62
years of age, a Navy veteran of
World War I, a member of the
Veterans' Administration Domi
ciliary Center at Camp White
from December, 1949, until his
death, except for several inter
vals of two or three months. Hur
ley was a tailor by trade and car
ried on his trade to some extent
at the Center. He was an alco
holic to the extent that, he had
been arrested bv the Medford
City Police 10 times on drunk
charges and picked up as a
"sleeper" three or four times.
On Saturday. July 11. 1953,
Hurley was in Medford. He pur
chased a pair of canvas crepe
soled ioes at a local clothing
store, "id also went to the Sew
ing Machine Center at 123 West
Main St., in Medford. Mr. Hurley
was well known to the owners
and employees of the latter busi
ness, since he had done business
with them for about two years.
Between 2:30 and 3:00 o'clock
p.m., July 11, 1953, Hurley came
into the Sewing Machine Center.
He talked with Mrs. Edith Clark,
an employee, and with Mr. Ar
thur Klatt, the owner, relative
to some repairs he wanted done
on his sewing machine. He left
. . . . 1 X
an order xor xnreaa, ana wcm
out. At about 3:00 or 3:10 p.m.
he returned to get a package
which he had forgotten. Both
Mrs. Clark and Mr. Klatt stated,
that although they could smell
the odor of alcohol on Mr. Hur
ley, he was not intoxicated, and
that his mind seemed celar. Mrs.
Clark stated that Mr. Hurley was
pale and appeared ill.
Between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m.
Hurley went into the Veterans
Club at 42 North Front st.
to get something to eat. and on
being told that the restaurant
was closed, he ieit. witnesses
stated that he did not appear in
toxicated at that time. The em
ployee of the Veterans Club left
the club a few minutes after Hur
ley, and saw him lying on the
sidewalk. .
Mr. Hall testified that he was
walking west on 6th st. near the
intersection of that street with
Front St., with his wife and
daughter; that he observed Hur
ley walking north on Front st.
to the south side of the 6th st.
crosswalk, where he stopped.
Witnesses stated that Mr. Hurley
took a hesitating step or two
sideways and walked several
steps Ubckwards, and fell heavily
to the sidewalk near the water
fountain which is located on
Front st. near the entrance to
Barneburg Andrews Furniture
Store. Witnesses stated that Hur
ley made no effort to break his
fall, or to put out his hands to
protect himself, but struck his
head very hard on the pavement
Witness stated that although he
was 30 to 50 feet from Mr. Hur
ley, he could hear Hurley's head
strike the concrete. Mrs. Dixie
Jorgensen also witnessed the fall
from the northeast corner of the
intersection at 6th and Front sts
At the request of Mrs. Verna
Flowers, a customer of the furni
ture store, a call was made to the
Medford City Police by Harry
Barneburg of the furniture store.
Mrs. Flowers stated that she
didn't see that Hurley was in
jured until she came back out
and looked at him. All witnesses
questioned, who were present
after Mr. Hurley's fall and prior
to his removal by the Medford
City Police, stated that it was
their opinion that Hurley had
been seriously hurt, and that
they felt that he should have
been taken to a hospital. Several
witnesses stated that they ex
pressed their views to that ef
fect to Officer Vanoose after his
arrival on the scene. Six wit
nesses stated that the blood from
Mr. Hurley's head formed a pool
approximately 6 inches in diam
eter on the sidewalk, and Mr.
Robert Asher, the employee of
the furniture store who scrubbed
the blood from the walk, stated
that a 1 inch to 11 a inch clot
had formed on the head wound
by the time Hurley was removed.
All witnesses testified that at
no time prior to his removal
from the place where he had
fallen, did Hurley show any
signs of consciousness.
Officer Raymond Seeley stated
that he received the call from
Barneourg about 3:30 p.m., or
thereabouts, and that he radioed
to Officer Veryl Vanoose to go
to the scene.
Officer Vanoose testified that coming outside calls revealed
upon arriving at the scene, he ex
amined Hurley and thought that
he was drunk, or perhaps that he
might be an epileptic, and that
he didn't think the place on Hur
ley's head appeared serious. Of
ficer Vanoose testified that he
recognized the man as a Camp
Whiter, and a witness testified
that Officer Vanoose radioed
that information to Headquar
ters. Officer Vanoose stated that
the blood spot on the sidewalk
was "about the size of a dol
lar." The evidence shows that
Hurley was loaded into the back
seat of the police car and takes
to Police Headquarters, where
Officers Clifford Lacey, Loyal
Heath and Raymond Seeley as
sisted Officer Vanoose in carry
ing Hurley into the Jail, where
he was placed on the floor and
his personal effects removed
from his clothing. Sergeant Lacy
felt Hurley's pulse, and he was
placed on a cot in the Jail's "Bull
Pen," still unconscious, at ap
proximately 3:45 p.m., Saturday,
July 11. 1953.
Evidence shows that Sunday
morning, when the "sleepers"
were released. Hurley refused to
leave and mumbled that he was
sick. Evidence disclosed no other
coherent statement made by
Hurley after his fall. Chief of
Police Clatous McCredie testified
that after lunch Sunday he no
ticed Hurley in the area outside
the "Bull Pen," and asked Of
ficer Vanoose who it was. Upon
being told, he instructed Officer
Vanoose to put the man back in
the cell and to call Camp White;
that they could not have the man
wandering around the hall. Of
ficer Vanoose testified that he
called Camp White, and after
speaking briefly with someone,
he was connected with the O.D.
He stated that he told the O.D.
that Hurley had fallen and hit
his head and was pretty sick, and
asked that an ambulance be sent
for him, but that the Domiciliary
refused, and told him to let Hur
ley come in on the bus Monday.
Officer Vanoose states that he
made the call about 1 p.m. Sun
day, or thereabouts.
Dr. Earl R. Leonard testified
that he was O.D. from 8:00 a.m.
Sunday until 8:00 a.m. Monday;
that a memorandum record is
kept of all outside incoming calls,
and that he received a call from
the Medford City Police at 11:00
a.nf. Sunday; that he was told
that Hurley was in jail and that
he was drunk. He testified that
no mention was made of Hur
ley's being hurt or ill. He called
Dr. Arthur Schulz, Chief Medical
Officer, told him of the call, and
was advised to let Hurley come
in on Monday if he was drunk.
Dr. Leonard says that he called
back to the Police Department at
11:05 a.m., and so stated.
Hurley was kept in the jail
until Monday morning, July 13,
1953. Chief McCredie testified
that he called Camp White at
about 10:00 a.m. Monday, and
asked that an ambulance be sent
for Hurley; that he was refused,
and that he ordered Officer
Vanoose to take Hurley to Camp
in the police car. Dr. Arthur
Schulz testified that a check of
the memoranda records of in
T I IM Hi 'it 1; TBiSl I
fir? small space
j ...afa small price,
1
2
3
4
Improved "Magic Monitor" circuit system
gives doorm, steadier picture ovfomorKoffy.
"Deep Image" picture tube electro beam
which produces tho picture has boon refined to
wlcro-sharpr for rW.rfeepWmoge pictures.
Now long-distance reception stops up pic
ture performance, increases sound sensitivity.
Now automatic UHF-VHF tuner con receive
of stations in any area. Has twice the sensi
tivity of many other UHP tuners.
Optional at No Extra Cost
5 New wider range of cabinets more now)
styles than ever before I
Other RCA Victor models priced from $179.S
, - - T
-I" I trey. Cobta.t h Anbhad m shodta aAAAflC
ont,qu, . . . oMt PM bouty (0 yeur hom d"lU3
Matching contolene bote evoilablt, extra. 4VV
Model 2IT303L
Feldman & Olson Electric Store
237 East Main Phone 2-2456
that no such call had been re
ceived by the Domiciliary.
Evidence indicated that no
medical doctor was called to ex
amine Hurley, although City
Councilman John Snider testi
fied that the turn of $1000 has
been budgeted for the payment
of such services. Although Offi
cer Raymond Seeley testified
that he booked Hurley as a
"sleeper" immediately after he
was brought in, Snider testified
that Tuesday morning, July 14,
1953, he was informed of Hur
ley's condition by Dr. Arthur
Schulz; that he wrote the name
down on a slip of paper and took
it to the jail where he asked
Chief McCredie to check the rec
ords for Hurley's admission to
and discharge from the jail. Sni
der testified that McCredie
checked the records, Including
the "sleeper" book, and reported
that there was no record of any
one by that name. Snider testi
ried that he has since seen Hur
ley's name in the "sleeper" book
entered under date of July 11,
1953.
Hurley was brought to the
Veterans Administration Infirm
ary at about 10:30 a.m. Monday
in a comatose condition. Vete
rans Administration officers
dressed his head. Three stitches
were needed to close the wound
in his scalp. A spinal tap ahowed
almost pure blood in his spinal
cavity, and he died at approxi
mately 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, July
14. 1953, without regaining con
sciousness. Veterans Administra
tion medical officers refused to
sign the death certificate, and
the matter was reported to the
District Attorney's office for in
vestigation. The autopsy report of Dr. Ho
mer H. Harris states that there
were three ramifications of the
fracture extending up to three
inches from the area of trauma
on the head with destruction of
brain tissue in the area extend
ing approximately V4 inch deep
and hemorrhage up to IVi to 2
inches inside the brain. This was
listed as the cause of death. Dr.
Arthur Schulz testified that he
was present at the autopsy; that
in his opinion it was not likely
that Mr. Hurley could have re
covered, considering the extent
of his injury, even though he had
received immediate medical at
tention, but that his failure to
receive such attention eliminated
whatever slight chance for re
covery he may have had.
Questioning of the members
of the Medford Police Depart
ment revealed that no telephone
or radio log is kept of either in
coming or outgoing calls; that
there is no continuous duty log
kept which is carried over from
shift to shift; that only a few
of the personnel have had any
training in first aid; that the of
ficers are rotated from job to
job, including a tour on the
desk; that men are hired as of
ficers without being . properly
screened, without receiving any
training, or without previous ex
perience and training. Investi
gation by this Body Indicates
that there is inter-departmental
friction, and that some of the
officers covet and are after the
positions now held by others,
including the job of Chief of the
Department.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Lester . Hurley's injuries,
which resulted in his death, were
caused by an accidental fall.
2. There is no evidence of any
criminal responsibility for Les
ter Hurley's death.
3. The Medford City Police
were grossly negligent in the
manner in which they handled
Lester Hurley after his injury.
Although it does not appear that
such negligence contributed to
his death, it is apparent that it
did not contribute to his recov
ery. 4. That the negligence herein
above referred to is the inevi
table result of poor organiza
tion, complete absence of rou
tine police procedures, and lack
ot officers training, rather than
personal or individual fault of
officer personnel. (Beall'a Re
port.) 9. That most of the defects in
the Medford Police system,
which were pointed out by Wil
liam P. Beall, Jr. in connection
with the Medford Police Survey
two years ago, stm exist, and
that apparently few of his maj
or recommendations for the cor
rection of these defects have
been followed. .
6. That exisiting City and Po
lice Administrative personnel
cannot or will not take the steps
necessary to the adoption of the
Beall recommendation.
Beall states: "5. No prisoner
should be placed in the City Jail
if he is known or suspected of
being injured or ilL without
first being examined and pro
nounced physically fit by a li
censed physician." Had this been
done the "Hurley incident" could
not have occurred.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Chief of the Medford
City Police Department should
be replaced by a man who is
properly qualified in all respects
to administer the affairs of the
department.
2. T h e Police department
should be placed under a Civil
Service system in order that the
employment and discharging of
officer personnel shall be on a
merit basis, thus providing for
a measure of job security in the
Department.
3. Because of the departmental
political implication mentioned
hereinabove, it is strongly rec
ommended that the job of Chief
of Police be filled from outside
the Department and Community.
Tanadar, Ausrosl t, 1U3
MEsroRO (oneaom mail Tsusun-irars
It is strongly urged and rec
ommended that Set William P.
Beall, Jr., of the Berkeley, Cal
ifornia Police Department, or
other officer of like calibre and
ability be brought into the de
partment for the purpose ot com
pletely reorganizing, revamping
and modernizing our Police De
partment, and that funds be
budgeted immediately in an
amount sufficient to employ such
a person.
4. It is recommended that in
terested citizens of this com
munity READ the entire report
of Sgt. Beall and interest them
selves in the proper administra
tion of their police department
5. This report should not be
construed as a condemnation of
all personnel in the Medford
City Police Department, and it
would be the recommendation
of this Body that all present per
sonnel who are capable of meet
ing the requirements of a re
organized ' department be re
tained. It is with a deep sense of re
sponsibility that this report is
Respectfully Submitted this 5th
day of August. 1953.
J. E. Crawford, Foreman
B. H. Boyer
Donald L. Harmon
Ruth A. Eberiua
Tighter Traffic Jams
Predicted by Officer
Chicago OJ.R) H. G. Kemp
er, president of Lumbermens
Mutual Casualty Company, ex
pects traffic jams to get tighter.
He points out that during the
past 10 years the number of reg-1
lstered vehicles in the United
States increased by 62 per cent
while total road mileage In
creased only 2 per cent
If cars had been spaced evenly
over the roads 10 years ago,
there would have been 169 yards
between each car. Today that
distance would be 104 yards,
Kemper said, and 10 years from
now, 64 yards.
Kemper added that vehicles
are being driven more today.
The average mileage per vehicle
has risen to approximately 9,500.
miles per year, an increase of 16
per cent over 10 years ago. To
tal annual mileage covered by
all vehicles has increased 87 per
cent during the past 10 years.
bers.
Lewis A. Birkland
Harry E. Blackburn
Arthur E. Owen, Mem-
GIGANTIC
EQUIPMENT
SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
Sat. Aug 8th
(Starts 10 a.m.)
CRANES TRACTORS
CARRY ALLS
TRUCKS AND CARS
TRACTOR PARTS
OTHER EQUIPMENT
($339,000 Valuation)
for derailed oeatpsneat
list, bJiom or wire
NATIONAL
TRACTOR CO.
5331 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, Calif.
Phone: Hiltcrest 6-6479
E CC3FCL Stfw
fi RUG
i CflRPCT Q)
.With our cleaning meth
ods, wo insure you a thor
ough, sterile job. Bright
ens tho colors, and re
moves wear-causing grit
and sand.
Moth Proofing
Rug Cleaning
Upholstery Cleaning
Expert Furniture
Cleaning
Ph. 2-4901 549 Fairmont
ps Jumbo Size 'iSlbv
EACH I UP EACH I gff EACH
Jpr Jumbo Size
PIPILUS "E CROP GRAVEIISTEHIS 3 ,5
LARGE SOLID HEADS 2 for 2.5e
MEDFORD'S FINEST MEATS
T-BONE STEAKS
0)C
J?M mm II 1 I
f 5. J&M 0 1 II II
ROUND STEAKS
V n V
PORK SAUSAGE GROUND BEEF
WE MAKE IT (OC NO CEREAL ) $fl 00
COUNTRY STYLE Jj.j O) 2 N WATER U). U
PRESERVES Grapefruit Sections
HUNT'S 11 Vx OZ. TUMBLERS HID NO. 2 CAN
Blackberry 239c 2 for 25c
Raspberry ........ .2 39c Arden's Freezo. .qt. 39c
SUNSHINE CATSUP
Vanilla Wafers "&T 17c .z .
ST" Wafers 27c Dennison's ....2 for 29c
Hi-Ho Crackers . lb. 29c CARAMELS
KRAFT - DAIRY FRESH
Graham Crackers lb. 31c 1 lb. 33c
GRAE3D WSS UMllH
and LOCKER PLANT
2330 Crater Lake Ave.
SPECIALS FOR FRIDAY
o Phone, 2-0188
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 - 8
PLENTY OF FREE
PARKING
STORE HOURS
Weekdays 8:00 a. m.-9:00 p. m.
Sundays 10:00 a. m.-7:00 p. m.