The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-16
Policeman Foster Fined $40 for
Unbecoming Conduct.
NEWMAN WAS ExoNERATED
Charge of Cruelty Against Him Was
Not sustained-Major Howard
Explains to Committee Re-
garding Mr.. Wyatt.

duct unbecoming an officer in
criticising his superiors and requires
him to correct an interview attributed
to him.
Policeman Newman. tried on the
charge of inhuman treatment to a
prisoner. is exonerated on testimony
of the prisoner himself.
Subcommittee of the Police Com
mittee is informed by Chief Howard
that the prosecution against the
alleged gamblers was decided on at
q conference between Officer Wyatt
and himself and that the officer is
receiving all the help he needs from
the department. The chief is conf
dent of securing convictions.
Two members of the police force were
tried by the Board of Police Commis
sioners at the meeting yesterday even
1ng, and a subcommittee from the
Council Committee on Police was heard.
The session was long one, as well as
sioners were present except Mr.. Bosher,
who is out Of the city. and Mr.. Laube.
who is sick.
General interest had centered on this
meeting, for it was thought the Foster
trial would present some sensational
developments, and it was believed also
that the gambling Investigations would
bc discussed and some new facts brought
out. In this latter respect there was
I, u -
dent create any commouon.
Mr.. Foster was ordered to appear be-
fore the board because of an interview
that he had given out regarding the
gambling situation. In the interview
Mr. Foster said:
I'VE have never been asked the
question whether gambling places ex-
listed In the Second District The pa
trolmen of the district were called In
a body before the commissioners. I was
among them. No such question was
asked. We were asked. however, Did
Captain Angle ever tell you not to do
Your duty? This general question was
answered in the negative.
II was informed by one of the ser
Eeants Lat they were asked whether
they knew of the existence of gambling
houses in the district. / gathered from
this talk with the sergeants that they
replied that they had no knowledge Of
such places. But the privates were not
asked such question. The sergeants
,rcre not called in with the men when
the latter appeared, but were before the
commissioners ahead of the men, oney at
time.
Now, I want to ask whether the
members Of the Board of Police Com
,rissioners, the Chief Of Police, or the
nclice CAPTAINS. knew of the existence
or gambling places in the Second Dis
trict. ] have asked them the question
Tins puhlicly, and now it's up to them
to answer
COMMISSSIONERS ACTIVE.
This interview aroused to action the
commissioners. and when Mr.. Foster was
invited into the board room, it =Ss at
once seen that they were worked u1 20
q high pitch Of interest.
The officer was asked to explain what
he meant when he said it was up to the
Chief and the commissioners.
IT intended to reflect on no one. he
said, MY idea was to set the pubic
straight In reference to Inc report that
IS going around that the officers in the
recent investigation had declared under
oath that they did not know anything
about gambling being carried on in the
city. What I meant to say was that
everybody else in the city, or nearly
everybody, knew as much about gambling
only rumor That Is what 1 meant TO
say IN reference to the commissioners
md the Chief. did not mean to say
that they or anybody else knew some
thing about the gamblers that they had
not disclosed.
A number of questions were asked by
the commissioners. Intended to bring out
What Mr. Foster really did mean, put
he maintained his first statement that ne
did not mean to reflect upon any one,
hut simply to say that he knew no more
,han the commissioners concerning the
gamblers
~ have never been in a gambling place
in my life,' he said, nor do know of
nv own personal knowledge that such
places were ever in existence.
Ia reply to q question from Commls-
sioner Mccarthy, the officer said that he
had stated that il he ever heard Oh
policy shops or gambling places being run
he would lose no time in attempting 10
break them up
KNOWS NOTHING.
The direct question was put to him:
do you know Of any gambling places
now in operation. and can you produce
any evidence that mlgnt help to convict
the men now awaiting hearing on the
charge OF conducting gambling resorts.
II do not he said.
At the conclusion Of the hearing, Mr..
Mccarthy facetiously asked Mr.. Foster
81 he had any questions to ask the COM
missioners.
Il have not replied the officer.
Then Mr.. Jacob arose and said he had
been on the board twelve years. and
during ALI that time he mad done nothing
that he cared to hide. He had done his
duty and was not afraid to point 10
his record.
Mr.. Welsh said he had been on the
board sixteen years. and his record was
as an open book.
Major Howard said that he had known
from rumor that gambling houses existed
in the city. but ne knew nothing from
personal knowledge.
WORK BY DETECTIVES.
When received a report concerning
gambling place he said. -'I Immediate
~ send the detectives out to work on TIE
report with instructions to do all they
can TO arrest and convict He called