Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-23

<h'OAaC AodpllSI CiitlCIis leu TO
fifteen of his witnesses will appear before
the Board of Police Commissioners this
afternoon at o'clock. They will come to
tell they know of or may have heard
Who they are is known to very few. for
Chief Howard said he couldn't tell thu
names Of those that he had been requested
to summon, and Dr.. Hawthorne would
not reveal them yesterday for fear that
the publicity thus given would hamper
the result OF the examination this after
noon Representatives Of the local press
will be admitted to tho session. and full
reports of the proceedings will appear.
The examination OF the witnesses will
is no doubt that much irrelevant testt-
mony will be introduced that would not
be admitted in court OF justice. It is
known. however. that the Board of Com
missioners have mapped out line OF In
quiry. and as they have declared It their
intention to assist DR.. Hawthorne. It is
not reasonable to suppose that there will
be any friction between the minister and
the board There Is very strong impres-
sion, however. that the Board will be very
much pleased IL Dr.. Hawthorne fails to
make out any case through his witnesses.
From Personal Experience.
The belief that it will be almost impoo.
sible to get witnesses to testify of their
own know ledge before the board this at
ternoon. Experience with the gambling
cases and with the witnesses summoned
to appear against the gamblers shows
how very difficult it Is to have them ap-
pear In court where they can be COM
PEELED to give evidence. 1T certainly does
seem unreasona BILE to me- said an official
in the City Hall yesterday. ITO think that
men are gciug voluntarily before the Po-
lice Board to testify as to the existence OF
vice and immortality In Richmond from,
their personal experience When the
gambling cases were before Justice
Crutchfield's court, and Wyatt was hold
ing his long list of witnesses as sure evil
dence-givers, there was scarcely day
mat Commemorative Attorney Richard
son was not besieged by some witness who
hoped the prosecutor for the State would
see fit to keep his name off the list Of
those called to the stand to testify. Tho
gossippers around the City Hall yesterday.
and everywhere else that the case was
discussed. were very generally OF tho
opinion that there would be some weak
testimony offered before the Police Board
this afternoon, If a witness was expected
to give a recital of his personal expe-
rience In connection with the sin and
vice in this city as the basis of his evi-
dence 10 prove that such and such a. law
has been violated. or that so-and-so is the
keeper OF a disorderly house, or that this
man or that man has kept his bar open
on Sunday where the witness had often
quenched his thirst.
Sunday Liquor Selling.
It is understood thai these witiiessei
will testify that there has been Sunday
iiquor selling by at least one-forirth Of
the saloons of the city. The Chief OF
Police and the Police Department in gen.
eral have no faith in the ability OF wifi
nesses to prove that such large pro
portion OF bars have been run OH the Sab.
bath. An official around the City Hal
said yesterday that he did not think tha.
the witnesses who had been summoned
would be able to prove any more than
Dr. Hawthorne did when he was be
fore the board Monday afternoon DR.
Hawthorne said his informal ton was sec
ond-hand, and so the official thinks OF til
information that the witnesses will offe
this afternoon. He was asked II tl
were men OF SQCG position u
the city that their testimony would carr.
great weight with the public. and to tn
question he replied that he thought the.
would be able to give only hearsay evi
dence He had the chance to see tn
list
Incidental to the Sunday violations wit
be revived the proof OF the existence
in the city. Very little that
new can be brought out on this point.
it has been clearly established and set
tied some time ago. The thing OF chit
interest in the character OF the test
mony bears upon the Sunday-c!osin
question. 1t has been rufnored from tim
to time OF late that one or two of tn
large saloons have been doing bushes
on Sunday. Chief Howard said yestei
day that il such were the case, 1t wa
not the fault OF his men, as they wei
on the lookout for violations. bur unlef
they could get into the bar-rooms an
secure evidence. 1t was possible that II
law was being violated. although It
believed that few. X any.
the prosperous saloons are willing TO m
the risk OF detection for the amount
business they can get by Keeping one
Sunday on the quiet. Whether any
DIR. Hawthorne's witnesses will bring
light proof not accessible to the polI
force remains to be seen.
Az to DIsorderly Houses.
Heretofore. the investigations have bed
restricted to gambling houses. and saioos
doing business ON Sunday IL fooks sci