Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-21

Eev- j. 3. Hawthorne, D. D., pastor
OF the Grove-Avenue Baptist church. was
before the Board Of Police Commissioners
yesterday afternoon for one hour. All
that transpired between the divine and
the board is not known, for the session
was secret, no member Of the press being
admitted to the star chamber. Altogether,
the session lasted four hours.
After their adjournment. at o'clock
stated was the substance of the interview
with DR.. Hawthorne. It was this:
The board asked DR.. Hawthorne II the
sermon alleged to have been delivered by
him Sunday was authentic. He stated tina:
ii was. The board then assured DR.. Haw-
thorne that they were desirous of aiding
him to unraveI the situation. and that it
was their pleasure to hear him concern
ing the statements that he had made. Dr.
Hawthorne said he knew nothing Of his
personal knowledge concerning the exist
ence of vice and the violations of law in
the city. but that he would produce the
witnesses in due season. He declined to
give the board the names of his wit
neEses during the executive session, but
would furnish the witnesses If the press
were admitted to the examination The
board decided TO hold an open meeting
next Thursday afternoon at o'clock
when a number of witnesses will be sum-
moned to appear.
Must BE in Public.
Dr. Hawthorne told the board that he
wanted to be vindicated, and substantiate
his statements. He felt that his motives
and position in the matter had been mis-
understood but he was unwilling to take
up the discussion unless it was made
public to the press. Just before he was
called before the board, Dr. Hawthorne
said: II am the defendant and the board
is the prosecutor in this case. and the
public is the jury. l want to lay my
case before the jury"
After he had been closeted with the
board for an hour, DR.. Hawthorne was
asked to make some statement as to the
nature of his talk with the board and
their position toward him. He declined
to do this, on the ground that the ses-
sion was decreed an executive one by
the board, and he did not feel at lib
erty to make known any of its proceed
ings He left the City Hall Immediately
after leaving the board room. and his
manner indicated that he was not too
thoroughly satisfied with the results Of
the afternoon conference SolIlc VI Tie
members of the board. after the adjourn
ment were rather inclined to magnify in
a spirit of levity. the investigation sug-
gested by DR.. Hawthorne They had no.
thing to say about details of the
session, except what ca be CLEANED from
the report indicated in the preceding para
graph.
None Of the ministers who came to the
meeting with DR.. Hawthorne were ad-
mitted. Rev. Mr.. Boyles knocked at the
door of Chief Howard's room where the
board was in session, but was not ad
mittcd. He said he had come there in
company with the other ministers to hea:
what would be said. but that counter
si;>1 was not sufficient to admit him. The
only witnesses called before the board
were three sergeants from the Second Po-
lice Station and nine officers. including
officer Wyatt.
Mr.. Wyatt Again.
The latter was in the room for nearly
an hour While the Board did not Of
fcially state that Officer Wyatt had re-
quested the board yesterday to make an