The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-12
WREN NOT DRUNK,
BOARD DECLARES
But He Will Be Reprirnanded for
Drinkirg-Hearing Behind
Closed Doors.

Notwithstanding the appearance or
an overwhelming majority of witnesses
against him. Sergeant T. j. Wren, OF
the detective department, was exon
Grated on three serious charges by
the Board of Police Commissioners las,
night. but was ordered to be severely
reprimanded for having, confessedly,
taken three drinks while returning
from Orange last Tuesday week. The
session lasted from s o'clock until half
and hour after midnight. The official
statement issued by the board is as
follows:
The board finds from the evidence,
"First-Thnt Sergeant Wren was not
in charge of the prisoner on his return
trip from Orange Courthouse
"Second-Thnt he was not guilty of
any disgrnccful conduct, us charged in
the reports.
''Third-That he was not guilty of
furnishing the prisoner with liquor.
son these charges Sergeant Wren is
cxoncratetl. We find from his own nd
mission that after delivering the pris-
oner into the custody of the court mt
Orange, Va, he took three drinks, for
which the board orders him to be Sc
verely reprimanded.''
volunteered to Testify.
From the more serious charges, the
accused detective escaped by the testi-
mony OF Colonel Newhouse, doorEeeper
of the Legislature. and former Senator
George S. Shackelford. the former of
whom, not knowing at the time who
| Sergeant Wrenn was, volunteered, at
| ter the publication of the charges, to
| testify in his behalf, and the latter of
| whom wrote. personal letter to the
board yesterday afternoon, the COM
munication reaching the commissioners
in time to be read last night. Both wit
nesses testified as to the orderliness of
| the detective. Deputy Sheriff Parker, OF
/ Orange county. also testified in Wren's
Bailey and w. w. Ford, a night watch
man at the City Jail: Jailor Nance and.
| of course, the accused himself.
Throughout the proceedings the Off.
| Ger was allowed Ito sit and listen to
the witnesses, and to cross-examine
them, If he wished. Nineteen appeared
against him, all having subscribed to
sworn statements, and six were for
/ him. When placed on the stand, Wren
admitted having taken three drinks,
\ but denied that he was intoxicated.
i The taking Of evidence consumed
three and a half hours, and 1T was
1880 o'clock when the detective was
dismissed from the session. AT 1916 "A.
/ NJ. he was called in to hear the verdict.
Five minutes later he walked out, and
the fact that the charges had not been
taken seriously was known.
4 What Sclhcrcr Says.
4 Special Agent Scherer, of the Chesa-
} peake and Ohio Railway, was not al
!. lowed to sit with the board. He was
asked to prefer charges, he said but
refused on the ground that he had been
summoned to appear as q witness. and
. fnid not want to appear In the attitude
of bringing the charges.
He was there to yindtcate his men,
who had been cast under shadow
since the charges were first brought.
He also asked that the session be made
I public aud that stenographer be
Furnished both Of which requests were
/ refused.
i After the Board adjourned Mr..
:, Sherer stated to several members gath
: cred round that he had never al
: legged that Wren was In charge OF the
. prisoner on the return trip, put ne
= still insisted that the Richmond oihcel
was under the influence of liquor al
the time He disclaimed any desire to
see tho detective ousted from his posi-
ton, and was rather glad that he had
not been dismissed from the service
but he persisted in standing by the
main charge.
Statements sworn and subscribed e
before a notary public We're mace p 1s
: the following: L. T.. Scherer, w. =,
Wood Thomas j. Chewing, ], w
Smith, j. II. Matthias, George Wright
]. NJ, Fitzhugh. S, E. Lushbaugh, I,
H. Stratton. G. S. Parker. 2, , Mclntos :,
i'll tnotary public's name not atlxed), =
IS w. Rogers (notary public's signatur'
It not alilXcd). Il. l.. Thurston' v. ~ Ie :
q tus, W. A. Crump, o. NJ Wood, Johh =
Iii Williams. a. AS. ).
y Colonel Newhouse was. perhups' ~
o saw "a gray-headed gentleman on tn
It train" and testified that he was NO
Is drunk. The '.gray headed gentleman
8 was Sergeant Wren.
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