Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-25
WILL Be DISMISSED
Verdict Returned Against
Policeman Van Dever.
ON CHARGE OF ROBBERY
Convicted of Having Stolen From
Store in Georgetown.
ARRESTING OFFICERS TESTIFY
Declare the Accused Man Confessed
to Crime Alleged-Trial
Board Acts.
ARRESTING OFFICERS TESTIFY


missal from the police force was the an
nouncement made of the result today of
the trial of Seth w. Van Dever, alleged
burglar while serving in the capacity of
protector of life and property in the sew
enth precinct Sunday morning Maj
Sylvester promptly approved the findings
and recommendation of the trial board
and transmitted them to Commissioner
West. who has supervision of the police
department. for final action.
Accused Man Fails to Appear.
When the name Seth w. Van Dever was
called by Sergt. Wilson at the Police
Court building this morning there was no
response. Inspector Gessford and Capts
Byrnes and Williams. composing the trial
board. had been told that Van Dever said
he would not appear, and so they were
not surprised. They decided to proceed
with the trial in the absence of the ac-
cused man. and three witnesses were
sworn. They were Inspector r. B. Boyle
and Sergt. Wilson. who arrested the po-
hceman, and Lieut.. Shilling. who was in
charge OF the seventh precinct Sunday
morning when the arrest was made.
inspector Gessford, following the custom
IN such cases read the charge against
Van Dever. Inspector Boyle and Sergt.
wilson having alleged that the accused
officer had left his beat without permits
sion and that he had entered the provision
store of II. w. Fisher & Son. southeast
corner of Wisconsin avenue and n street
and had carried off a ham valued at ST.
more or less. His conduct, they alleged.
was Ito the disgrace and discredit of the
police force" 1t was also alleged that he
mad entered the store on other occasion
the dates not being given.
Service of Charges Admitted.
1t was shown by the paper that Van
Dever had admitted service of the
charges, but he had personally sent no
word to the members of the board that
he intended to remain away
Lieut.. Shilling was the first witness
examined. His testimony tended to show
that the store from which the ham was
taken was not on the beat of the accused
| of the street. Van Dever had not been
given permission to leave his beat Sun
| day morning, witness explained. nor did
| he report that he had occasion to do So
'phe. testimony of tire other witnesses
| covered the charges against Van Dever
| relating to his having entered the store
and helped himself to the ham. witnesses
telling Of the explanation Van Dever
that he had been in the store before and
| helped himself to property. taking he
stated, only articles to eat Inspector
Boyle told the board of the complaint
/ a
had been seen to leave his store at night
| with packages, and witness said he was
| on duty near the store with Sergt. VIII
| son Sunday morning when Van Dever
was caught.
| Caught in the Act.
| They got to the store Saturday night
about IL o'clock, Inspector Boyle stated,
and remained in a secluded place until
shortly after l o'clock, when Van Dever
! crossed from the west side of Wisconsin
avenue. to the store and entered. He
/ left the store and was walking across
| Wisconsin avenue when they met and
| questioned him.
| What were you doing in the store?"
| Inspector Boyle said he asked him.
| Il found it open,' he said Van Dever
answered
rs It open now?"
How did you fasten it?
| with a key
Where did you find the key"
! I'm the door.
| Inspector Boyle said he noticed the
soon found the bulging was caused by
the presence there of ham, the end of
| the ham having been held by the band
of his trousers. He was holding his arms
| across his waist to conceal the package.
When the ham had been exposed, the
inspector testified Van Dever said: Il
see I'm up against it. l made the key
Relieved Of Badge and Weapons.
Witness took him by the right arm and
relieved him of his baton, while sergt.
| Wilson took his pistol and badge from
him and he was told he was suspended.
The ham was taken from him at the
police station in the presence of Lieut..
Shilling. and about that time Van Dever
| remarked:
| Il don't know why 1 did it, ! have
money and my people are respectabl e.'
| Van Dever was questioned as to what
he had taken on prior occasions, the in
| spector told the board and he replied he
only took small things to eat. not being
able to recall just what the articles were
Witness explained that the accused
| acknowledged he had made several skel-
eton keys. which had been taken from
| him about two years ago. Witness said
| he thought Mr.. Fisher had not missed
any particular articles at the time he
made the complaint.
| Sergt. Wilson told the board that he
and Sergt. Lake watched the store Fri
day night. but intruder appeared
| They pinned paper sack to the floor
| in order to tell if the door were dis
| turbed. but the sack was in position the
| appearance of Van Dover at the store the
morning of the robbery and Of his subse-
quent arrest. relating the conversation he
and the inspector had with him.
Theft of Butter Admitted.
| Van Dever. he said, admitted having
taken small quantity of butter from the
store Thursday night last. He told wit
ness he did not know just how often he
/ had been in the store. At the station he
asked to see the captain. but the latter
was not there and he was told the cap
tain could do him no good. Van Dever
also asked that he be permitted to de-
post collateral in order that he might
forfeit it and jump. but was told that the
| offense was not a collateral case. Witness
said he accused Van Dever of having a
kit of skeleton keys and suggested that
they would open any doors. Van Dever
suggested that they would open doors to
school buildings. and said he had made
them for the purpose of enabling him to
enter buildings for the purpose of
'hoodling."