The Washington herald., 1909-08-26

Why did he DO itY'' IS the question
asked about Policeman Seth Van Dever
OF the seventh precinct. who was yes
terday dismissed from the force after
being adjudged guilty Of stealing a ham
by the police trial board.
II was thought the question would be
answered by Van Dever himself when
he appeared before the trial board, but
the policeman was not present at the
hearing. and there was no one present
to represent the defense. Testimony in
troduced by the prosecution failed TO de-
velop a cause for Van Dever's act.
May Break Silence.
1t is likely Van Dever viii break his
silence when he is arraigned in Police
Court tomorrow morning 10 face a
charge OF housebreaking. He may re-
cite a confession in public and tell why
he entered the grocery store in Wiscon-
sin avenue TO pillage foodstuffs of
small value, his friends say.
Members Of the squad a. the Seventh
precinct. where Van Dever served as a
private for three years. are apparently
nonplussed by the seemingly inevitable
question, why did he do it2'
We don't know" they say. seth
had the record OF a model policeman.
He was man whom we thought was
happy in his home. and putting by for
rainy day. He has a big account in
bank, but he never talked about IL.
He had the reputation OF saying less
than any man in the station. and ne
was the last man IN Washington we
would suspect OF entering a store 70
steal few pounds of butter or a cheap
ham When they caught him he had
nothing 10 say. Since then he has had
nothing to say. and Il looks as though
he vii! have nothing 70 say. but we wish
he would tell why he did It."
The hearing before the trial board
was uninteresting without the presence
OF Van Dever. The formal charge was
presented and testimony in support OF the
charge was given by Inspector Boyle
and Sergt. Wilson. who took Van
Dever In custody the night Of August
q last. shortly after the policeman left
a grocery at Wisconsin avenue and y
street northwest. with a ham concealed
beneath his coat. The testimony showed
Van Dever used a duplicate key 70 enter
the store. and admitted having entered
the building on previous occasions. He
said according 10 witnesses. that he made
the key for the purpose of entering
school buildings. where he might loaf
or noodle"
The testimony seemed stale, as the
salient facts In the case had been brought
20 light. No one seemed surprised that
Van Dever failed 10 appear. but no one
was able 20 explain why he remained
away. To those who asked where Van
Dever might be found the answer was
given that he Is wandering around
Georgetown"
Evades Questioning.
Several friends have stopped Van Dever
in his wanderings and endeavored 70 elicit
some information on the strange case.
but the policeman has always adroitly
turned aside any question leading to the
charges against him. He will talk in his
tired. disinterested way to any who show
an inclination 70 converse with him. but
he only smiles when allusion is made TO
the matter OF his downfall
The trial board dismissed Van Dever
because the members Of the board found
his conduct "a disgrace and discredit 10
the force" and Mai. Sylvester approved
the finding. 1t only remains for Commits
sioner West 10 afflx his signature TO the
papers, and Van Dever viii once more
be a citizen. dlvested OF the authority Of
a policeman
Van Dever has many friends IN ,ne de-
partment who hope the fear OF a term in
the penitentiary will force the man TO
open his mouth in his own defense and
explain why he did It.