Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-23

Policeman Leth W. Van Devcr VIII not
be arraigned In Police Court on charges
of housebrcaking until Friday. He did
not appear in court today. Through his
wife he employed counsel yesterday and
the case was continued by agreement be-
tween his counsel and Assistant District
Attorney Turner.
The bail upon which Van Dever was
released yesterday will stand until he is
arraigned Friday. This is a real estate
bond. obtained by his young wife He
will he represented by Attorneys Gardi-
ner x Gardiner.
Van Dever visited the seventh precinct
police station this morning and went
through his locker to obtain what per
sonal belongings he had there He was
quiet. az usual. and would not discuss
the case against him with the men on
duty who offered their solicitations
1t is said that among the other things
Van Dever had in his locker was pack
age containing $500 in cash This report
could not be verified, however. Ii is
known that Van Dever is thrifty man
and saved his money.
Serve Charges This Morning.
Early this morning police officials served
copy Of charges on Van Dever. setting
forth that he had been guilty of conduct
unbecoming officer. having entered the
store without permission and helped
himself TO property not belonging to him.
Acting Lieut.. Wilson, serving as in
spec-or preferred the charges. and Van
Deyer was directed TO appear before the
trial board tomorrow.
Van Dever is not the first member of
the police force to be accused of hay
ing violated the law while he was sup
! posed to have been upholding it. four
others having been accused of offenses
since 1852 It was in the fall of 1892 that
two detectives We're accused OF having
promoted the lottery business, while they
were, employed to detect NiOlatorS OF the
law The charge was made against them
that they protected one policy firm and
exerted their efforts against a rival con-
Germ.
About that time the policy business
fourished in this city and Alexandria
county Va. and there were frequent
charges of graft" in connection with
the business Tine arrest of the two
men followed, and they were released on
security. but when the time came for
their ease to he heard they We're absent.
| having jumped their bond and left the
city.
In the spring of 1897 Georgetown po-
riceman was arrested for an alleged rob
berry committed at tho house of Mrs.
Fannie Mcmillan. Her home was on the
beat covered by the policeman and he
had been advised to pay attention to the
premises during the temporary absence
of its occupants. He paid such close at
tention to the house, it Is charged. that
he entered it and carrid away valuable
hric- a-brac and other property. He was
arrested and charged with the robbery
but he followed the example of the other
officers, leaving the city and permitting
the forfeiture of his bond.
4 policeman in the ninth precinct was
the next member of the police force to
get in trouble his case being somewhat
similar to the man who was arrested
Yesterday morning. Numerous complaints
! had been made of theftS committed in the
northeast section Of the city, and the
finding of Il police lookout in the office
at the coal yard of +. g. Hughes. Sth and
e streets. gave the first intimation that Il
policeman was implicated.
Popular OH His Beat.
The policeman WAS behind the counter
when The raptaiu surprised him and
placed him under arrest. lie admitted
| he had committed theftS, and claimed
his conduct the result of "A disease
lie had tried to stop il. he stated but
was unable to do SO. His house was
searched. and property enough to start a
store was recovered. He had made him
self so popular with residents of his beat
that when the time came to prosecute
him his alleged victims tried to get him
out of the difficulty and he was given
only a short Jail sentence.