The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-11
ACTION OF BOARD
FOR PUBLIC GOOD
Commissioner Manning In
{ Yoder Trial defends Policy
of Police.
NEVER KNEW.GRAFT
IN THE DEPARTMENT
Has Never Heard of Amy Scandal
Teaching the Force Since He
Became Associated With
Management.

Richmond's underworld vas drag
ged into the light and exposed to the
public gaze at Friday mornings SEES
sion of the Hastings Court. where
Adon A. Yoder. editor of The Idea.
" as on trial for criminal libel.
Mr.. Charles v. Meredith. counsel
for Yoder. caused the searchlight to
be thrown on the dark picture. He
was lighting to prove that iawless
conditions obtained: that II was with
the knowledge and consent of the po-
lice commissioners. and that the
charges made by Yoder were. there
fore. to some extent justified by the
facts.
II was shown that in the ''reguia-
ting OF the segregated district some
of the most prominent, wealthy and
highly respected citizens OF Richmond
took q hand. It was told that these
gentlemen took a high moral plane In
participating in the endeavors OF the
Board Of Police Commissioners.
Reads Yodcr's Articles
The trial was resumed shortly after
10 O'Clock. Mr.. Mcclure proceeding
further with the reading OF objection
able articles from The Idea. which
feature OF the evidence was begun at
the Thursday afternoon session.
The court chamber was not crowd
ed by spectators. which occasioned
some surprise and comment. In view
OF the fact that the room was tammed
almost to sufYocation throughout the
PROCEEDINGS m Thursday.
The defendant. Yoder, sitting beside
Lawyer 3. s. p. Patteson. who Is as
ISOLATED with Mr.. Meredith In the
case. looked brighter and more cheer
fiai than at any time in the last week
His chief counsel, Mr.. Meredith. too.
seemed fresher and more vigorous
than IN the preceding day. when he
pleaded fatigue and nervous exhaus-
sion. and fought In vain for con-
|tinsarrt If the case.
II Police Justice C,rufchfefd. whom
Yoder Is charged with ltbeiinE. in con-
junction with Police Commissioners
Manning and Gordon. sat at the at
torneyss bar. chatting biifheiy. now
and then, In n low tone with the re-
porters. lawyers and public men
around him.
Little light filtered through the
windows into the court chamber from
the Grear. ieaden skies, and 1t was
necessary to depend upon the electric
chandeliers for illumination.
As the day grew on and the battle
between the lawyers for the admission
ar exclusion OF articles from The Idea
was prolonged, the proceedings palied
on the waiting throng. and scores
grew weary and departed. Their
places were taken by late Corners,
however. who continued to straggie in
throughout the morning session,
Manning In the Chair.
Police Commissioner Manning was
&v. 81 x.-lfn h0t 10 n
was being examined as to the truth
or faisi,y of some OF the Yoder arti-
cies, he mentioned the existence OF a
Segregated district"
Mr.. Manning said that the Police
BOARD. with the corporation of n
committee OF prominent citizens. had
adopted In 1905 the policy OF regu-
iating an evil. which, in the opinion
of the commissioners and their con-
forces II was Impossible To eliminate.
This policy. he said. WAS the same in
force In most OF the cities Of the Unit
ed States.
witness explained that after the
conf ference In the interest OF the bet
f~rment OF the morals Of the COM
.nun!ty. the commissioners ordered
the police TO notify all the obtec-
tionable women to leave the city or
move to the prescribed district.
Reference was made To the house
in Nineteenth street OF which the
REV. Tiiden Scherer had complained.
and Mr.. Manning said that 4 WAS
not discrderiy house so far as the
police could ascertain.
In Interest Of Order.
This policy was adopted In the
interests of Law and order and for
the Improvement of moral condi-
/ n