The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-19
COURT REQUESTED
TO HOLD COCAINE
Administrative Board Takes Hand
i'll Row to Get Drug Seized
From Hancock.


City Chemist James r. Whitfield was
directed by tho Administrative Board
yesterday TO submit "A statement show
ing the work accomplished by him dur.
Ing 1913. and the cost OF maintenance
OF his Office
Behind tho order. it IS stated. IS tho
decision Of tho board to conduct a strict
inquiry into the usefulness OF the Of
fec, with the purpose OF disseminating
1t. should the investigation show that
the duties now delegated to tho Of
lice OF the city Chemist could be more
economically performed In some other
manner.
Tho ONCE was created by nm ordi
nance approved May 10. 1910, which
provided for the election by the city
Council bienn,aily OF city Chemist. at
an annual salary Of $4,000. Under the
amended charter the Office Is under
the direction of the Administrative
Board. which can abolish it If it so
desires.
Analyses MIX.
Among the duties or tho city Chemist
ave the periodical analyses OF milk, and
the testing OF tho conl and oil used
In the gas and other city departments.
as well the cement and materials
used by the CITY Engineer Accord :
ing 10 one member OF tho board.
these examinations could be- satisfac-
torily conducted by tho departments
themselves. and do not require the
maintenance OF 4 special Office.
The analysis OF milk Is essentially
- health measure, and could very well
be left with the city Health Depart
mcnt," said board member Tho
examination is for the most part ply
slcal and not chemical. Tho testing
ot cement and other materials used by
the city could be done either by the
departments concerned or by contract
with private chemists. | speak. how
ever, without a fun knowledge OF the
work OF the city Chemists office. and
shall withhold my final decision in tho
matter until Or. Whitfield submits his
report"
Holds II Cocaine.
1t has been the practice % tho courts
10 turn over 10 tho city Chemist all
cocaine connscatcd from prisoners
convicted OF vending the drug IN y.o-
lation OF the law. Al the instance OF
II. =. Beck. the board passed reso-
luton Yesterday requesting the Judge
Of the Hastings Court in the future 10
turn over all coniiscatcd cocaine tc
Or. r. 6. Cabell, superintendent Of the
City Hospital
II the boards request is needed By
Judge Richardson. he viii as q iirSi
insta!lmcnt. send TO the City Hospital
about nifty ounces OF the drug taken
from c. l., Hancock. the Newport News
man who WAS sentenced 10 serve a
year IN the pcnitentiary for engaging
in the cocaine traffic, and was later
pardoncd by Governor Mann. judge
Richardson recently ordered the po-
lice 10 hold iancocks cocaine until
further orders II ~ said that the
supply Is sufficient to meet the de
mands OF every hospital In Richmond
Tor ten years.
Sold TO DEug Stores.
The courts refusal to turn the
Hancock capture which is valued at ap
pro%im"tel% $1,000, over to the Cit!
Chemist or the detectives. it is stated
is partly accounted for by tho fenl
hat 1t Will find it's way back into cir
culation. The police allese that III,
stock heretofore turned over by tn,
courts order has been sold TO variou.
drug stores in the city
The practice was regarded as regu
lar. since the City Chemist was pait
nothing By the Hastings Court for hi.
services in analyzing samples Of tn.
drug taken from prisoners. 1t wa:
felt that he was entitled to whatcve.
he could obtain from the sale of Tho
small lots of cocaine connscated, i.
return for his services.
ON this point there appears TO hay,
devclopcd some difference OF opinion
The ordinance creating the City Chem
lists Office, after referring to the dutic.
already enumerated, says:
THE said CITY Chemist shall dis
charge such other duties as may ID,
assigned him by ordinance or which
he may be called upon to discharge b,
the head of any department of tn,
! city government. the Hastings Cour
OF the city of Richmond. or the polio,
Justice OF the city OF Richmond will
The approval OF the Mayor. or be calle,
! upon 10 perform by any OF the com
/ lnlttees having charge or any contro
/ OF the works and business Of the cit,
! OF Richmond. under the rules and rcgu
/ lationa prescribed by them"
Detectives Wiley, Eellam, Smith an,
+ Bryant. who arrested Hancock, asser
/ That they are as much entitled 10 thi.
cocaine as DR. Whitfield. They con
I tend that in cffecting the "Cocain,
| Kings" arrest they spent considcra bl,
money and much time
/