The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1913-12-06
GORMON'S ENEMIES
REPORT BURGLARY
Make Attempt to Blacken
Administration of Po-
lice Chief.

At the instigation OF men who
wished TO see Police Chief Gormon
deprived of his position, and wished
to make the last few weeks of his ad-
ministratiOn black with record of
burglaries and crime Ernest Rock
hill, an employe of the Harman Fetta
cigar store at North Eighth street and
Fort Wayne avenue, called police
headquarters after opening up at 6
o'clock this morning and reported d
robbery at the store.
According to the story which he
told at that time, and which he later
repeated to newspaper men, the
thieves had entered the store, taking
pipes and tobacco and 81 in change
from the cash register. There were
no clues, the only evidence being ran
sacked drawers and an open transom
above the front door.
After newspaper men had called at
the store and heard the details of the
alleged thievery, young Rockhill real
lied what he had done, and went to
police headquarters and told Chief
GormOn all the circumstances.
He said he had heard men talking
around the store who were opposed
to Gormon'S reappointment and who
were working against him. If neces-
sary he said he could go into courts
and produce the names and evidence.
At their suggestion he reported the
robbery this morning. Afterward the
boy confessed to his part, said he had
never been in trouble before and did
not think when he did it what the re-
suits would be.
Chief Gormon commended the boy
on his honesty
Migrants Taken Out.
Instructions to members of the po-
lice department to pick up all charac-
ters whose actions arouse suspicion
is rapidly ridding the town of loafers
and buns. Seventeen were released
yesterday afternoon. being taken to
the country in far corners of Wayne
and adjoining counties. One man was
released near Connersville
Eight of the men caught in the drag
net were given free rides to the coun-
try in test cars this afternoon, and
told never to return to Richmond un-
less they wanted to serve a long term
in Jail.
The policy of arresting all vagrants
and ordering them from the city Po-
lice Chief Gormon said was a good ad-
vertisement for the city.
VIII Avoid Richmond.
He believes it will cause tramps and
buns to go long way round 20
avoid spending night in the city jail.
The men who were released will
spread the news of their treatment by
Il the Richmond police force among their
N comrades as a warning to stay away.
Those who were hauled away this
afternoon were Frank Dunlap Fred
q Clark, Harry Daugherty, John Nc
Guire, Joe Stone, Fred White, Fred
Smith and John Joyce.
Someone living near Fifteenth and
South A streets saw a person whom
they thought was suspicious looking
man, lettering on the corner. A call
was sent in to police Headquarters
that a 'stiCkup" man was laying for
victims on South Fifteenth street.
The red lights Sf police signals
were flashed throughout the east end.
Patrolman Gully, almost to Glen Mil
Ter park, was the first to answer He
was instructed from the call box at
Twenty second and North Z streets.
to hurry to Fifteenth and South A
streets and nab the robber.
Boy Causes Scare.
Gully made rush for the place.
ne IdAI ~ Sef SLteSutll ana NCTIl {
streets where he borrowed a bicycle
Mounted on this, he made the remain
der of the trip in record time.
Stalking around under the street
light was a boy. He was the only per-
son in sight and was evidently the
suspicious looking character" for
whom Gully was laying.
Gully demanded an explanation and
the boy told him he was locked out.
He was the son of Frank Watts. 50
South Fifteenth street, and had been
playing basketball at the Y NJ. c. A.