Evening journal., 1913-10-13
PROBE OF THE
CITY POLICE
UNDER WAY
Commission Quiz Follows
Battle Of Baxter'S Corner
In Which WiGeinS Died
CHEF BLACK GIVES
HIS VERSION OF CASE

| ponce department IN connection with I
the manner in which they handled the
attempted capture Of Homer c. Wig
gins the young bandit, after he had /
been cornered in a third story bed
room in a lodging house at Baxter's
/ Corner, Fourth and Shipley streets.
which was instituted by the Board
/ of Police Commissioners as the direct
result of startling revelations that
developed during the coroner's inquest
began at 1.30 o'clock this afternoon
to continue until . o'clock this even
I ing and every day from 1.3O TO
/ o'clock until the investigation ends.
/ The purpose of the investigation Is to
ascertain any ineficiency on the part
of any member of the police depart
ment. patrolman and official alike that
developed at the Battle of Baxters
Corner, for the purpose Of eliminating
so far as possible the likelihood of
reoccurrence of inefficiency in iden-
tical cases that may arise in the fu-
ture.
Many charges and counter charges
that were made during the coroner's
inquest. will be investigated. although
according to statements made by Chief
Black and Police Commissioner Bowers
there will be no witnesses summoned
from outside the police department
The investigation comes as the direct
result Of strong public demand, the
subject OF the affair at Baxter's Corner
having been almost the general topic OF
conversation among residents OF the
city since the affair occurred. and 90
many alleged actions OF the police who
conducted the affair brought out criti
cism and condemnation that il was fl
-. A.. a. !
the investigation and ascertain at first
hand whether these accusations were
true or otherwise.
Another thing that led up TO the
probe was the charge made by Chief
Black that there had been insubordin-
alton on the part Of certain members
OF the department who are under his
authority and also a specific state
ment made during the coroner's in
quest that the entire Battle OF Bax-
ters Corner" was mismanaged was
not conducted in the manner IL should
have been, was unnecessary as Wig
gins could have been captured alive
without the shooting. and that the
chief was not notified of the fight at
Baxter's until long after II had oc-
cured and then in a round about man
ner.
Counter charges are made by sub
ordinate officers who state that the
chief had a photograph OF Virgins
which he did not show them, and
} that he knew of the young outlaw
having a gold tooth without informing
. them about H.
I These and other subjects in detail
will be threshed out during the in
: vestigation.
The little Office Of Chief Blacks. on
the second floor Of the old City Hall. di-
: rectly over the police station. which is
the scene of the investigation. was
crowded when l.30 o'clock arrived.
While, according to statements made
this morning by Commissioner Bowers
% that the hearings would not open TO the
general public. although certain inter
P csted persons and representatives of the
local press were admitted. the number
! of police officers who were called upon
20 testify in addition to the commits
: sioners and press representatives. filled
the little room to its capacity Indeed,
had the investigation been open TO the
public. but few more persons could have
squeezed into the little room. City So
licitor Daniel o. Hastings was present
when the hearing began for the purpose
Of assisting the members of the Board
Of Police Commissioners in conducting
the hearings ard 10 interrogate the var
ious witnesses.
II was just 1.42 O'Clock when the
hearing began, Chief Black being the
first witness called. All witnesses
who we're to be called were excluded
from the room just before the hearing
, began. Coroner Springs who was
among the spectators was requested
to retire by President Bowers.
In reply to questions by Mr.. Hast
ings. Chief Black stated that he had
known Homer c. Virgins for a long
time before the trouble at Baxter's
Corner.
The chief stated that he had re-
ceived two circulars telling OF Wig
gins escape. each having his photo.
graph on It, which he turned over to
the captains with orders to show them
to the men and post one of them IN
the mems room. AT the request of
Mr.. Hastings Chief Black told of the
robbery at the carbarn Of the Will
mington Traction Company and Of his
nrst Information that involved Wig
gins into the case. He told of how
Morris Councill identified the photo
> graph Of Virgins in the rogue's gal
lery in Philadelphia as being the lone
bandit who had held him up He.
the chief, had suggested that Councill
be taken to Philadelphia 10 look n
the photographs. Chief Black said
he had taken the matter up with
Captain Evans at roll call, telling
Nhat had been done. He then took
picture Of Virgins. which was on a
= card with his description on Il. down
. to the roll cali Of the patrolmen al
n z o'clock, showed II to them. told
them it was him who robbed the car
a barn and telling them to look out for
i him. He then gave Captain Evans
the photograph, telling him to show II
+ to the other men when they came in
n Captain Evans. the chief said, still
. doubted that Il was Virgins who
i robbed the carbarn. holding that Il
. had been an "inside job"
n The chief later saw letters post
-e marked Philadelphia. addressed tC
! Virgins mother and brother, which
j. assured him Virgins was in @Phila-
m delphia. The chief told in detail Of
q the time Virgins had his photograph
= taken in a Philadelphia studio, how
he secured a proof Of the picture
\ which had been sent to Virgins
mother for approval. and said he haf
! Informed the Philadelphia detectives
u who Watched fha nhof0QraDh studio