Evening journal., 1913-11-11

ing az least two patfolmen on duty at
the hall, especially during the night
time for emergency services.
1T is to he regretted that il was
ossible for Virgins to be In this city
lel long as he was without being
,earlier detected but It must be re-
lflembered that the police districts are
large and the officers cannot be In
levery place at the same time, and II
must also be remembered that he was
not located or captured by the Phila-
ldelphia police, although he was in
that city great deal after his escape
from the penitentiary
Another point 20 be considered
prior to the time Officer Davidson en-
tered the Baxter Building at 11.30
lc'clock on the night Of September 2Sth
rs whether he should have been sent
alone Our conclusion Is that in the
light of the surrounding circum-
stances. as they we're then understood,
There was no thought that the
stranger was Virgins II will be
lrecalled that the orders to Davidson
lwere communicated from Sergeant
Lyons yet Sergeant Lyons consider
ed the visit Of such sligh, Importance
that after instructing Davidson, he
Immediately went home for his mid
might meal To interview a possible
stranded actor one officer was prob
ably sufficient. The fact that Cap
tain Evans sent Davidson alone is
conclusive to our minds that he had
no thought Of the stranger being Wig
gins. and that he had no improper mo-
tive in Withholding Sergeant Kelle-
hers verbal report from the Chief
I'VE stated above that the circular
and description Of Wiggins posted IN
the patrolmen's loahng room does not
seem to have been OF any usefulness
Some officers testified that it remain
ed there until after Virgins death
Others did not know whether IL was
there or not In view of this dis.
closure II seems apparent that some
& method should be adopted whereby
such circulars should have an official
place for posting. IL might be done
by having them posted in a loose
leaf ledger, the book to be kept IN
the captains Office but open to the
inspection of every officer of the force.
We advise the adoption of some regu-
lar and official method of keeping such
photographs and descriptions whereby
well and constantly informed.
Gold Tooth Incident.
Much has been said as to knowl-
edge on the part of Chief Black prior
Ito Virgins death that he, Virgins,
had a gold tooth On this point the
levidence is again so conflicting that
&C cannot be entirely reconciled, but
as all other matters within the
knowledge of the Chief pertaining to
Virgins seem to have been disclosed
by him to Captain Evans or other
members of the police force, It seems
that he would have been most unlike
lly to have concealed this one fact.
llt Is possible that the differences in
the testimony may be caused by the
fact that It was known that the
stranger at the Baxter house had a
gold tooth. but 1t seems to us that
the testimony on this point Is only
collateral to the main issues. To be
sure If the Chief had this informa-
ton II should with all other informa-
tion In his possession have been given
by him to the captains and by them
: given 10 the sergeants of the district
p In which the Baxter house is located
I'VE are for the foregoing reasons
lof the opinion that there was no in
ltentional dereliction Of duty in the
lWiggins' case on the part OF any Of
'ficer on the police force prior 10 11.30
lp. m. September 2Sth, but we are also
lof the opinion that an unfortunate
error OF judgment was made by every
member Of the police force that had
the opportunity and failed. before that
time. to exhibit or order TO be exhibit
ed, a picture Of Virgins to the oc-
cupants of the Baxter house.
Discuss Cowardice.
1T remains to be determined
whether there was cowardice or in
competence on the part Of the force
or any officer thereof. after Officer
Davidson entered the Baxter build
ing at 11.30 o'clock. on Sunday night
September 28th. We shall first con-
slider the conduct of Officer Davidson
In so doing II must not be overlooked
that at that time that all the offi-eru
of every rank who knew that a
. stranger was at the Baxter house had
= reached the conclusion that this
stranger was not Virgins Officer
Davidson. at page 175. of the Rec
ord. states that Lucy Healing, at the
time he called at the building, al
ll.3O, stated "He Is not the man you
are looking for" and at page 176. OF
the Record, Officer Davidson say.
, that he stood about five feet away
q from the door, and that Virgins op
l. ened the door about a foot not over
y that. recognized his face righ
r away, and as did he slammed tn,
y door right quick. I Immediately tool
Il my revolver and made a dive for th'
Z door, and then called upon Wig
a gins TO open the door There wa
N no reply az all. stood there fol
J. awhile. She came up and SAYS: G,
II get somebody This fellow. I think
le Is Virgins. She ran downstairs an,
l. ! stayed there awhile; then I backe,
ID back. I didn't see anybody so thel
e / went back and went down stairs
p and | saw Miss Healing. and ! said
II Have you got anybody yet? | wan
D. you to get word to the police sta
tion as quickly as you can" Sh
Id says: I'VE haven't got any phone
Z, and ! cant find my shoes" Bv tina
Is time I went on down and out of III
of front door, and as I stepped dow,
" off the step, ] heard couple O
ie shots. looked up and saw the flasl
ie OF revolver and then I jumped in OF
10 the step and pulled my revolver an
,e shot at him up in the window" Th
II first question to be answered /
4 whether officer Davidson shoule
when he recognized Virgins ihroug
the open door, have persisted an
tried 10 capture him by breakin
down the door or otherwise. whe
no other officer was PRESENT. !