The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-21
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
TO Be INVESTIGATED
Police Board Orders Probe OF Alleged
Acts of PlainClothes
Men.
DIRECT VIOLATION OF ORDERS
One Department of City Government
Will Clear Its Skirts of Indiscrimi-
nate Charges of Formation Of City
Employees Machine.

Reports made to the Board of Po-
! lice Commissioners relative to certain
| officers activities at the polls during
! the last two primary elections yester-
day led the board to order thorough
and searching Investigation OF the
charges to be made The INQUIRY Is to
be conducted in "A city wide manner,
and each OF the reported occurrences
OF officers working for the advance
ment OF alleged politicians is to be
;hreshed out fully.
The reports OF this kind have been
current for some time. but yesterday
was the first time they have been
brought officially to the attention of
tho Police Board. 1t was alleged that
the policemen. who are said 10 have
Leen working at the polls In the last
primary and the one immediately Dre-
ceding II. appeaerd in citizens clothes
end were seen 20 pass out cards bear
ing the names of certain candida -es
;'nd to otherwise endeavor to influence
the voter.
DIRECT VIOLATION
OF CHIEFS ORDERS
AS soon as the reports werc made
to the board. 1t took immediate ac-
tion and ordered an invcstiga. On
which shall go TO the root Of thu
matter and bring to light any Improper
conduct on the part OF officers vino are
alleged to have worked al the polls
Efforts OF this kind are not only
against the ethics OF the Police De-
partment, but they are n direct viola
tion of the regulations governlng ihc
conduct of police officer. The book
OF regulations with which policemen
are supplied specifically prohibits them
working for the election OF any enc
candidate, and az the last primary
Major Werner, Chiet OF Police. issued
verbal orders 10 the entire force call
Ing attention TO the regulation and
commanding the members of the force
TO take no part In the election other
than casting their own vote.
HOARD COMMENDS
POLICEMAN SWEET
Policeman II. f.. Sweet, who was
called before the board to answer
charges brought against him by George
hannister restaurant proprietor, was
honorably acquitted by the board at
tho session yesterday and was furth-
ei1nore commended for his active work
during the last month
The charges made by Bannister
against the officer arc said to have
been the outgrowth of raid, led by
sweet. on a gambling room located
over Bannister's restaurant II was
said, following the hearing Of the case.
that BanniStcr charged the policeman
with cpu,ing into his restaurant at va
rious times during the night and
SieepiHs tncre TOR several hours at n
TINE when he was supposed to be
tramping his beat The board heard
Bannister's evidence. and tho circum
stances which led up to their being
brought against Sweet and, although
the officer had number of witnesses
In the ante-room waiting to testify.
the board announced that il felt there
was no need OF hearing them, and on
the evidence of Bannister himself hon
ora5ly acquitted Sweet. In announcing
the decision. the board complimenteI
the pRtrolman for his work in en-
deavoring 10 break up the gambling
houses in the lower sections of the city
PatrolTnan i. a. Bciton, OF the Third
Precinct, was fined s25 and reprimanded
by the board when he was arraigned
on charge OF being off his beat. II
was said that the evidence against him
was conclusive
STANDS BY MAYOR
IN ROW WITH NAVY.
AS final matter OF business tba
board announced itself as heartily in
dorsipg the stand taken by Mavor
Ainslie in the recent imbroglio with
Lieutenant III. Il. Parsons. navy re-
cruiting officer in command of the
Richmond district. and ordered that i'm
structions bo sent tho various sta
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