Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-31

ant. Rev j. Il. Mastin. ID. d.. secre.
tary OF the state Board Of Charities and
corrections. was called and sworn. lilo
had served on one of the Vice Commits
sion subcommittees with DIR. Gravatt
ana w. L. Reed Cross examined by
Attorney Mcclure, he said the police
men who gave the information to the
commission did not volunteer. but were
sent by tho CHIEF. and were ac,uated
by worthy motives They felt that they
were doing public service.
w. r. Reed. tobacco manufactures,
member OF the Wee Commission. former
police commissioner and president OF
inc Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
said Chief Werner had told the COM
mission 10 was willing to help that
DodE in every possible way. Major
Werner supplied n list of tho names
OF the women I'm the segregated dis
trict. MIR. Reed attended but few meet
ing of the commission.
Or. MaStif, was recalled to the wit
ness chair. Mr.. Workman asked: Were
YOU present when the chief furnished
that list of names?"
No" said witness. but tho chief
furnished other names to me. He men
toned the names of other houses, out
or the district. to me on another oc-
casion." Witness said Policeman Colds
10y furnished Information about the
houses to the commission.
POLICE CHIEF WERNER
On WITNESS STAND
Police Chief Werner was called and
took the oath. He testified that he had
been member OF the Police Depart
mcnt tw"nty-scEcn years. lie was APP
pointed chief In 1905, and qualified for
his present term in 1914. Asked by
Mr. Pollard to tell Of his 6rst ex-
pcriencc with the Vice Commission. tho
chief said he had been first approached
by Rev. Or. Gravatt, who was seek
ing information.
DR.. Gravatt asked me to furnish a
list OF the women" he said. "iIc after
ward asked for list Of the houses
outside the segregated district. Colds
by gave him that list later on. IIe
asked for some men familiar with the
work in the segregated district
sent him Goldsby. sweet and Gal
Mr.. Pollard: Did you send Kren-
sel?"
NO. they sent for him."
How long have you known OF tho
existence of these houses in Rich
monde" Mr.. Pollard asked
About forty-two years." replied tho
police chief.
III you knew they were there, how
did you reconcile that knowledge with
your duty as police officer TO close
them?"
WERNER SAYS GoODE
PROTECTED
We'll" said tho chief. "a committee
WAS appointed some years ago The
committec-therc were some Of the
ministers on lt--agreed TO recognize
a segregated district They didn't an
prove of II. but they agreed that that
was the best way to handle the prob
lem. Carlton Mccarthy was Mayor, and
knew of the arrangement The police
board and prominent citizens were all
/ yt!n
pointed In 1893"
City Attorney Pollard read from the
Vice Commission report a statement
concerning the house OF Aunt Mary"
on First Street. He asked the chief
what he knew of Aunt Mary"
The chief replied that In April, 1912.
the woman was arrested for keeping a
disorderly house. On the day of the
trial Commissioner Goode came TO him
at headquarters and demanded: What
In h do you mean by arresting old
Mary Jane l gave a card to a friend
of mine and sent him there last night
suppose ] had been there; YOU would
have caught me. too" He spoke to me
in the presence OF two witnesses
Goldsby and Campodonica came in
while he was talking. He said: What
do you fellows mean by going up there.
anihow. 1t. Is not in your district"
said: They are policemen the other
side OF Seventh Street, just as they are
this side"
FRIENDS LAUGHED WHILE GooDE
"HAWLED OUT"' THE CHIEF
The chief said Goode came frequent
ly TO headquarters. on the occasion he
referred to. when Goode smoke to him
about Aunt Mary" two men accom-
panied the Police Commissioner. The
men laughed while the commissioner
"bawled out" the chief. They laughed
as If they thought il was a joke" said
the chief.
Mr.. Pollard: ''IIave any other mem
bers OF the Police Board interfered
with you?'
Chief Werner: NO. Other officers
told me they had been imterfered with"
Who were these otficcrs?"
Well, Sergeant Krcngel and Sweet
or Duke can't quite remember That
was several wears ago. And Tucker
complained. That was not long ago"
Asked ii he had any reports bearing
on the vice investigation, the chief re-
piled that he had only one report sub
mitted 10 him by Goldsby. Mr.. Pol
lard told him TO produce II at the next
sitting OF the committee.
CHIEF SAYS HE HAD KNOWN
BOT'r0'S PLACE FOR YEARS
Replying to questions by Hiram
smith. the chief said he knew that
Nv tltlN -OHc houses OuNSlue OIL Inc seq
regatcd district had been reported.
They We're either houses of evil repu-
tation or suspected of being such.
Mr.. Smith: Tell us why you did
not perform Your duty and investigate
these houses? Why didn't you raid
the houses reported To you by Com
missioner Boykin--Nannic Coles's house
and the others"
The chief said he had reported the
complaint TO Captain E,pps and in
structed him To do the raidlng. Mr..
smith asked him If he had not in
structed Captain Epps to find out
whether the residents of the neighbor-
hood objected to AUNT Mary" as n
neighbor"
NO, sir" said the chief. II told
Captain Epps to see about that place.
and Captain Epps reported afterward
that lie could not get the evidence"
MIR. Smith How long have you
known Of the existence OF Botto's
place.?
Chief Werner; Ever since have
been chief"