Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-01
RICHMOND POLICE REPORT
ON HOPENELL CONDITIONS
Conduct of Some Local Officials Not
Calculated to Increase Re-
Spcct for Law.
Men and Women Locked in Same
Cells-Liquor and Beer Brought
In by Truck Loads After Dark.
Little Improvement Noted.

/ Reports of present lawlcss conditions
at Hopewcll have been made to Gov
ernor Stuart and Chief of Police wer-
I ner by Richmond policemen detailed 20
assist in preserving order in the vicin-
ity of the powder plant town. The con
duct of certain members of the present
police force, we'll the official
acts OF magistrates sitting In Police
Court there, is said to have been OF "A
nature to give the undesirable element
cause 10 have little respect for law and
order.
Particular mention was made by Act
ing Sergeant Bcrtucci and Policeman
II. T.. Sweet. Of the Richmond detail.
OF, the manner in which men and women
prisoners are hcrdcd in the same cells
in the temporary jail. some OF the de-
tails given by the officers cannot be
printed-likc many other things :c-
vealcd since the investigation began.
they are more revolving than is gem
orally believed.
MEN AND WOMEN
LOCKED IN SAME CELL
| Men and women have been locked in
! tho same cell and kept there day and
night with the fun knowledge of tho
magistrates, the policemen said. Guam
titles OF liquor and beer have been
/ brought into the town after dark on
l automobile trucks. While in some cases
the intoXicants have been coniiscatcd.
the men caught have been let off with
! light fines or freed.
On the subject Of CARRYING concealed
weapons. one of the most common Of
/ lenses in Hopcwell. il was reported
that offenders arrested have been dis
missed on the payment OF the costs and
/ their pistols returned to them in open
court Two members of the police
force deposed by Judge West in Au-
gust and subsequently, indicted in con-
ncction with tho bribery investigation
Src said TO be carrying pistols. regard
less of the law, and have not been
molcstcd by the local officers
Two specific eases were cited by the
officers in which they made arrests for
carrying concealed weapons. The men
were dismissed on the payment OF costs
and tho magistrate announced that the
Offenders would be put under n bond
! OF 500, but the Richmond officers said
they saw no bonds given
MAGISTRATES SAID TO
RESENT ACTIVITIES OF POLICE
To some extent the trend of the re-
! port made by Bertucci and Sweet APP
peared to show that the magistrates at
/ liopewcll resented the activities of the
| richmond officers. who were sent there
at tho request of Judge West, of the
, Circuit Court of Prince George and
arc working under the Joint direction
oners charged with offcnses OF n more
! or less serious nature have escaped
and were never rccaptured, the officers
added.
Straw" bonds have been taken for
. the release of prisoners charged with
serious offenses.
/ The report of the officers confirms in
a large measure information previously
lodged with the Governor that condi-
lions at Hopewell as a whole show
little or no Improvement, except that
! lawlessncss is conducted under cover
to IL greater extent than formerly The
Richmond policemen Will continue OH
duty in Hopcwell and vicinity until
October 10. They are under instruc-
tions to patrol the roads between Pc
tcrsburg and Hopcwel, as well as &c
watch for all violations of the law ir
the vicinity.
The Circuit Court of Prince George
will be in session to-day when tho case
of Abe Blocker, charged with selling
liquor, Will be heard.