Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-05
SPECIAL GRAND JURY TO
INVESTIGATE HOPEWELL
Probe OF Lawlcssness at Du Point
Town Begins Monday at
Prince George.
ACCUSED MEN ARE CONFIDENT
Deposed Chief OF Police Says He VIII
BE Vindicated-Porter and Be-
cessf, In Richmond Jail, Also Elk.
peCt to BE Freed.

Following the removal OF the police
force at Hopewen and the arrest q,
Chief w. II. Henderson and Lieutenant
'"hh Porter. together with Tony
Recossi, on charges of bribery. Judge
Jesse f. West, in the Circuit Court
OF Prince George County, yesterday
ordered special grand jury summoned
TOT next Monday to investigate condi-
IONS Mt the powder plant town. Sew
eral hundred witnesses are cxnccted 70
appear before the grand jury and tes
Ny NY as 20 phases OF lnwlessncss which
nus existed at Hopcwell for months
win Porter and Becessi in the CITY
Jhil OF Richmond in default of s5 ooo
nono, and Henderson at liberty under
pan Tor his appearance at Prince
,eorse courthouse Monday to await
.ne action OF the grand jury. the situa
ton at Hopewcll is in the hands or
oscar Reeves. supervisor of the On
rome police force. and ten of his men.
VINO were commissioned by Judge West
luesdaF' when Henderson and his force
were stripped OF their authority.
REEVES ACTING UNDER
JUDGE VESTS ORDERS
supervisor Reeves is holding himself
SUBJECT 10 Judge Vests orders and
VIII take no direct action without in
Structions from tho court. He and
MS mon are aiding investigators, en-
proved by the State In securing evil
dence of violations of tho law both
a. inc present and during Henderson's
regime. The town was reported
quiet last night.
AZ Petersburg yesterday the deposed
chief stated that he expected 10 be
acquitted OF the bribery charge in
connection with the acceptance OF $40
f,,,.
as an attorneys fee" to secure the
rciease OF Joe Machine. charged with
killing another Italian. Stephana An
thony. Henderson asserted that he
TOOK the money in order to get evil
dence against tho "graftcrs" He CON
suited with several friends about tho
matter, among whom was Lawrence
Perry, president OF the business Mems
Association OF Hopewcll
HECESSI PROVES TALKATIVE
Al RICHMOND JAIL
Porter had nothing to say yester-
day other than that he expected TO
come out all right. Bccessi was NOR.
ta!knt'vc He asserted that he had
acted az Interpreter for FOREIGNERS
nailed into police court at Hopcwell.
and that he had charged 500 as his
fee Bccessi is the proprietor OF the
Hopewel( Cabaret, the biggest amuse-
ment place in the town.
~ !'' ''i'i ppllCe lieutenant Is
husky man. formerly detective OF
Roanoke. and at one time freman
on the Norfolk and Western. Becessi
Is a dapper Italian. well dressed and
talks nuently. He was formerly IN
the restaurant business In Norfolk
COUNSEL COMPLAINS OF
"HARSH TREATMENT,
Toomer Garrow, who represented the
accused trio at the preliminary hear
Ing in Hopewen Tuesday, as we'll as
Henderson at Petersburg, complained
OF the harsh treatment" accorded the
deposed chief. Both appeared bitter
against Benjamin Lovcnstcin, n local
attorney, who laid before Governor
Stuart and Attorney-Gencral Pollard a
lengthy statement regarding conditions
at Hopewell.
One of the interesting announce
mcnts yesterday by Henderson was
that he would be chief OF police OF
iiopewell. when the town should be
incorporated. 1t is regarded as ex-
cccdinEly doubtful whether the next
10 the town because of the small num-
her OF qualified voters within its pro-
posed limits.
George f. Wise. Of Richmond, who
has been appointed special prosecutor
to assist Commemorative Attorney
Timothy Rives in the Hopcwell inves-
tiGaton, was In Prince George County
yesterday He held several confer
cnces with officers and others inter
csted in cleaning up the town.