Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-28
PORTER DENIES GIVING
BRIDES At HOPEWELl
Accused Police Officer Takes Stand
In Own Behalf at Prince
George.
VERDICT Is EXPECTED TO-DAY
Former Lieutenant Says He Gave
S25 to Supervisor Reeves to De-
fray Expenses Of Trip-Defense
Confident of Acquittal by Jury.
ESPECIAL to Tie Times Dispatch.

Sncclal 10 Inc lllhcS- blSphtCn
FRINGE GEORGE COURTHOUSE
August 27-Former Police Lieutenant
John Porter. of Hopewell. to-day took
the witness stand i'm HIS own behalf
IN the Circuit Court of Prince George
County and defended himself against
the charge of giving bribc of S2H
to c. NJ. Reeves, supervisor of the
pu Font police force. Porter admitted
giving Reeves the money, but said that
the amount was merely to defray the
expenses of the supervisor in attend
ing the Police Chiefs Association at
Newport News in July. He made
sweeping denials of all other charges
OF bribery.
With the introduction by the Com
monwealth of several witnesses in re-
huttal. all the evidence in the Porter
case had been submitted when court
adjourned tonight until tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock. Common
wealth's Attorney Timothy Rives and
Specia. Prosecutor George II. Wise. of
Richmond. will argue the case for the
prosecution. and United States District
Attorney Richard II. Mann ana Rich
ard r Wilson for the defense. 1t is
expected that the ease will 70 to the
jury by o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
PROSECUTION AID DEFENSE:
ROTH CONFIDENT OF VERDICT
TO the verdict of the jury is sharply
divided. The liopewell contingent
which has followed the case closely.
appears confident that Porter. will I've
acquitted. while the Commonwealth nc :
licves that il has made 4 strong case
against tho deposcd officer. There is
no attempt to minimize the importance
OF the Porter casc-atlmittcdly the
strongest ono the prosecution has in
connection with the graft and bribery
charges at Hopewell--and upon the
Ju'Y's verdict tomorrow afternoon will
depend largely the success Of the
commonwealth in three other cases
against Porter. as wrll as those again ST
former Chief Henderson and two Of
his subordinatcs, H. W. Pollard and
samuel Safer.
Porter made a good witness for him
self. his attorneys said to might. and
they believe that they shattered the
effect Of the evidence aeains, the ar-
cuscd. given by Supervisor Reeves and
other Du FONT officers They appea r
confiden, that thc> jury will not CON
Wet their client
SUPERVISOR REEVES DID NO1
MAKE TRTT. PORTER SAYS
When Porter took the stand this
morning. he Immediately entered a de-
NAL that the s?5 given Supervisor
lsseves was hush money" to prevent
thu Du Font officer from Interfering
WIN certain gambling operations. He
said that he had asked Reeves to go to
%rwport News with him, but that the
latter had appeared unwilling to do so.
aud he thought the expense was deter
'inr him from making the trip He ad :
Giited that Reeves did not make the
trip.
The accused natly contradicted the
assertions of Detectives Miraslia and
Dallas that he had given them brides
One admission he made Nas regarded
NY the commonwealth as Important
Porter said that lie had accepted un-
Willingly :" from a Greek restaurant
keeper, which was given him AS a pres
"ht tor warning the man that he must
:ai license to sell liquor. lie gave
Nirarlia $3.50 OF the amount
When asked by MIR. Wise What motive
tiecves. Miraglia and Dallas would have
for deliberately testifyins to untruths
about him. Porter said he didn't know.
except that he had heard Dallas wanted
10 he chief of Police at IIopewen
ntIER DENIES QUOTING
tDGE WEST ABOUT BEER SALES
ilicharh =. Bauer, former editor OF
Inc iiopeNeil Daily News. was recalled
~ the instance Of Judge West. and nat
j. denied that he had told Benjamin
franklin. "A cabare, 'troprt6tor that the
judge had said il :, otnT be ali right to
sell beer AT Ilope"ell. except OF sunday.
haner further asserted that he had
never had any communication or con
Nsrsation With Judge West on this sub
jc.t
IN this connection Judge West stated
from IN" bench that he never mas had
ans communication with any commit
sc. such Franklin swore in his tes-
timony yesterday had reported tina, the
Judge had said beer could he sold at
Hopewell. lie had never heard of tire
appointment Of such a committee, the
court continued. and had not had ANY
communication with any one I'm which
~ had appeared as countenancinE rio-