Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-03
WRIGHT PUT IN CHARGE
or DETECTIVE BUREAU
Chief Werner Announces Transfer OF
Detective Captain Mcmahon to
81 Manchester Station.
CHANGE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 10
Made for Good OF Service" Says
Werncr-Ncw Headquarters Cap
tain Says No Man Need Fear Any
thing if He Can Make Good.

Chief Of Police Werner announced
yesterday that, effective October IS.
Police Captain Alexander s Wright,
now in charge OF the Third District.
would be placed in charge Of the De-
tective Bureau, and that Detective Cap
tain Thomas J. Mcmahon. who has d.
rected the affairs OF tho bureau for
the past nine years. would assume COM
mand of the Third District The trans
fers were made. Major Werner said.
"for the good of the service" No other
changes in the headquarters staff are
contemplated at this time. but any rec
ommendations of Captain Wright will
probably be carried out
Action OF Major Werner in shaking
up the Detective Bureau did not come
as a complete surprise. To those ia
miliar with the workings of the de-
partment, and especially the hcadquar-
tiers detail. radical changes have been
anticipated for some time. 1t is also
known that Major Werner and Mayor
George Ainslie considered the matter
about a year ago, and that il has been
discussed several times during the past
few months.
ANNOUNCEMENT HELD BACK
UNTIL M'MAiION RETURNS
In view of conferences of district
captains with the chief. and of several
conferences between Major Werner and
Mayor Ainslie the report had been cir
culated for the past month that the
change was about to be ordered. Both
the Mayor and Major Werner, however.
have denied the report almost daily
during the past few days. 1t devel-
oped yesterday that the change was
not ANNOUNCED because of the absence
from the city OF Captain Mcmahon.
The detective captain returned to
Richmond Monday night from Detroit
after a fruitless fight OF two months
for the custody of prisoner. Imme-
diately after he returned the confer
ence between him and Major Werner
was arranged yesterday morning. The
announcement of the change was made
after this meeting.
In police circles the transfer was
the sole topic of discussion last night.
There were also rumors of other
changes among the headquarters de-
tail that are said TO be under consid-
GRAFTON. Major Werner said that, so
Tar rs he knew no other arrangement
OF the headquarters men was contcm-
plated. In official quarters II was made
clear, however. that greater co-opera-
ton and moro teamwork must be cX-
ercised by the men.
WRIGHT WILL TAKE
CHARGE WITH FREE HAND
Captain Wright will take charge of
the once Win a Tree hand, II was
said, and any changes that he may
suggest will probably be followed. Be
cause Of the fact that during the past
few months there has been lack of
harmony in the bureau. many reports
We're being circulated.
Captain Wright has been in police
service for twcnty-four years and has
been In charge of the Third District
since 1910. having been elevated to n
captaincy shortly after the old city
of Manchester was consolidated with
Richmond. Captain Mcmahon became
member of the department in 1891.
and gradually won recognition because
OF his detective abilities. He was made
head of the Detective Bureau about
nine years ago, succeeding Captain
Alex. Tomlinson.
The new head of the bureau said
last night that no man need fear anv-
thing at his hands SO long as he made
good.