Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-21
ADMITS POLICE SEARCH
OF MRS. FRENCH's TRUNK
Fiayor Ainslie Says Chief Werner
Told Him Sweet Had Sc
cured Warrant.
PUTS BLAME ON TRANSFER MEN
Days He Has Been Told That Drivers
Broke Open Trunks In Search for
Liquor--French Says Werner's Ex-
PLANTATION hot Satisfactory.

=. mayor George Ainslie. Official head Of
me Richmond Police Department, said
last night that he had called on Chief
OF Police Werner for the details in re-
gard to the seizinS and search of Mrs
-. Herbert Frenchs trunk at a Rich
mono railway station. Il was inform
co lew hours ago, by the Chief OF
Police" said the Mayor. that the
FRENCH trunk was seized. opened and
searched for ardent spirits. The off,
GERS found no intoxfcants in the trunk
and 1t was relocked and turned back
10 the transfer company, the chief told
me-"
Mayor Ainslie said the trunk in ques-
non was seized and searched under
search warrant in the hands Of Po-
uceman Sweet, and declared the chief
mad stated that Messrs. Vaughan-Lloyd
and Seldom. OF the transfer company
were present when the trunk was un-
locked. Being told that Mr.. French
had stated that "a ladys trunk, with
her address and name printed thereon,
had been seized and broken open. the
contents damaged and the lock broken
and made useless" the Mayor said
mat the chief had reported otherwise.
III the lock was broken when the
trunk finally was delivered to tho ad-
dress on West Grace Street." said the
Mayor. the police were not respon-
drivers have been breaking open
trunks and searching for liquor for
their own use. 1 have also been told
that baggage has been broken open
at the express otfiCes in the city and
searched for liquor. II such report is
true. then know the police are guilt
less for the police never have search
ed express baggage or packages in
their search for liquors"
FRENCH SAYS CHIEFS ANSWER
Is FAR FROM SATISFACTORY
After a conference with Chief Wcr-
ner yesterday, Mayor Ainslie said that
he found that the letter OF G. Herbert
French was the same letter that had
been addressed to him several days
ago and that he had tirnel over 10
Chief Werner with orders to inves-
tgate the complaint of Mr.. French
and write a reply. That was done. he
had been informed by the Chief Of
Police. The Mayor said that the French
letter was the only complaint that had
been addressed to him OF that nature
in many weeks.
In reply to this explanation. MIR.
French. an architect. with offices at
COS Travellers Building. yesterday
said:
Police Chief wetner. no doubt
through stress of a multitude Of more
important matters. errs in his state
ment that he did not know OF the
forcing of my wifes trunk. After
the unpleasant affair l wrote a COM
plant to the Mayor. and he turned over
my letter TO the Chief OF Police for
investigation. Chief Werner wrote me
as to what Officer Sweet had taken
upon himself to do. and I replied that
his letter was far from satisfactory to
me. I told him. In the name OF COM
mon decency In future II they must
sec the contents OF my trunks TO telc-
phone me and would come down and
unlock the baggage for their inspec-
ton"
MANY PEOPLE CONGRATULATE
FRENCH on MAKING PROTEST
Mr. French said that scores OF people
had called him yesterday, after read
ing his experiences at the railway
station. and congratulated him on Civ
ing the facts to The Times Dispatch.
Most OF those who called him yester-
day Mr.. French said. had lately had
similar experiences in Richmond
Mayor Ainslie was asked last night
how 1t came about that Officer Sweet
had only been of the purity squad" a
short time. notwithstanding his order
that the squad he changed. The Mayor
said that Chief Werner had reported
that Sweet had been returped to the
squad in regular rotation. When asked
II the so-called purity squad" didn't
have skeleton keys and go through
baggage at the local railway stations.
breaking open the trunks or suitcases
that would not yield to a skeleton key.
in their zest TO find liquor, the Mayor
replied that he had been informed that
officers had search warrants for the
baggage opened. He did not know, he
said. on what sort Of information or
probable grounds such warrants were
issued.
The Mayor said that Oficer Sweet
had been working on liquor cases
when off duty and that many impor-
tsnt seizures had been made by him
in that way. citing the case OF dis
covery OF Il quantity Of liquor mt the
Lexington Hotel AS an example OF the
zeal OF that officer In working on these
cases. even when not especially so as
signed.