Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-12
FORMAL CHARGES BROUGHT
AGAINST PURITY SQUAD"
Why They Examined Staunton's
Baggage Without Warrant.
TRIAL MAY BE HELD SATURDAY
Werner Admits That Officers Accost-
ed Man Without Cause and Made
Him Leave Car-Swcet Says Tic
Did Not Take Hold of His Sleeve.

Formal charges Of conduct unhccom-
ing an officer have been brought
against Sergeant w. L. Waymack. Of
the Second District. and Patrolman H.
Il. Sweet. formerly head OF the purity
squad by Chief or Police Werner for
their action in accostinG Charles T.
Stanton. OF 25o5 Ecnsincton Avenue
and searching his baggage without a
Il Warrant on tho night of March ). The
Two officers Will he given u hearing
by Mayor Ainslic and Major Werner
this week probably Saturday after
noon.
1t will be impossible for the two
officers 10 hc tried before Saturday
it was stated. since MIR. stanton is
employed out Of Richmond and only
returns 10 this city for tho week
ends Tho charges against the officers
were brought by Major Werner. after
stanton had visited both Mayor Aims
lie and the Chief. to whom he related
his experience.
There is only ono discrepancy in
the statements or MIR. stanton and
the two police officers. said Major
Werner last might, land that is the
charge that Patroin,an Sweet caught
hold OF Stantons coatslecvc and held
him until Sergeant Waymack asked
that the suit case be opened Mr..
Stanton stated that tho officer held
him all this time. while the officers
say otherwise"
ADMITS ACCOSTiNG MAN
AND SEARCHING BAGGAGE
8FThis discrepancy, however. makes
little difference in regard I" the
charges brought against the men, X
WAS pointed out last night. for whcth-
ar or not Sweet retained hold OF the
man, he accostcd Stanton and forced
him to leave n Broad Street car with
out warrant. This action in itself
is said to be tho basis for the charges.
{ since other actions 10y the officers werc
In Keeping with the established GUS
tom OF tbS..'bootleg squad
HcadedVhSs Pa,rolmcn Sweet. tho
.'purity silHad," until dishandcd last
week, worked in the vicinity Of the
railroad stations and made numerous
arrests for tho illegal transportation
OF whisky The officers confined their
operations almost exclusively 10 Elba
and Main Street stations. changing
the scene OF their operations according
to the arrival of trains from the North.
The squad was disbandcd as a result
ofsthts incident
Mr. stanton n skilled mechanic, has
been employed for some time at Fred
erckshurS. He returned 10 Richmond
on a night train, carrying his tools
in suit case. Just after he had board
ed Broad Street car. going toward
his home. he was 3cco>ted by Patrol
man Sweet and requested 10 leave the
car They then met Sergeant Way
mack. who also working in the vcin
ity OF Eliza Station that night. and
stanton was asked 10 open his suit
case.
FOUND ONLY MECHANICS
TOOLS IN SUIT CASE
According TO tho story Of Police Of
fccrs. Stanton readily agreed IL this
request, asserting that he was glad to
see the law enforced. Tho officers.
hunting for liquor. found only the nc
cianics' tools in tho suit ease. and he
was allowed to proceed. lie is said IL
have lauEhinGiy remarked that tho Of
fcers owed him street car ticket,
and sweet gave him : cents.
Stanton later complained OF tho
treatment he had received at tho hands
of the officers ana of being Inundated
without amy cause whatever in the
presence OF several hundred people.
Major Werner summoned both police
men TO his office, ana conducted IN in
quiry. Stanton loft Richmond the fol-
lowing Monday, and could NOT i,c To-
Gated by Mayor Ainslic. who decided
10 investigate The affair When stan
ton returned home Friday he called
on the MaNor, as requested. and later
on Major Werner, accompanied by his
attorney.
Follow ing rssisltcatjon ct Stantou's
complaint n..-rll1 Times Dispatch, Ma
jor Werner issued = signed statement
that the men had hccu instructed fully
that they have NO right 10 search :,
mans baggage, unless such man Is ar