Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-06
SYDNOR IS ABSOLvED
BY HENR|CO GRAND JURY
Criticized for Failure To Have Jnilcr
Qualify rs Regular Deputy
Sheriff.
JAIL NOT ENTIRELY CLEAN
Otherwise, Jury Says. County Has
Efficient Sheriff. and His Deputies
Arc Competent Mcn-WantS More
Harmony With Police.

With Il mild rcproof to Sheriff W.
Webb Sydnc. for not having in chargr
| Of tn" Jail "a duly constituted deputy
sheriff and with tho recommendation to
the court that it deliver u him IL strict
charge with rcfercnc" To his duties and
/ the liabilities incurred by HIM i'm Il
| failure To observe tho charge. the grand
jury Of the iicnrico Circuit Court yes
ter,lay brought III - report supplement
tai 1" the one hi"d with Judge Scott
on Wednesday. absolving MIR. Sydnur
from amy blame for the recent Jail d.
| livery. other than an act of Omission"
The investigating body expressed :,
high appreciation of the sheriff and
has deputies and the county police force,
hut took occasion TO observe In posi-
tive terms that there is not that har-
mony existing between them as should
BE- and the efficiency Of these depart
mcntS and their benefit IL tho county
would bc greatly enhanced by their
relations 10 each other being better
dchucd and both being placed under
ono head y thrust also was taken at
;Sil conditions. which the jury says ~.
not rs sanitary as might be.
cot vi, OFFICERS All:
SWORN IN AS DEPUTIES
sheriff Sydnor Yesterday afternoon
had County Officers John r.. Shoemaker
and w Howard Lawrence sworn in a.
deputy sh"riffs, Ia serve temporarily
UltlL HH can MAKE II regular appoint
mcut. ono Of these deputies viii Star
Il the jail during the day and the other
At night. In the meantime. Harry 6.
iicchier probably Will continue to serve
aS guard. Deputy Sheriff llcdrick. who.
with MIR Hcchler. has been In charge
of the jail for several months, was
taken i'll yesterday and carried home.
The grand Jury's report is AS follows:
Considering further the Jail delivery,
which occurred III December, 1916 the
grand jury. as supplemental L. their
report OF the 3d inst. reports as fol-
lows:
ncchlcr was an appointec Of th..
sheriff. acting in tho capacity Of guard.
without III. legal power Of deputy
sheriff. not having qualified before the
court as provided by law. The sheriff
should have a duly qualified. competent
deputy t. have charge OF the prisoners
and the administration of tho jail.
That IL has been the practice Of the
sheriff or his appo,ntce 10 designate
certain prisoners as TRUSTEES. they
performing certain duties which should
not lie delegated To- them. such as lock
ing up the prisoners This practcr
should inmc,liatcly be discontinued
and such duties personally performed
by the jalcr. Had this been done.
We do not think The recent delivery
would have occurred.
MORE ~ ACT or OMISSION
THAN OF CoMMISSION
We believe the negligence which
was the cause OF the escape Of the
prisoners Was more act Of omiS-
sion than OF commission on the part
of the sheriff, and strict charge by the
court 10 the sheriff Of his duties and
the liabilities incurred 10y him in
failure 10 observe them Will have the
same effect as further prosecution
OF the case would produce. and we
recommend.
We have also examined into the con-
ditiOn OF the Jail and find. as To food.
it /. wholesome and the prisoners get
Il sufficient supply AS 10 sanitary
conditions. the kitchen. tables. floors
and cells are not clean. and the bed
ding. especially the mattresses. are
filthy
we have an efficient sheriff. aud his
deputies are competent mon. We also
feel that We have an unusually compc-
tent police force. but our examinations
into these departments have led MS to
n very positive conclusion that there
ia not that harmony existing between
them as should be- and the efficiency
OF these departments and their benefit
TO the county at large would bc greatly
enhanced by their relations to each
other being better defined and both
being placed under one head
tSiCned) H. VI. NELSON
Foreman.