Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-14
PETERS FAVORs SEARCH
OF TRAINS AND BAGGAGE
Prohibition Commissioner Saws po-
hcemcn Should Force Way Into
Railway Stations.

Prohibition Commissioner Says Po-
Hcemcn Should Force Way Into
Railway Stations.
CRITICIzES MAYOR AINSLIE
Police Who Search Personal Bag
gage Now Have No Assurance
That Their Mistakes" Will Be
Condoncd by Head OF Department.
Demanding that the police be given
Instructions to resume their former
Illegal practice of searching private
baggage and railway trains without
warrant In their effort to discover
illegally imported liquor. Commissioner
OF Prohibition J. Sidney Peters, in a
written statement last night sharply
criticized Mayor Ainslic for what he
termed his failure to support those
policemen who have made mistakes"
and Illegally searched the baggage OF
innocent people against whom they had
no reasonable ground of suspicion.
Commissioner Peters also demanded
that the Mayor and police chief ac-
company officers TO the railway sta
lions TO see that station agents do not
thrust the police" out OF those por-
tons OF the station buildings barred
10 the public.
Admitting that he could not put
his finger on any particular instance IN
which any particular officer had refused
10 make an arrest" the commissioners
states that there Is IN Richmond an
"atmosph eric condition surrounding
the enforcement Of the prohibition Ia"
which has resulted In the distribution
OF large quantity Of whisky In the
city"
Commissioner Peters said that so Tar
as vice conditions were concerned, his
office had no authority. and he hesi-
tated 10 speak. but with reference TO
violations of tho Mapp law, he did not
hesitate 10 say that Ia Lynchourg'
Danviile and Atlanta the prohibition
laws were being enforced in com
ncndable manner. IN contrast TO con-
dit!ons pictured IN Richmond.
SAYS STATION AGENTS
BAR POLICEMEN
Mr Peters said:
II would not have any one believe
FOR moment that conditions In THIS
city arc such as they were when the
city was infested with The lcgaized
saloon. Far from II. Even with the
innumerablc boo,leggers with whom
we have TO contend and the atmos-
pheric conditions mentioned above.
conditions IN Richmond arc 30 Tar
superior 10 the Old days that perhaps
many people have been satisfied bnt
Sir Sweet has shown how conditions
IN this city might be very much i'm
nroycd. For instance, i, is impossible
for a policeman to accomplish much
good in preventing The flow OF liquor
into this city over the railroads when
enter Main Street or Byrd street STA
tons unless he visits the rear ehd OK
The trains behind the bars az the sta
~ c.I a ~
agents and special agents o! the ram
road CORPORATIONS guard these barred
Enclosures and VIII not admit the pun
Iic They not only thus deoar the pun
lie for very good reasons but ihcF say
to the police officers OF the Guy O.
Richmond, Thus faE shalt ihoo go anu
no further
on. station agent a, the Byrd Street
c,.,ior drove two officers out from
behind the bars. and told them 10 stay
ont. Another station agent at the
Byrd street Station said 70 ponce
o.ficer OF the city of Richmond
have orders TO keep every policeman
whole police force of the city OF Rich
mond is afraid. literally afraid or the
station masters. assistant station mas
,crs and special police OF the ra!!roao
corporations. and will not dare go Dc
hind the bars a the stations 10 eaten
mourning into this CITY every day.
no ASSURANCE OF BEING
UPHELD IN SUCH ACTION.
And /, one OF these policeman should
take one OF these station agents, or
other hirelings OF these corporations
hv the nape OF the neck anu throw
him aside. and go behind the bars. and
catch the "bootleESers' anc confscate
the whisky. there is no telling what
tIN.
performing his duty. He has no as
surauc. that he VIII be upheld by the
Chief Of Police. He has no assurance
that he Will be upheld by the captain
Of his district. He has no assurance
that he VIII be upheld by Mayor Aim
slie. He has only certain. fearful
look ng- for OF fiery Indignation at head
quarters and removal from Office. and
perhaps a jail sentence FOR interior
ing with one OF the imposing, CD all
powerful 90 station agerts OF rail-
road corporations
said to Major II. 3. Sowell. when he
was Chief OF Police. that if l were
chief Of the city OF Richmond if
special police station agent Of
railroad corporation stopped OF
my policemen from going behind the
bars TO arrest "bootleggers" on In
coming trains and TO catch bootleg
gers" who were already behind the
il ! could not control situation OF
that kind ! would resign my position
as chief. And / want TO say here and
now that CAPITA n George Ainslie is
unworthy OF being, Mayor OF this city.
and Major Sherry is unworthy Of be-
Ing Chief o: Police of this city. II
they VII suffer the authority OF a
railroad corporation doing business by
permission Of the city and state 10
supersede the authority of the City
Police Department and thrust the pu-
lice out OF the railroad stations.
SOME POLICEMEN IN
COLLUSION WITH BOOTLEGGERS
do not doubt bu, that il may de
yelop that some OF the police in this
city are found TO be in collision with
The liquor traffic. do no; doubt that
large numbers of rcmhcrs OF The force
wink at violations IF the law and mat
some Of them rejoice IN it, az; a; me
same time there IS a small element
VI men on the police forcS "ho would
aladly do their duty II they were
backed up in ii bY their superior o.
Accrs Mayor Ainsiie ought 10 40
Ia IN o. I'll.