The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-06
JURY PROBES DEEP
INTO EPISODE Of
LIQUOR ON FARM
Ben Jacobs Star Witness
at the Afternoon
Session.
NEIGHBOR T AL K S
Frank Picchi' S Request
for a Quick Trial Is
Complied With.
Gets Limit.

True to the statement ~ Foreman
Clarke. the grand jury is digging deep
into the reports concerning illegal
bootleggtrr and the relation OF mem
bers OF the police force herewith
After sitting through tho greater
part Of yesterday, the jury adjourned
shortly after s o'clock ln tho evening
to meet again at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing.
The inquiry assumed its serious and
determined aspect yesterday After
gaining much Information IN "a ccner-
al way from Prohibition Commissioner
Peters and Lawyer I1unford the jury
framed its line OF procedure prac-
tically disrcgardiuE the atHaavifs pre-
sented by the mayor. which hud been
filed with him by memh.r- ~ the
police force and citizens, the jury itself
went ~ the root of things
Commonwealth $ Attorney WISE had
gathered FROM the clerk OF the police
court al TN" data available in rela-
ton 70 the Frice-JarehS episode
which had been partially aired m ihat
court a lht NJ the witnesses was
furnished. and II is presumed that tho
Jury At us afternoon session Yesterday
took M the thread at this noint. for
Hen Jacobs one Of the figures IN the
alleged assault case in which he and
Price had engaged in BROAD street
pool room some weeks ago. was on
the stand before the fury more than
two hours. and will go en again this
morning
May Cali Atc JacobS
Preceding him were Policeman
Frayser and Policeman Alien who
were conspicuous tu the Waller trci-
dent, II is generally believed that
the fight hcfw cen Jacobs and Price
arose over & discussion Of the .candl-
tion Of things AZ the Price farm I'm
Henrico county where policemen are
alleged to have made frequent visits
be Jacobs. brother OF atSen's il tx he
lieved. will be called before the Jury
later. He It was who had the inter
view referred TO ny Waller in his state
ment TO the mayor
The case or Ben Jacobs and Price
was continued In police court yester-
day, but IL Is believed the grand iurv
may hand in an indictment. charging
felontous assault following the pre.
sentation of the case by the common
weaith's attorney yesterday afternoon.
That the jury is going about It's
work systematically, and startirag with
the Price farm as "a basis, was dis
closed yesterday. when residents OF
that section Of the county adjacent to
the farm. were summoned One Of
the farmers In the vicinity, whose re-
cital some time ago concerning events
in connection with the resort. were
somewhat spectacular. was before tho
Jury for a while yesterday afternoon.
He was called while Ben Jacobs was
making his statement and the latter
was excused for while In order that
the farmer might testify and get hack
to the farm before dark
Jacobs then Tars He'd Aa
not been finished with when the tired
tribunal took recess until this morn
fng.
New Witness Today
No additional witnesses were sum
moned for toGay, although II IL be-
lfeved there will he several added to
the list before the DAVIS sitting is
over,
All the witnesses who have heen
called were directed TO be on hand
today, and II Is likely that some OF
them will be quized along the line MS
set out by the jury.
The inquiry will lead from the
farm to alleged resorts in the citv
where 1t is said policemen and others
In official circles were in the habit
Of congregating. It was said last
night that q. list of alleged bootlegrers
would he furnished the jury. and that
they might be summoned to testify
IT was further said that former Po-
liceman Sweet would be asked to tes-
tify along this line, as il il generally
understood that he is familiar TO some
extent with the working OF the boot
Logging individuals having had MANY
of them before court on various pc-
casions. The names of several police
offlcials have been linked with Ger
tain resorts where IL is reported they
Obtained liquor al Will,
While there is no certainty as to
what the jury Is actually doing in it's
inquiry, the fact that the men sum-
moned are known in various connec-
tons to have more or less knowledge
Of the situation. leads to many plausi-
BILE con lectures.
May Not Cali Volunteer.
There seems to be no desire on the
part OF the grand jury at this time
10 hear the testimony which II is
Vaid will be forthcoming If Mrs.
Franklin is summoned. The inquisi-
tors, II Is said. may not wish this tes-
timony, particularly as the proffer
comes with the provisor that immu-
nifty be extended one charged with
violation OF the prohibition laws
The Jury yesterday lost no time In
disposing of the case OF Frank Picchi,
. (Continued on Second Page).