Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-11
SWEET TEST|F|ES
BEFORE GRAND Jury
Damaging Information Believed
to Have Been Given by
Former Policeman.
VICE CONDITIONS SERIOUS
Venereal Diseases at Camp Lee
Believed to Have Been
Caused Here.
VICE CONDITIONS SERIOUS

Figures showing the large number
of soldiers at Camp Lee suffering from
venereal diseases. which were made
public yesterday. will be presented to
the grand jury this morning. II was
officially announced that for the week
ending May 81 SOL cases of venereai
diseases had been found among the
soldiers at the cantonincnt. which had
the highest rate Of any camp in the
country. This fact materially in
creased the general sick rate of the
/ camp. The rate at Camp stuart, To-
Gated near Newport News. was tho
next highest the total for the week
being 3o4.
In official circles yesterday no at
tempt was made to charge Richmond
with being entirely responsible for
conditions at Camp Lee. yet II was ad-
mitted that this city was to blame in
large measure. While many OF the
men at Camp Lee have not been sta
toned there for any great length OF
time. the number visiting Richmond
every weekend for the past three
weeks has been large. 1t Is =: known
fac; that the section once given over
TO segregated vice is again in opera
ton. and that many soldiers hare paid
visits to these houses These facts
y.
and will undoubtedly materially in
crease that bodys intcres, IN exist
| Ing vice conditions in Richmond
Conditions in one Of the larger ho-
| tells. much frequentcd by young offi-
GERS from Camp Lee. have already been
investigated by the state Council of
Defense and a change in methods has
been promised by the management: :
otherwise. IL will be closed until the
end of the war.
The statute OF 1916 gives the police
ample power TO proceed against both
the owner and occupant of disorderly
houses; but. although in effect two
years. the local police have made no
effort to take advantage OF 1t. Under
that statute such property may be
closed to all use and occupancy for
the period OF one year.
| SWEET TESTIE'IES
BEFORE GRAND JURY
! Harry +. Sweet former leader or the
purity" squad OF the Richmond Police
Department. was closeted for several
hours yesterday with tho special grand
jury Of the Hustings Court. which is
now conducting sweeping inquiry
into alleged vice conditions existing in
this city. Sweets appearance before
the jury was forecast by The Times
Dispatch on June s. but later denied.
il is known that his testimony is of
most damaging nature. and that il in
wolves several members of the Police
Department. Ever since his reSigna-
ton from the police force took effect
Sweet has ntimated that he knew a
great deal which he would not dis
close except through the proper chan
nels and at the proper time.
Although IL was not announced
when the grand jury adjourned at Gas
o'clock last night. it was authorita-
lively learned that Sweet was in
structcd to- be ready 10 take the stand
at 10 o'clock this morning. when the
jury reconvenes. That Sweets infor-
nation is OF much Importance is con-
ceded by all. Report has 1t that he
Will he on the stand for some time.
His testimony will by no means be
confined TO information regarding al
legged police collusion with illicit liquor
traffic. Sweet has been conspicuous as
the recognized leader of the purity"
/ squad. His arrests have been nu-
mcrous. and his connection In this line
! Of police work prominent. He is re-
/ Garded by many as an authority on
+
In many quarters IL has been sug-
gested that while engaged in his warl;
on the purity" squad. Sweet was ham
dicapped by conflicting orders from his
superior officers and that he was no.
entirely free to use his own Judgment
and investigate according to his own
desire When asked about this, Sweet
would neither deny nor affirm the re-
port. The members of the grand Jury
have already indicated that his in.or-
nation is of prime Importance, and IN
official circles Sweet is regarded As
one of the central figures OF the in
quiry.
When asked yesterday what he would
have to testify to before the grand jury.
Sweet replied that he had nothing to
say at the present time. The grand
Jury. adjourned for recess at 1880
o'clock. and at that time Informed the
court that. with the exception of a
few witnesses who had been instructed
TO be present when members recon
vened at o'clock, the others would
not have to return until 10 o'clock this
morning. The witnesses before the
grand jury yesterday afternoon were
r. J. Staley. attached to the force OF
William NJ. Colquitt. Harry +. Sweet
and Izzy Gerson.
TESTIMONY OF FORMER OFFICER
CAUSES MUCH SPECULATION
After II had been published in The
Times Dispatch that Sweet was going
before the grand jury and make a
clean breast of everything he knew
Sweet issued n denial in an afternoon
paper that he was going to "confess."
1T was never alleged tina. Sweet was go
ing to make confession" At that
time Sweet had been In earnest con-
ference with Commonwealth's Attorney
Wise and Edward B. Dunford, assist
ant to Commissioner oe Prohibition
Peters. After the conference Sweet
admitted that he had made state
ment to Mr.. Wise and Mr.. Dunford.
II has been said that Sweets testimony
VIII not only involve members Of the
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