Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-04
GRAND JURY HEARS
MAYOR AlNSLIE
Continued From rirs, paeco

MAYOR AINSLIE
Continued From First PaEc)
soant Gordon p. Smith and Ben Jacobs.
First Market butcher
Ben Jacobs Is one of the participants
of tho Price-Jacobs fight which took
place in a Broad Street pool-room
about April 1. He is a brother to Abe
Jacobs. OF 325-B North Fifth Street.
Rumors attributed to him first set the
city aroE with wild rumors in regard
to Irregularities in the Police Depart
mcnt and finally reached the point
where Mayor Ainslic interviewed. The
trial of these two men, arrested on
cross warrants. is scheduled TO be held
in Police Court tomorrow morning.
the same day on which the grand
jury Teconvenes. Justice Crutchhcld
has announced that he will have Com
monwealth's Attorney Wise present to
watch the interests OF the Common
wealth in the trial Of the case and the
progress OF 1T will be watched with
intense interest by the public.
LARGE NUMBER OF POLICEMEN
TO Die CALLED AS WITNESSES
To a large number of those present
in the courtroom the presence Of this
number of policemen WAS a mystery
which remains as yet not quite solved.
The presence Of some was accounted
for by their connection with the
Mayors investigation. Some have been
implicated by the aff3davits filed be-
fore the Mayor. Others have been
summoned as character witnesses. and
the action OF the grand jury yesterday
indicated that most OF the character
witnesses will not be called upon to
testify.
Detective Sergeant Gordon Smith was
implicated by the Waller anidavit as
having gone with Waller to see 4.
Jacobs Of 325-B North Fifth Street.
to. straighten out a dispute arising over
whisky which Jacobs alleged had been
stolen from him by II. i. Price. OF
Stop IS. Seven Pines Road. Frayscr
signed an affidavit in regard to this
meeting between Waller. Smith and
Jacobs. J. j. Smith was mentioned in
the Waller affidavit as having warned
Price that officers OF the Department. OF
Prohibition were getting ready 20
search his farm, and that he had het-
ter get rid Of any whisky X he had
any there. Bosquctt was the man WHO
reported to Captain Sherry the evil
dence in regard to Sweets ownership
Of two for-hire cars and was later
fined by former Chief OF Police SoweIl
$50 for refusing to divulge this in
formation unless It was taken in "a.
presence of witnesses and in writ
ing Harry r. Sweet resigned from
the police force after Captain sherry
had brought charges against him for
owning and operating two for-hire
cars.
WILL NOT SUMMON
JACOBS on PRICE
Frank S. Waller. former automobile
Policeman. and the central figure In
the preliminary investigation. wn.
most conspicuous by his absence.
persistent report had it that Waller
would make his appearance before the
grand 'hry at the opportune moment
however. this report remained UNI
Veriheo' and Commonwealth's Attor-
ney Wise had nothing to say in regard
10 this matter. When asked IL he
intended TO summon former Chief of
Police Sowell. Mr.. Wise replied tina.
ne had not yet satisfied himself on that
score. But he denied positively any
intention Of summoninE either A
Jacobs or II. /. Price.
In making his charge. Judge Rich
ardson told the grand jury to go
from the very top to the bottom" Tn.
court informed the jury that IL would
nave every facility at its command TO
go into the matter which was pre-
, Sehteo ny commemorative Attorney
Wise Judge Richardson delivered a
special charge relative to the police
inquiry.
There is another matter desire
especially to present to you" stated
inc court. MI OF you. no doubt. have
read 1t in the newspapers and heard
on INC street reports involving a num-
Der Of policemen in transactions with
persons who sell whisky. That Their,
is some truth in these reports is evil
dent. because the Mayor of the CITY
mas already acted. I do not wish YOU
10 understand that any action by YOU
VIII reflect In the least upon the Mayor.
Remember, he is an official with but
limited powers He can remove police
officer, but he cannot indict.
ASKS GRAND JURY
TO GO TO BOTTOM
You. gentlemen. can go further
than the Mayor. This investigation
Is due to the citizens OF Richmond.
They are entitled to know whether
the men charged with enforcing the
law are faithful or unfaithful. TIL.
ruihorS concerning the police should
be set at rest for all time. know
that the large majority OF police off,
GERS are honest ard faithful, and there
should be no reflection upon them
ask YOU, gentlemen, TO go from
the very top. to the bottom Of this
AFFAIR, so that there can be no com
plant from any one that the charges
which have been heard have been
hushed up or smoothcd over. No mat
ter what individual opinion may be as
to the enforcement of the prohibition
law. l want to call your attention to
tse fact that this was solemn en-
actment of our General Assembly, and
II is our duty to see that II. as well
as all other laws. are enforced We
cannot bring this law into ridicule be-
cause Of nonenforccmcnt.
WARNS JURY AGAINST
Ora NTING IMMUNITY
The Commonwea Attorney has
also asked me to call this to your
attention. a witness who testiffes be-
fore the grand jury. and who may in
criminate himself. cannot, under the
law. be prosecuted for his offcnse.
Therefore. l want you to be careful
as TO the witnesses YOU examine II
you can gather sufficient evidence to
warrant an Indictment, do not summon
as witness the principal in order 20