Evening journal., 1918-11-13
DISMISS charge
AGAINST OFFICER
Police Commission Finds
Sergeant Devenish Inno-
cent OF Accusation
FINE ONE OFFICER
FIVE DAYS PAY

f'hs ms N""i So VI uuconuuct an Oi-
lcer which had been brought against
him by the Misses Minnie and Bessie
Williams. who formerly lived at No. 5is
East Fifth street. Trafllc Sergeant John
r. Devenish, Informed the Police Com
missioners at his trial yesterday that
he was no doubt poison" to men who
were friends Of the two women and
that this prompted the charges against
him. The commissioners after devOt-
ing an hour and a half to the case ex-
Onerated the officer.
The women who were arretsed by Pa
trOlman Rodcnheiser several weeks age
with James O'Neal. James Cunningham
and others on "A charge Of stealing an
automobile owned by Mrs. Annie f.
Moore, Of Seventh and French streets,
complained to Police Matron Mrs. Mary
Davis, four days after their arrest that
Sergeant Deyonish had used indecent
language TO them while they were in a
witness room at City Hall on the day
the charge against Cunningham was
heard. This statement OF the girls was
made in an affidavit and charges were
preferred against Sergeain Devenish.
At the hearing yesterday, Minnie
Williams, aged 2i years, read the state
ment and declared il was true. Bessie
Williams, although q years Of age,
stated she could not read When ques-
toned as TO where she was educated
she stated at her home in )Millsboro,
Del where she attended school up until
nine months ago when she came TO this
city
The old woman said she was married
but did not live with her husband, al
though she was not divorced
Sergeant Deyenish said1n his own be-
half, II don't care 10 attack these girls
reputation, but II necessary ] can. by
witnesses with whom they board, a
Mrs. Blount. l have been poison 10 the
gang they were out with, a crowd that
formerly loitercd around a pool room
at Fourth and French streets"
Sergeant Dcyenish denied the charges
and said that the girls. while waiting
for the hearing in the larceny case, had
told him cOnfldentially that the men
with whom they had been arrested. had
threatened them with bodily harm IL
they testified AGAINST them. Sergeant
Deyenish said that he advised the girls
10 tell the truth which they then prom
ised they would do.
Both women denied ever boarding
with Mrs. Blount. although the younger
ono said she had spent half an hour al
the BlOunt home at one time
PatrOlman George sutton, stated thai
on the day the offensc alleged to have
been committed by Sergeant Dcvenish,
he visited the witness room with other
people at the time. Sergeant Devenish,
Sutton said, informed him of what the
girls had admitted about the theft Of
the automobile and OF being threatened
by the men in their party the night
before, in case they told anything about
the stealing OF the car. Officer sutton
said that under orders from Sergeant
Deycnish he told Assistant City Solicitor
Mall0y Of the statements made by the
women This ended the hearing
The commissioners gave a decision IL
the case Of Patrolman Thomas Zebley
who had been given hearing last week
on charges Of abusing Charles ONeal
a youth. who figured in the theft Of the
Moore automobile, and who was arrest
cd with the two women. who figured
in the case against Sergeant Devenish
The findings OF the commissioners was
that the charges against Ofllcer Zebley
had been sustained and he was fined
five days nay and ordered reprimanded
The evidence presented by O'Neal show
cd that Officer Zeblcy had used un-
necessary force in putting him off q
street corner.
The report OF Chief OF Police Black
showed 306 arrests last week Of which
% were for drunkenness. Fines collect
ed in City Court amounted TO si.376.55.