Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-22
SOWELL DEN0UNCES
CHARGE AS UNTRUE
Chief of Police Denies Sending
Waller to Hush Up
Squealer."
MAYOR ADMITS AFFlDAVlTS
Has Sworn Statement of Ex-
Policeman duplicating Chief.
Seeks Further Evidence.
MAYOR ADMITS AFFIDAvITS


Chief of Police J. r. e. Sowoll =. n
late hour last night broke his silence
for the first time since the investigation
OF the Police Department was instituted
and issued an unqualified denial to the
statement of former Policeman Frank
:. Waller. Of oli West Marshall Street.
20 the efec. that he had instructed
Waller to see Jacobs and hush him
up
Captain Zimmc- made a statement TO
me that Mr. Allen and Mr. Frayser had
stated 10 him that Mr.. Jacobs said that
Waller had been hauling whisky in a
city automobile" chief Sowc!l said
'f met Mr. Waller on 'he street at
Ninth and Broad Streets and told him
that Captain thinner had made the
statement TO me, and that Captain Zim-
mcr was going to investigate the matter
and II found true. he. Waller. would be
discharged from the police force I
positively deny that told MIR Waller
10 see Jacobs and pronounce such
statement as an infamous lie"
Numerous members of the police
force last night did not mincc matters
in denouncinE the implication OF Chief
Sowell AS a cheap political trick" to
ouSi the present chief On the other
hand. Waller has a number o. friends
who have come to his aid and promised
to stand by him and not allow him to
bc made the goat in order to white
wash the official misconduct Of others"
MAYOR ADMITS AFFIDAVIT
MAKES CHARGES AGAINST CHIEF,
Mayor Ainslie yesterday admitted
that the affidavit made to him by po-
liceman T. s. Waller contained the
statement that chief of Police Sowell
had sent Waller TO see A. Jacobs. who
II is alleged. had threatened TO squeal
Other than this he remained silent, but
intimated that he may later have some
thing TO say on the scandal which has
developed in the Police Department
over alleged collusion between boot
leEgers and officers
The Mayor persisted in his refusal
TO make public the atfidavits which he
had in his hands. On the other hand
he earnestly declared that he would
not slack his public duty. and no Of
lender would be protected nor would
any attempt be made 10 whitewash any
police scandal If it were found to
exist.
l.
cized by people who do not understand
out / must maintain my course and
proceed with my investigations" he
said. Whatever course ] may pur
sue in making this investigation. peo-
PIC VIII be found who will criticize
me. But that must not swcrvc me
from my official duty. ! am RESPONSE
pie and intend to live up to the re-
snonsibility. Can you not see how
loolish and what utter folly il would
ne Tor me 20 make public the evidence
that obtain day by day?
MAYOR SAYS HE Is TRYING
TO GET ALL TIE FACTS
MIR. Walters resignation was ac-
cepted to-day. After mature consid-
Grafton of the question from evorv
angle concluded 10 accept it. and he
Is no longer member OF the force"
Mayor Ainslie further made it plain
mat he did not expect that this step
would satisfy al! the people, but that
Trey do not understand the problems
with which he is confronted and can
"ot be expected to agree with him on
all matters.
My endeavor has been, and st;ll Is
tc get persons who can talk and will
talk s TO the facts OF their own knov1-
edge 1t ought 10 he obvious to every
sensible person---it is certainly known
20 all lawyers and those having 10
90 win formal hearings-that the i'm
por'ant thing 70 get is evidence of
facts and these people also know that.
however simple and easy it NAV seem
10 those who have never had ANYTHING
10 40 with such matters, il is not an
easy and simple thing.
believe that I understand both my
duties and my responsibilities. and 7
nope that am acting with some intel
hgehcc Possibly others could do II
more easily, better and more quickly
IMAM can. but ] hope that they will
DC patient with my limitations"
ADDITIONAL AFFIDAyITs
ARE FILED WITH MAYOR
Mayor Ainslie said that he had no
objection to admitting that two addi-
t.onai afidavits had been filed with
MIN yesterday. One OF these affidavits
was filed by Detective Sergeant Cor
don +. Smith. who Immediately de-
manded a grand jury Investigation
when 1t became known that Waller
had connected him in an alleged trans
actioh win Jacobs. NJ. :. Angle. spc-
cial agent for the Chesapeake G. Ohio
hallway Company. furnished the sec
ond affidavit. The contents of these
afhdavits are not known, but friends
OF both men assert that they are
merely statements making clear their
positions and knowledge OF the entire
affair. and that they will finally clean
any taint that has been attached to
the name Of Detective Sergeant Smith.
Public attention is now concentrated
upon the trial In Police Court Of Ben
Jacobs. First Market butcher, and II.
| L. Price, who lives on farm on the
Seven Pines Road. this morning. AL
though many assert that sensational
charges are liable TO result from this
| trial, those who are in a position TO
know contend that il will be "a tame