The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-25

liable to Indictment Tor perjury
For frequenting gambling houses
and participating In gambling. we
recommend the removal OF Onicer L.
c. Bertucci.
We call the attention of the Police
Benevolent association to the evidence
4 that Bertucci received n check for
800 last April FOR the return tf a
lost ring; one-half Of the amount. I'M
der the rules, should GO 10 the asso-
cistion. II this amount has not been
pfid Bertucci SHOULD be required 10
&c so.
For accepting liquor az A reward
for letting liquor pass. we recommend
the dismissal OF Ofcers F. " 9os-
ouett and j. w. King,
For habits of intemperancc and
conduct unbecoming an officer. as re-
veaied BY the testimony. we rccom-
mend the removal from office and the
force of Captain George l.. Pollock.
The grand jury. from the testimony
I before il, is OF the opinion that the
morality of the city is at low ebb.
This condition Is, 70 n Erea. degree,
! cue to the lack Of effclenc In the
First district. The record of &. y.
Sherry as captain of that district and
his associations did not Justify nor
| warrant his promotion TO the Office OF
chief 4 large majority OF the Illegal
houses known 10 exist are located In
the First district. IL lis the opinion
of the grand jury that had he dis
PLAYED. while captain. the proper en-
ergy in the performance OF his duties.
present conditions would not exist.
From evidence before us. we believe
he is under the malign influence OF
promoters and propricfors Of Illegal
gaming.
IT ia In evidence that Sherry. while
captain of First district, sent an off,
Ger to advise the proprictors OF n GER
tain place that they had been report cd
a. having liquor and that the place
would be searched. His order was
obeycd, the search was made later.
but no liquor was found
We recommend the removal of G.
\. sherry from the police department
for the good Of the service.
George Ainslie the mayor uf the
city, Ia at the head of the citys affairs
and under him are ali the departments
of the city government. but more es-
pecially the police department. Of
which he is the official head. In the
conduct Of his Office his duties are
various and arduous. one Of his duties
being the appointment of the chief of
police, the physician and purchasing
agent OF the department and general
supervision over the police depart
m ent But the details and miuutiAe
Of that department can receive but
little Of his personal attention. The
! appointment Of chief is a matter Of
| vital Importance to the people of tho
city. and carries with II great re-
sponsibility. A few months ago the
mayor appointed Captain r. Y. Sowell
to the high Office OF chief Sowell had
a record of twenty eight years Of serv-
ice, sufficiently good TO warrant pro-
motion. coming up from 2 patrolmAn
to a sergeancy, then to q captaincy
| The removal Of Sowell for a com
parativeiy slight tndi%crction Is. in
the opinion of tho grand jury. draS-
tic and unwarranted; an admonition
would have been more appropriate.
The mayor again. in the opinion of
the grand jury. 2rievously erred IN the
appointment of Sherry chief.
| In the opinion OF the grand jury.
Mayor Anslie has not shown discreet
judgment in the management OF the
police department, nor In the appoint
ncnt Of the present chief Mayor
Ainsiic lacks those qualities which are
requisite for the proper management
Of that department.
This il a goodly city and la entitled
Ito have a chief of police OF quality and
education, man above reproach and
who can command the respect Of the
men in his department as we'll as all
good citizens; and, at the same time,
he held in fear by violators of law.
While highly desirable. II s not obli-
gatory that the chief shall be select ed
from the force
Department. Torn by Factions.
The police departmeu is at present
divided into factions and is in a spirit
OF unrest and distrustfulness. which
initiates against its efficiency. A
steady hand is needed at its head. In
spite OF these conditions much excel
lent work has been done by the force
in experimenting yiolators OF the law
In addition to the foregoing. the
grand jury recommends that the ire
auent postponement OF trials shall
cease, Such postponements initiate
against the efficiency OF the police and
llessens the probability OF convictions
Of the Violators of the law.
We recommend that jail sentences
he not curtailed to the extent Of max
ing such sentences trit,ing matter
We recommend that policemen I'M
der charges be not allowed to resign
We recommend that owners Of tir-
Eneys and for hire cars be required TO
give substantial bond TO operate
their ears In lawful pursuits.
In our protrHcted labors in the City
Hall we have had daily opportunity Of
seeing the crowded condition of bust
ness in the hustinRs court and the
heavy labors OF the commonwealth
attorney. We recommend that an Al
sistant be employed who may appear
in the police court when desirable and
to assist the commemorative attorn ey
as he may direct.
Having a long and good record on
the police force, we recommend the :
f. b Sowell, now on furlough. be re-
tanned on the force and restored to
the position of captain.
Too Easy ON Gamblers.
From the testimony of police on
GERS. either the law or the construin q
of the same is faulty as against policy
and crap games 1t is said that to Sc
cure conviction against policy, it IL
necessary TO find the policy writer
actually writing. and In crap games
the game must be seen and both tho
money and dice captured We rec
ommend a broader constituting of the
laws, and, If necessary, an appeal to
tho general assembly to enact more
effectusl laws.
We recommend that the general as
| sembly be petitioned to enact n pre-
vision OF law so that commonwealth s.
attorneys may~attend sessions OF grand
jury Investigations when SO request sd
| by the grand jury,
Va, Alt - a.