Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-07-06
MAYOR SAYS he IS NO7.
hE:QU|RED TO DO
CHIEFS WORK

In Reply to Criticisms OF Grand Jury.
CltN's Chief Executive Points Out
That Charter as Amended, Gives
Head of Police Force n Free Hand
in Dealing With the Men Under
Him-rwo Thousand Vice and
Liquor Arres Prove Police Activ-
fly.
Mayor George Ainslie today made
MS first formal reply TO ccnsurc of
I'm in the report OF the granu Jury
His statement declares that his con
siStcnt al itudc has been for law ell
1orcement SEQ far as thc realization of
hat object is humanity possible. He
points out that the massing of thou
sands OF soldiers within two hours
ride of Richmond has brought prob
lens unusual for any city but present
III all places similarly located with
respect to environments. The mayor
rcsents the charge That Richmond Is
degenerate wi II vice gambling and
t00tlegging.
hlayor Ains'ic asserts that the chief
lault found with nim by the grand
jury sums up in his dismissal of II.
Is. Sowcll as chief OF police for what
Is termed Slight indiscrction He
replies that Sowells infirm;ty of judg
mcnt was II grave one uniting him
for the functions Of chief Of police.
lie further declares that lie had no
reason to suspect Sherry or Pollock
of wrong conduct. Sherry having been
retained MS captain under cre:fs Wcr
ner and Sowell without complaint,
against him and Pollock having purely
clerical duties which ho performed
efficiently and with no sign that would
point to his ever being under the Ia
'lucncc Of liquor.
The atement says That 1000 ar
rests for violations Of the laws re
'spcottng cabling bootlegging and
vice made In 'throc years Is not q mean
record.
The chiefs Of police have been Civ
ell u free hand says the mayor In re
sponse to tho belief that this course
and only this made for efficient ad
ministration. Of tho department.
The statement OF Mayor Ainslie Is
rs follows:
THE JURY's CRITICISM. II,
The report Of the grand jury re-.
Gently made contains comment upon
me to the effect that:
I'm the opinion OF the jury Mayor
Alnslie has not shown discreet judg
ment i'll the management Of the police
department nor in the appointment
of the present chief. Mayor Ainslle
lacks those qualities requisite for this
proper Management OF the depart
mcnty"
So far rs have been able to gather
from the report, or otherwise, this
somewhat sweeping criticism was
based upon The removal of Chief Sow
ell and the appointment OF Chief
Sherry. My infirmi;y in the opinion
OF the grand jury which went far
alieid in making its comment upon
ne was shown by those single acts,
unless it is to be inferred from the
retention of Captain Pollock. 1t does
not often happen that Richmond tdi--
tors agree but they all expressed ap
prevail Of the removal OF Sowell. The
grand jury characterized his offcnsc
as "a comparatively slight indiscro
tion," and his removal as drastic ana
unwarrantcd." Then why didn't the
jury recommend his reilsta cement as
chief? The slight indiscretion which
he admitted consisted in Immediately
telling a suspected policeman OF the
statements made about him that he
had hauled whiskey in a city car 10
gcther with the name of the man
who made them and also in warning
him that he WAS going to DO watched.
If that is q Slight indiscretion" i'll =
chief OF police what would be a grave
one?