Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-10
SATURDAY.. AUGUST 10, 1918
DESCRIBES POOLROOM RAIDS

Former Leader of Purity Squad SAYS
Ii Was Rule of Department. to Pro
tcct Policy, and That Sometimes
He 'Wcakcncd' His Testimony
When counsel for both the prose-
cution and the defense agreed to
submit without argument the case of
Chief of Police G. A. Sherry yesterday
evening at o'clock, Mayor Ainslie's
official investigation Of the Police
Department came to close. With
the conclusion of the Sherry trial the
last echo of the police scandal has
been heard, with the exception Of
the decisions of Mayor Ainslie, which
are impatiently awaited.
Mayor Ainslie has given no intima-
ton as to when he will make his
decisions in the cases of Captain
George e. Pollock, Detective Ser
geant l.. c. Bertucci and Major c.,
y, Sherry. However, when pressed
for an answer, he admitted that he
would reach a decision in three or
four Gays. Discussion in Richmond
is rife as to the probable decision of
Mayor Ainslie in the cases for which
he has held public hearings for the
last two weeks.
When decisions in these cases have
been rendered the last Of the grand
jury report of the police scandal will
have been heard. Not Il single one
of the policemen indicted by the
grand jury was convicted: all Of
them were acquitted by trial juries
in the Hastings Court.
-
SHERRY'S. CASE. DEPENDS. ON
SWEETS TESTIMONY
The early conclusion Of the Sherry
case was IL pleasant surprise to even
the best informed. Every factor yes
terday united in pushing the case for
ward at top speed, and by con-
tinuons session beginning at 8
o'clock yesterday afternoon the trial
was finished in one day.
Although devoid Of outstanding
features the testimony Of EX-Policc-
man Harry f. Sweet, formerly lead
er Of the purity" squad, was the fca-
turc OF the trial yesterday. Sweet
was the only star witness for the
Commonwealth, and upon him the
prosecution depended to prove its
charge against Major Sherry. Sweets
testimony was not corroborated by
subsequent evidence, except in minor
particulars.
The manner Of Sweets bearing,
and not his testimony, was surprise
to every person who crowded into
the courtroom. Belligerent at all
times, threatening on occasions and
unquestionably insulting throughout
the griIling crOss-cNamination Of Har-
~ M. Smith, leading counsel for the
Il nfn H.
astonishing witness.
THREATENS THRT HE WILL NOT
TELL ANYTHING
From the beginning, when he
threatened Mayor Ainslc, that if you
do not let me tell all in MY own way
I will not tell anything" Sweet as
sumed the offensive and kept the Of
fcnsivc the whole time he occupied
the stand, which was almost two
hours. Rchcllious at the start, he
refused to be guided by the Mayor,
by counsel for the prosecution or
by counsel for the defense, and al
though frequently overruled by
Mayor Ainslic, persistcd--and did
testify in regard to matters that had
beer objected to by attorneys for the
defence and sustained by the Mayor.
When Sweet took the stand At
torncy George Bryan, for the prose
cution, asked Sweet to toll all that
he knew in regard to the spccifca-
tions /, 2 and 3, which charged
Major Sherry with being under the
malign influence Of proprietors Of
illegal gaming" and with conniving
houses and with tipping" Off a sus-
pectod vioator of the law. At this
time Mr.. Smith asked that specif-
cations 4, and 6 be stricken from
the charges because Of their general
nature. Mayor Ainslie sustained the
objection of Mr.. Smith, and ordered
that specifications 4 and 5 be strick-
en- from the charges
ALPHABETICALLY DENIES CHARGE
MADE BY STRAIN
The testimony Of Sweet. who is
now in the employ of the Adams
Express Company as a private detcc-
tive, follows:
All l know about Strain is that
Strains affidavit was read to me in
the grand jury room. AS to my 60
ing to Acca with him to get some
liquor and that the liquor was
pIouSnC Ill anu SOU ana L SOC 9lUU
as my share, that story is lie.
1 don't doubt that another police
officer was with him. The whole
thing is frame-up to get me in jail.
1t was framed by Strain, Bosquett,
Frank Gentry and Sherry"
In attempting to explain how Ma,
jor Sherry got sore" and had it in
for him. Sweet related raids directed
by him upon several houses Of i'll
fame in this city. Proceeding with
his testimony in spite of objections,
Sweet said that Strain was not sus-
pended until three weeks after he
had filed his affidavit. Major Sherry
should not only have suspended him
but have sworn out warrant for
his orrc ct Cor q MN, con foS.cod Ia ho