Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-03
GRAND Jury BEGINS
ITS PROBE TODAY
commemorative Attorney Wise
Promises Thorough Investiga-
ton of Police Department.
WILL BE MANY WITNESSES
Charge That Certain Policemen
Are in Collusion With Boot
leggers to Be Sifted.
WILL BE MANY WITNESSES

Wise announced yesterday that the
grand jury of the Hastings Court
which convenes this morning at 10
of the routine cases sent on from the
Police Court. and would immedi lately
settle down TO thorough invesA!ga-
tion OF the police scandal which for
weeks has held the interest of the
Richmond public a I Il pitch that has not
been approached since the abolition of
the Board of Police Commissioners
Since the grand jury !as only about
hfteen cases sent on from the Police
Court. it is expected that these cases
Will hold the attention OF the grand
jury for only an hour or two. Judge
d. c. Richardson. of the Hastings
Court, estimated that they would re-
Quire the attention of the jury for only
about two hours, after which time the
grand jury would. in all probability
begin searching probe into conditions
alleged to have been existing in the
Police Department.
ATTORNEY WISE DECLINES
TO DISCUSS PROBABLE ACTION
When asked IL he had any statement
to make to the public. Mr.. Wise was
extremely reluctant to disclose any
thing in regard TO the proposed invcs-
tigation of the method of procedure
by the grand jury. He absolutely re-
fused to make public list of the wit
nesses 10 be summoned to testify be-
fore the grand jury this morning.
When reporter informed Mr. Wise
that he had heard Of several persons
who were to he summoned before the
grand jury. but would not use this in
formation If Mr. Wise desired that II
be withheld. the reply was that the
reporter could go ahead and use it as
ne saw fit. However. Mr.. Wise refused
20 verify the list of names called TO
his attention being those Of wit
nesses already summoned to appear be-
fore the grand jury.
Persons who are In a position to
know say that it is aafe bet that
IT, l.. Price. OF stop e5. on the Seven
Pines Road, Abe Jacobs. OF 325-B North
Fifth Street, and Ben Jacobs. a First
Market butcher. will be summoned to
testify what they know about the al
legged collusion between certain mem
bers OF the Police Department and the
alleged organized bootleg gang. re-
ported TO be carrying on illicit opera
lions at will In all likelihood Harry
f. Sweet, formerly the acknowledged
leader of the purity" squad. will be
called to throw light upon dark
subject. Sweet has previously inti-
mated that he knew quite lot that
people did not think he knew. and
that he would be ready to talk at the
proper time.
What Sweets information will lead
to. what bearing it will have upon the
police investigation. is a matter of dis
cussion. Many contend that when
Sweet appears before the grand Jury
he will have nothing OF Importance to
disclose. On the other hand, there are
many who assert that Sweet is not
talking through his hat and you can
bet your life on II that he knows what
he is talking about"
EXPECT INQUIRY TO CALL
MANY WITNESSES BEFORE JURY
In various quarters there is much de-
bate as to the Importance of the testi-
mony Of Policemen Allen and Frayser.
formerly members of the purity"
squad, and we'll known for their ac-
tivity and numerous arrests in con-
nection with violations Of the prohibit
ton law. Allen and Frayser filed affi-
davits before the Mayor. in which they
told what they heard of the much-dis-
cussed and all-important meeting be-
tween Detective Sergeant Gordon p.
Smith and former Automobile Police
man Frank s Waller and Abe Jacobs,
of 325-B North Fifth Street. on a
stormy night during the latter part of
February. a persistent report has 1t
that Allen and Frayser did not revea.
their entire knowledge of the matter
N "a vii Ici bof
The much-mooted question in the
minds of the people who are watching
closely the developments of the police
investigation is what will Price and
=. Jacobs have to say when they ap-
pear before the grand jury. Price has
all along persistcntly denied that he
had any knowledge at all of reported
irregularities existing in the Police
Department 1t will be remembered
that when the substance of the Waller
aftidaVit was first published in The
Times -Dispatch-printed before Mayor
Ainslie made the affidavits public. but
published only after the Mayor had
admitted that the charges had been
made in an affidavit filed with him
Jacobs published a denial of any meet
ing with Waller and Smith Moreover.
he asserted that he did not know Wal
ier. although he was we'll acquainted
with Gordon Smith.
On top of this denial Gordon Smith
made public a statement in which he
admitted that he had gone with Waller
to straiEhten out a dispute with Jacobs
which threatened to involve Waller
In serious trouble. but only after Wal
ler had sworn to him that he had COM
mitted no offense. Because Of these
tencies of statements. tho public will
watch with undated interest tho de-
yelopments Of the grand Jury investiga-
tion and moro particularly tho testi-
mony of Price and Jacobs.
Positive assertions have been made
in some quarters that the grand jury
investigation will prove to. be fasco;
on the other hand. equally ipositivo
assertions have been made that the