The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-22

The controversy pending IN he no
lice department. in which former Fa-
nceman +. : Waller plays the star
parts. and IN which 10 im1l5cates
Major Sowcll and Detective Sergeant
Gordon = smith IN q questionable
tr&nsa ctinu concerning the charge of
transpor'irr liquor IN q city auto
mobile has reached the stage of per
sonaI versci+y.
roth Major soweH ana Sergeant
Smith have denied any com p3iet'Y OF
even any connection with @ueh m a.
legged transaction The former FOL
lowing tNn statement made hy Waller
that he had directed him 10 60 see
Abe Jacobs anE square m fha mat
ter" declares uuequiTocaly that tho
statement is false.
Sergeant Smith has denied having
ANYTHING to do with any Transaction
involving the transportation or liquor,
and SAYS ne did no with Waller 20
Jacobs home. as a witness. ard a.
the request ~ Waller He says that
ne knew nothing Of Ar alleged theft
Of liquor or OF the transp ortatjon OF
such liquor and that he wishes an
investigation.
Mayor Atnslie stated Yesterday that
he Is investigating every phase of the
situation. and that a. the proper time,
reports and the rumors no viii make
a public statement. and that Il any
thing Of criminal nature develops
re will AT once report 70 10 the com
monweanh's attorney. fer suitable ac-
ton by the grand fury Mayor Aims
lies staten<nt Yesterday was
Mayor Mako Statement.
IT am Investigating. and I have for
days been Investigating the rumcra
that are being circulated concerning
whiskey transactions. tn which police
are said to have been connected
My endeavor has been. and SKIN Ia,
70 get persons who can talk and Will
talk TO the facts If Gs4-tF-frvs-e * fsest t.
edge. II ought 10 be obvious 10 avery
sensible person-~it 81 certainly knowa
10 all lawyers and those having, 20 10
with formal hearings--thst the impor-
tant thing to get is evidence Of facts.
and these people also know that how
ever simple and easy * may seem 90
those who have never rad ANYTHING rs
do with such matters. II IL not an easy
and simple thing.
For every FIVE hundred men who
PASS along street minors there ~itl be
not more than one who can sreak 20
ths facts within his know ledge. giving
such evidence ss official action may he
taken on. and sometimes It takes 'onE
time to find out who that man - what
am doing is literally working up
tho case. and until l have heeo able
10 get what would Justify official ac-
ton arr Of the opinion that it would
pe rank folly for me- to he printing
day by day what I have and that
have failed 10 get.
TN my Judgment. that would he y
good way TO defeat the end IN view
I believe that | understand both my
duties and my responsibilities. and
hope that am acting with some lutel-
ligence Possibly others do Il much
more easily. better and more quickly
than I can hut / hope that they will
be natient with my limitations"
In commenting on this statement
the mayor said he would not reveal
his hand until he had accumulated auf-
fcient evidence, OF had something tan
gible upon which to act
Wafer Resigns.
The resignation or Policeman Waller
was accepted yesterday. The officer
rave as his reasons for retiring from,
the force the fact that hs had been
denoted from b,e position Of automo-
bile patrol service to roundsman. and
that he did not propose to he made
the goat for others"
waller said yesterday that he had
been treated badly He denied the
statement made hS Detective Sergeant
smith who said that when Waller went
10 see Jacobs concerning the argument
over liquor missing from the Price
farm, he begged Jacobs to hold on for
n while and said he did not want to
distress his wife and children.
Mayor Ainslie stated yesterday that
he had received two statements during
the day. one from Detective Saith, the
other from Special Agent NJ. s. Angle
Of the Chesapeake e. Ohio Railroad com
many, He would not disclose their con-
tents. but said the statements did not
implicate amy other policemen" This
means. II ia inferred. that the two
statements bear upon the Waller ar
fair
In his statement given out last
night. Major Sowell Is interse and to
the point II places Waller in the POI
alton of having made misstatements