Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-07
CUSTER RULES ARE
FILED WITH COURT
Trial of Chief of Police Sherry Is
Set for Next
Friday.
SWEEPING CHARGES MADE
Sherry, Pollock, Bertucci and
Strain Accused of Spe-
cific OHenses.
SWEEPING CHARGES MADE

custer rules were filed yesterday in
the Hustings Court against Chief of
foilce C. a. Sherry. Captain George
Il. Pollock. Detective l.. c. Bertucci
and bicycle Policeman c. A. Strain bv
commemorative Attorney George +.
wise. Judge d. c. Richardson set July
- AS the date for trial The com
paints were served upon the four DO
lice officers Immediately.
IN accordance with the law, these
rules were returnable in not less than
nVe days and not more than ten dav.
ana then take precedence on the court
docket Chief of Police Sherry was
the only police officer under fire In
court at the time of the filing of Tn.
complaints. In many quarters the de-
lay OF the attorneys in preparing and
ming the custer rules has been criti-
cized However, this has been ex-
pialned by the fact that unless the
complaints charged the officers in
question with specific violations. the
charges would fall fiat. Then, again.
these are the first cases that have
arisen under the custer law of 1916.
and lawyers busiiy engaged in the
drawing up Of the rules had no pre-
cedent to go by.
HEAR MOTION FOR -
ABATEMENT TUESDAY
At the request OF Gilbert X. Pollock.
counsel for Captain Pollock and De.
tectfVc Bertucci, Judge Richardson
agreed to hear argument on a mo-
ton for abatement at o'clock Tues
day afternoon. This date and time
was convenient to Commemorative At
torney Wise, for he entered no OBJ
lection. Argument of plea of abate-
ment is virtually a motion to auash
the proceedings.
The preambles of all the complaints
are practically the same, alleging that
all the officers have forfeited said Of
flee and should be ousted and removed
therefrom." There are seven counts
In the complaint against Sherry, 1--WE
against Pollock. five against Bertucci
and two against Strain.
= The motion to quash the proceed
ing Is expected to be made on the
grounds that no witnesses are set
forth In the complaint and that no
date and time for the alleged orenses
are set forth. Except the affidavit of
Commonwealth's Attorney Wise. to the
effect that he believes all the charges
In the complaints to be true, there
are no names attached to the rules.
In every complaint. Mr.. Wise appears
as the sole complainant.
SERIOUS CHARGES ARE
BROUGHT AGAINST SHERRY
Sherry is accused of having been
derelict In the discharge of his duty,
that he connived with and encouraged
violators Of the law, and that he has
been under the malign influence of
proprietors of illegal gaming houses
Pollock is charged with having been
under the influence of Intoxicating
liquors both while on duty and off
duty; that he has created demoraliz-
ing atmosphere among his subordin-
ates; that he has consorted with n dts
orderly element. and that he has en-
couraged the violation of the law.
Bertucci is accused of engaging in
unlawful gaming. Of gross misconduct.
and allowing offenders OF the law to
escape. Strain is charged with hav-
ing encouraged. permitted and par
ticipatcd in the violation of the laws
OF the State Of Virginia. prohibiting
the transportation. use and sale OF
Continued on Sixth Page.)