The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-18

In accordance with an opinion hand
ed down yesterday by Jaase Richard
son. In which he. CONSTITUTES the com
stitution as providing that the mayor
atoms may act upon charges against
members of the police force, Gust er
proceedings against four members of
the police department were dismissed
and the case row goes 10 the mayor.
Immediately following the delivery
of the opinion. Mayor Ainslie an
nounced that he would take the mat
ter up. and would begin the hearings
in the case next Monday afternoon
at o'clock. in his office in the city
hall
A copy of the opinion was certified
90 the mayor. who at once request ed
the assistance of the com monwealth' s
attorney and his associates in the in =
auiry. and the latter replied that he
would do all he could In helping the
mayor In his efforts to clarity the
situation,
Officers Return to Duty
Upon dismissal of the case by Judge
Richardson, the men under fire, who
had been suspended by the mayor
pending the inquiry, were automat-
icaIiy restored to their places. They
viii, however stand suspended again.
during the proceedings Incidental to
the inquiry by the mayor next week.
The particular case disposed of tes-
terday was that of Captain George f.
Pollock, secretary and purchasin &
agent of the department. The ques-
ton of abatement had been raised by
his brother and counsel Gilbert X.
Pollock, who was assisted by Gel.
David Leake. The contention was
that the constitution as reflected in
the charter gave to the mayor ex-
elusive power to deal with all mat
ters rejecting upon members OF the
police force.
This contention was opposed by
Commemorative Attorney Wise. Law
yers Bryan and Murray NJ. Mcclure.
of the state council of defense. and
Edward Dunford. OF the department OF
prohibition.
Inquiry to BE Open.
Mayor Ainslie yesterday stated that
the inquiry would be open to the pub
lie. would be thorough and exhaustive.
and that nothing would be left undone
in efforts to place the police depart
ment upon a sound, stable and clean
foundation.
III there are men in the depart
ment unfit to perform the duties re-
quired of them, they must go. and
every man under fire or under sus-
picion will be given every means by
which to prove himself guiltless OF
conduct unbecoming an officer" said
the mayor.
the commonwealth's attorney places
both of them before the public in an
attitude of determination. and they
give the public an idea of what to
expect in the matter.
-ln-tak!ng- upthe- caSesr-thA- mayor
follows the suggestions offered by the
grand jury In June that certain
members OF the department should he
given the opportunity of clearing their
skirts OF scandalous reports and ru-
mors that have been circulated and
that II the mud cannot be wiped off
the official skirts, the men should be
removed from office.
The mayor indicates disposition to
70 into the matter fully, and the pub
c-Mill- watch the inquiry with much
interest as 1t proceeds.
Wants All Evidence.
It Is manifest that the court OF in
quiry will not depend entirely upon
the evidence of the men whose names
ed In by the grand tiry. The impor-
lance OF such evidence. given largely
In self defense and in hope of receiy-
Ing some reward and some degree Of
pardon for offenses committed, will
hardly be OF sufficient strength to
prove a case. and may be considered
In advance as negligible. But the
mayor indicates that he will willingly
accept the evidence of'any reputable
citizen. who has sufficient interest In
the good name Of the city to come
forward and tell what he knows.
At any rate the decks will be
cleared for action on next Monday
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