Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-11
CHARGES AGAINST sOWELL
PRAC T|CALLY DROPPED
No Evidence. on Which to procccd
Says commemorative
Attorney
TIRES ARE STILL MISSING
Detective Sergeant Says They Were
Given Him and We're Later Stolen
From Harness Room at Police
Headquarters.

Practical dismissal Of the charges
against Dctcctive-Scrgcant Russell Il.
Sowcll .Ir.. who was suspended from
the Richmond police force last Sat,ir-
day on the grounds OF having been
guilty. Of c"nddct unbecoming Of
hc.r, followed Il thorough examination
Yesterday by Commemorative Attorney
George T.. Wise of the evidence in the
matter.
After mature consideration. Mr.. Wise
communicated with Chief of Police
Sherry as follows:
- herewith inclosc TO you the papers
sent me by you relative to the matter
Of charges against Police officer II. Il.
Sowcll. Ir., and desire to state that.
after reading the same and talking
viii the witnesses referred TO- me by
you. doubt if the evidence would be
sufficient 10 make out a case Of lar
ccny.
In tho meanwhile however. should
YOU learn OF any further evidence in
the matter or should 1t he deemed ad-
visahle and desired that the case he
laid before the grand jury. which meets
October :. please let me know and
will give the matter prompt attention
SOwELI. SAYS TIRES
WE'RE GIVEN TO HIM
officer Sowcli is alleged to have re-
moved, without authority. certain tires
which had boon used for illegal trans
portation Of liquor and which had been
later confscatcd by the Police Depart
his action by declaring that the Access
series had been given him by one An
drew Lane. whose brother owned the
car and was at the time enlisted In
the navy. He is further alleged to
have borrowed 4 monkey wrench from
another police officer for the purpose
'of removing the tires from tho auto
mobile
When examined by Chief of Police
sherry; S3wcll admitted frankly that
he had taken tho tires with tho per
n y nd a.
posted them all in harness room
near TO Police Headquarters for safe
Keeping. They were missed a few
days after tho time they were placed
in the room.
1t is tho opinion Of both Chief Shcr-
ry and Com m onwealth's Attorney Wise
that the police must first solve the
mystery of the disappearance Of the
accessories from the harness room be-
against Sowcl We're it proved that
Soweil later removed the tires from
mat place. II is regarded as very likely
that formal action would be taken by
OFFERED TO MAKE GOOD
VALUE OF TIRES
sowcll appeared before Chief Of 70
nee Sherry on saturday. the day on
resign He was told that he could not
40 so because he was under charges
Later 1t Is said that he offered to
rake good to the Police Department
for tho loss OF the accessories by ten
dering the department their estimated
value.
When Mr.. Wise was asked Yesterday
as to his further opinion on the case
ne replied that he knew absolutely
nothing Of the matter. except what he
mad been told by witnesses. The NUM-
Der OF those who have appeared before
Mr.. Wise on the Soweil matter and
conferred with him on the case include
ChCers otey. Gordon r. Smith, Wymer
Griffin and Wiltshire
IL have no doubt" declared ct:et
The tire H,.rc really given to Sowcll
by Andrew Lane with some such re-
ozark AS You can have tho whole car
for all ] care But. even the owner
himself would have had no right to |
give the car. or any part OF the car, |
to any one. so long IL was in tho |
hands of the police"
In answer to tho question of whc,n- |
or Sowcll would he rcinstatcd on the
force. Major sherry stated that ne |
would take tho matter IN this morn
ing. In the meanwhile. it is under |
stood that the police are to continue
their investigation Of the mystery sur
rounding the disappearance OF the |
tlreS from the harness room
Although he made no definite answer
TO the inquiry. chief sherry practically !
that the matter in it's pros-
cnt stage. is hardly likely 10 be taken
~ before the grand jury for it's con-