The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-26
RICHARDSON WILL ACT.
Agreement Is Reached
in Conference With
Mayor Ainslie.
HEARINGS PUBLIC
Indicted Policemen Are
Suspended-Talk of
New Head for the
Department.


ed with the police department,
as recommended In the report of
the grand jury.
While the right to remove
members OF the police depart
n1ent Is given the mayor under
the charter. he said yesterday
that he would take no steps to-
ward making changes i'm the de-
partmcnt until Judge Richard
son had acted. IL was recognized
TO those In the conference that
the recommendations OF the
grand jury were directed to the
judge, and upon this understand
ing he will proceed In accordance
with his determination. after Civ
ing every phase of the situation
the fullest study.
Judge Richardson said last night
that he had not reached a conclusion
as TO what step TO take. nor had he
fixed upon any time In which to pro-
coed. II Is believed, however. that he
will lose no time IN carrying out the
requirements of the law, as the re-
port OF the grand jury Is plain and
specific.
Mayor to Make Statement
Mayor Ainsiie said last night that
he would be- out with a statement of
his position In the matter within s
day or two, in which he will endea vor
TO make 1t clear that his actions all
along have been in accordance with
facts as they presented themselves TO
him. He said that he had perform ed
what he believed TO have been his
duty before the mater had been turn
ed over TO the grand jury, and that
when It was placed in the hands OF
that tribunal he gave the inquisitors
his hearty and earnest assistance and
co operation.
In the meantime the four officers
pointed out as derelict in their
duties-Chief Sherry. CAPTAIN George
Pollock Detective Bertucci and
Policeman Strain--will remain on
duty until their cases have been dis
posed OF by Judge Richardson.
Mayor Ainslie stated last night that
this procedure would prevail. as
Judge Richardson had said it would
not be necessary TO suspend the men,
pending the hearings,
Deputy city sergeants and police
men yesterday were searching for
Harry Price. against whom the grand
jury returned seven indictments. He
had not been located up TO late
hour last night. Neither had former
Qficere Waller and Deskins. The
two latter have been out of the city
for sometime.
Indicted Men Give Bond.
The others who were indicted by
the grand jury yesterday appeared
in hustings court, and gave bond in
the sum of $500 in each case for their
appearance in court on July 2. In
Guided in this list are Policemen f.
NJ Bosquet p, A Bolton, l. G..
Cousins. j W. King, E. c, Kidd, ].
II. Ridgeway and NJ. s. Angle. special
agent OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway company w. n. Bunton,
who had also been indicted with the
others appeared in court and pleaded
guilty to drinking In a public place.
He was fined $40.
The first steps in the proceeding
pointing toward the custer law and
the trial by jury were taken yester-
day morning, when Clerk Walter
Christian notified the mayor that the
grand jury had returned indictments
against six members of the force.
Chief Sherry, having received similar
notice. Immediately suspended the six
men. including Policemen Bolton.
Ridgeway. Kidd, King. Bosquet and
Cousins These men will not resume
their positions for the present. II
they are found not guilty after trial
by jury. they may be continued in the
service.
Public expressions on the street and
at popular resorts was to the effect
that the grand jury had done splendid
work in pointing out the condition
of the city from the standpoint of
morality. 1t was hard for many to
believe that Richmond Is wicked
city, and these people pointed to the
fact that the grand jury could md
but a bare dozen indictments. On
the other hand II was shown that
there are many things In Richmond
in need of cleaing. and that the grand
jury had just begun the cleaning pro-
cess which would be followed up by
a rejuvenated police department.
Question of Chief.
The general impression IL that
Richmond needs a man At the head
OF It's police department far above
reproach, man ofseducation. with
dignity. unafraid OF political intrigue
stern, with q big heart, and q man
who can enforce discipline. Such 4
man it Ia conceded can hardly be
found within the department. Then,
say those who believe that Richmond
should have the best OF everything,
X necessary the city must 30 outside
the department to get that man.
As was indicated by Judge Richard.
son yesterday, no time will be lost in
getting through with the business In
hand It may be that even today the
oiIicers who have been pointed out
by the grand jury as unit for the
places they hold In the department,
$500. -. .. = 80 $500 $3.50