The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-22
To BEGIN CUSTER
HEARINGS TODAY
All Ready for Proceedings
Before Mayor Ainslie This
Afternoon.
OFFICERS CONFIDENT
Character Witnesses to Appear
in Force in Hastings Court
at Trial Of Indicted
Policemen.
OFFICERS CONFIDENT

All seems to be in readiness for the
hearings in the custer proceedings
before Mayer Ainsii~ this afternoon at
o'clock. witnesses have been SUM
noned. the policemen under fire have
indicated their readiness to proceed,
and LAWYERS for the defense and for
the prosecution are prirned for the
business in hand
Chief Sherry, Captain Pollock. De-
tective Bertucci and Policeman Strain
are the men upon whom the June
grand fury cast criticism. With the
exception Of Strain the officers IN
volved have repudiated all reflection
upon them. and declare they Will he
bic to withstand any ard all assaults
upnr their character as citizens ana
their efficiency as officers ~ the law.
IT the case OF Strain there Is
difference In an AFFIDAVIT presented
the grand Jury ne is said to have ad-
mitted having received a sum Of
money for participation In liquor
transaction He duplicates in this at
fdavtt former Policeman Sweet. The
grand Jury, however. did not deem this
AFFIDAVIT OF sufficient Importance to
act unon II did. however, suggest
that Policeman Strain be removed
from, Office Strain had previously
handed in hrs resignation, but pend
ing the hearing Of the. case, Chief
sherry refused ~ accept the resisrs-
ton and susnended Strain, His case
will rrohahiy not be heard AT the
time the inquiry into the other three
charges Ia made.
Policeman Chick" Gerrinw, who
had the duty OF summoning the wit
- - 49,
this afternoon. has completed his
work The list Of names Is being keep
secret until the mayors inquiry be
gins It was said last night that up
to date the defendants had not SUP
piled list of witnesses. although there
may he number In reserve. or for
rehuttal 20 he introduced as occa-
sion demands.
This hearing begins on the eve Of
tire trial of the indicted men. All the
policeman who we're indicted by the
grand tufsh IN Tune will be called tor
trial in hustingr court tomorrow
morning. The evidence against them
Is practically the same. and II Is quite
torney will agree to hear the witnesses
both time and labor may be mini
mized.
An arrav of LAWYERS will take part
In these proceedings. including Harry
NJ. Smith .Tr. Gilbert X. Pollock, l.
o. we-de~hure. Edgar r English,
David NJ T.eake for the defense and
Edward r. Onrfnrd. OF the denart-
ment % nroh'hition, assisting Com
mnnwea'th's ATTORNEY Wise
n was sa'd YESTERDAY that the de-
ferSant policemen would have scores
of character witnesses on hand to ~A-
f'ite the testimony to be presented by
the prosecution.
Mavor Afrs1ie will todsv issue or
Gers svs-e~iine Chief Sherry. Can
tain Pollock and Detective PerturcA.
nera4no- 4 b A--A>..@t r>f tf1r hearings TO
he~'r this afte~~onn.
The case Of Policeman Peter Rel-
ton. wha w"s disrharged in hustin es
court Saturday On the technical plea
of limitation. will he called TO the
attention Of Msvor Atnslt~ This morn
ing. ard y NAV he that his name vii,
Ne i~~lud~d among those to be he.-d
:" 10 o"ste- proceedings JuS~.
D'rNardso- ~~~'s'ned SATURDAY.. the.
IN discN"-~tns P~ltor On the grounds
of limitatiors the mavor would not
he prevented from taking the matter
up on it's n,~-'ts