Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-24

|
ia concerned. 1t has been confined mere
/ ly TO probe in the charges which
arc the outgrowth OF the Price-Jacobs
controversy.
! After being informed of his appoint
mcnt rs Chief of Police, only few
minutes elapsed before Captain Sherry
took the oath of Office and qualified
before City Clerk Alfred Mcdowell
| When asked IL he had any statement
TO make public, Chief OF Police Sherry
replied:
| Il hardly believe that have any
thing to say. I can only say that
will do my level best to bring the Po-
| lice Department to it's former high
standard of efficiency. As TO any fac
! tional controversy in the department.
! l know nothing of II and have had
nothing to do with II. have nothing
else to say" lie stated that he would
make his appointment of the captain
of the First District public after a few
| hours consideration. Later last night
he announced the appointment of Ser
Seant John w. sheppard, Of the First
District. as captain OF that precinct.
The new Chief OF Police has been a
member OF the police force since July
IL. 1903. For q number of years he
performed his duty patrolman. and
on April 81, 1909. was promoted TO
sergeant Upon the death of Captain
Epps then captain OF the Second Dis
trict he was appointed 20 succeed him
as captain on May 80. 1915. and WAS
later transferred to tho First District
Major Sherry is one of the bcSt-known
and most popular members OF the Po-
lice Department. He is favorahly
known and respected by a great num-
Der of the citizens OF Richmond.
DID NOT KNOW HE
WAS TO DE APPOINTED
Before making his appointment pub
lie. Mayor AInslic cmphatically statcc
TO press representatives that not
person beside himself knew of his APP
pointment OF a Chief of Police to sue
coed Major Sowell. The man who
has been appointed does not know ot
it himself. and none Of my friends
knows OF my proposed action. When
informed by several friends yesterday
that they understood there was TO be
new Chief of Police, and that they
wished TO recommend a certain per-
son. I informed them that my mind
was made up. and that would not
consider any recommendations"
Former Chief OF Police J. r. r.
Sowell was appointed 20 the position
from which he has just been removed
on January II. 1918. to succeed the
late Major Louis Werner. who died
after a short illness. Major Sowell'
was made a serEean; in December. 1901.
During the year OF 1915 he was APP
pointed captain OF the Second Dis
trict.
Before i: became generally known
on the street that Major Sowcll had
been removed as chief OF Police. fine
points Involving legal questions as 10
whether the chiefs dismissal severed
his connection with the Police De-
partmcnt were discussed by lawyers
The general expression was that il
the chief had been indiscrect and in
competent, his removal from Office Was
sufficient punishment. Major Soe:ell
has served in the Police Department
for twenty-seven years and has given
tho best years of his life in the SER
vice OF the department. There have
been former instances OF police chiefs
denoted to sergeancies and continuing
their service with the police force.
ORDER CARRIES NO MENTION
OF DISMISSAL FROM FORCE
At the time Mayor Ainslie announced
TO the newspaper men his decision to
remove Major Sowell from Office he
expressed his opinion that the dismis-
sal carried with II severance OF any
connection with the Police Depart
ment. He then added that il he had
resigned he would be fully entitled TO
receive the pension granted by tn.
Police Benevolent Association. How
ever. since the Mayors order merely
removes him as Chief OF police-and
carries no mention of dismissal from
the forcc-it is hoped by large num-
bers Of people who las, night were
flank ir an expression OF their ooin-
ion that tho Mayor will not be too
harsh in his action.
Members Of the police force ycster-
day gathered in close groups and rock-
ed 10 the aid of their former chief AS
n result a movement is already on
foot TO have the association grant
Major Sowcll the monthly pension In
the event Mayor Ainslie insists upon
an absolute separation from the force.
However. it was authoritatively learn
ed from Captain George l.: Pollock
secretary of the department. that il
the former chief has no status on the
police force. any attempt to grant tho
pension would be directly in contra
vcntion of the rules and regulations
of the association. But he made it
plain that the rules could be changed
or suspended by a three fourths vote
of the members.
All eyes were turned on the Mayors
Office in the City Hail yesterday It
was learned that the Mayor was closet
cd In series of conferences. The
streets began to seethc with rumors
As the hours passed, the number of
n$"spaner reporters in the Mayors
once p"gan 10 increase. Mayor Ainslie
hrSi dictated "A letter to his secretary
winch was believed to be "A statement
Tor the papers lie then called in the
press representatives and discussed hi,
No ADVANCE IN PRICE