Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-06
SWEET STAR WITNESS
AGAINST CHIEF SHERRY
Prosecution Depends on His Story
Of Instructions to Pro-
tcct Gamblers.
DESCRIBES rnoLRooM RAIDS
Former Leader Of Purity Squad Says
II Was Rule Of Department to Pro-
tect Policy, and That Sometimes
He weakened" His Testimony.


I tect Policy, and That Sometimes
| He weakened" His Testimony.
I When counsel for both the prosecu-
! tion and the defense agreed to submit
without argument tho case of Chief Of
! Police c. A. Sherry yesterday evening
at o'clock, Mayor Ainslic's official
investigation of the Police Department
came to;a close. With the conclusion
Of the Sherry trial the last echo of the
police scandal has been heard, with the
! exception of the decisions Of Mayor
Ainslie which are impatiently awaited.
Mayor Ainslic has given no iitima-
t!on as to when he will make his de-
cisons in the cases of Captain George
T.. Pollock. Detective Sergeant L. G.
Bcrtucci and Ma jor e. A sherry. How
ever. when pressed for an answer. he
admitted that he would reach de-
! cision in three or four day Discus
sior in Richmond is rife as TO the
probable decision OF Mayor Ainsiie in
the cases for which he has held public
hearings for the last two weeks
When decisions in these cases have
/ been rendered the last o. the grand
! jury report OF the police scandal will
/ have been heard. Not single one OF
/ the policemen indicted by the grand
I jury was convicted. all Of them were
acquitted by trial juries in the Hus-
! tinEs Court.
SHERIsi'S CASE Defends
ON SWEET'S TESTIMONY
/ Tho carly conclusion of the sherry
case was pleasant surprise TO even
the best informed Every factor yes
terday united III pushing tho case for
ward at top speed. and by continuous
session beginning at 3 o'clock yeSter-
day afternoon tho trial was finished in
one day.
| Although devoid OF outstanding tea
lures tho testimony of EN- Policeman
Harry r Sweet. formerly leader Of the
purity" squad was the feature Of the
trial yesterday. Sweet was the only
star witness for the Commonwealth
and upon him the prosecution depend
ed to prove its charge against Major
Sherry. sweets testimony was not
corroborated by subsequent evidence
except in minor particulars
The manner OF Sweets bearing
and not his testimony was surprise
TO every person who crowded into the
courtroom. EeNigerent at all times.
threatening on occasions and unques-
GrillinG DISCRIMINATION Of Harry NJ
Smith. leading counsel for the defense,
Sweet proved to be most astonish-
! inS witness.
THREATENS THAT HE
WILL NOT TELL ANYTHING;
! From the be besinnins. when he threat
ened Mayor Ainslie that if you do
not let me tell all in my own way
! 7 all
sumed the offensive and kept the Of
fens!ve the whole time ne occupied the
stand. which was almost two hours.
Rebellious a the start. he refused to
be guided by the Mayor. by counsel
| for the prosecution or by counsel for
| the defense. and although frequently
overruled by Mayor Ainslie persisted
and did testify in regard to matters
that had been objected to by attorneys
| for the defense and sustained by the
! Mayor.
When Sweet took the stand Attorney
George Bryan, for the prosecution,
asked Sweet to tell all that he knew
IN regard to .e specification. l. and
3. which charged Major Sherry with
being under the malign influence OF
proprietors Of illegal gaming" and
with conniving and encoura ging illegal
gambling houses and with tipping" off
suspected violator OF the law. At
this time Mr. Smith asked that speci-
| hcations 4, and he stricken from
the charges because of their general
nature. Mayor Ainslie sustained the
objection of Mr.. Smith. and ordered that
specifications ( and be stricken from
the charges.
ALPHABETICALLY DENIES
CHARGE MADE ny STRAIN
The testimony Of Sweet who is now
in the employ of the Adams Express
Company as a private detective, fol-
| lows:
"All I know about Strain is that
Strains affidavit was read to me In
the grand jury room AS 10 my going
to Acca with MIN to set some liquor
and that the liquor was brought III
and sold and got 500 as my STARE,
that story is a lie.
II don't doubt but that another TO.
lice officer was with him. The whole
thing IS frame-up TO get me in iail
it was framed by Strain, Bosqrett,
Frank Gentry and Sherry"
In attempting TO explain how Ma
jor Sherry got sore" and had 1t ir
for him." Sweet related raids directed