Evening journal., 1921-09-01
DECLARES MAYOR
shields CROOKS
Officer Opens Up When
Executive Selects Private
Detective as Adviser
CHIEF SAYS HE
HAD TO LAY OFF

CHESTER. Pa. Sept. 1.-The
chaotic state Of affairs existing in
the police administration Of Chester.
following the sensational raid last
week when county officials went over
the heads OF the municipal authori-
ties and arrested 191 men~in the al
legged gambling den known as "The
Paddock" reached a crisis when
Mayor Ramsey appointed Edward
II. Bryant. head Of a private detec-
tive agency in Philadelphia, to con-
suit and advise with him in the af-
fairs Of the Department Of Public
Affairs.
Yesterday Mayor Ramsey asked
for the approval OF Council. but
.hree members - Commissioners
White. Ward and Worrilow. pleaded
ignorance Of the necessity OF the
matter. and asked that the question
be threshed out today. They stood
irm in their stand that they had no
interest in the Department OF Public
Affairs. and that it was entirely up
to the Mayor
with the petition OF the Mayor for
an adviser, which is a direct slap at
Chief OF Police Davenport, the lat
ter issued a statement TO the citizens
at large, in which he point-blank
accuses Mayor Ramsey OF being re-
sponsible for the vice conditions OF
Chester. The statement, which
opens up a wide rift between the
executive and his police chief. caus-
ed a sensation upon its publication.
In part, Chief Davenport said:
Gambling conditions have been
laid at the door OF the Public De-
partment and myself. and members
of the department have been accus-
ID OF accepting graft and protection
rom gambling institutions Of this
.ity. I want to say emphatically
hat the Police Department has in
10 way been responsible for these
conditions. The Clark Act. govern
ing third-class cities. states plainly
hat the responsibility for the man
agement Of the Police Department
In cities OF that class rests who'll,
upon the Mayor. and that the chiei
of police is subservient to his orders
and directions.
Gambling conditions as have ex
lsted in this city existed against my
wishes. and existed because 1 wa
instructed by the Mayor Of this cit,
to keep my hands off.
Il do not propose 10 carry thi
load any longer, ana If any man
woman or child has any evidence o.
information against any member o
this department. II IS high time tina
they produce the same before tn
proper authorities, so that thes
rumors which have been afioat 70
the past 10 days may cease. and tn
responsibility fixed where It belongs.
At the meeting Of the Chester Po
lice Association. made up solely o
members Of the Department Of Pub
lie Safety police. the patrolman chal
ienged the public to produce evi
dence Of alleged graft and declare
they have reported every gamblin
house, speak-easy and house OF II
repute many times to the Chief o
Police, who makes his report to hi
superior"
The appointment Of Bryant as ad
wiser to the Mayor is expected to set
tie the fate OF Chief Of Police Deav
export. II is known Bryant and tn
chief are bitter enemies The new
conner. who will serve without pa,
is a resident Of Llanerch, this coun
ty. and has Offices on Penn Square
Philadelphia. He conducted III
raid against "The Paddock" las
week. This precipitated the attac
on the Police Department.