Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-23
PROBE OF POLICE FORCE
IN DANV|LLE THREATENED
Blanket Charges Are Filed
Against Sergeant J. II.
Martin.
Attorney represent a. Several CItl-
zcns Alleges Improper CoiiusiO ON
With NfolRtors of Liquor Inv, by
officer In Question.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch. ]

Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.1
DANVlLLIc. VA. Jan. ga threat
cned police scandal. developing yes
tcrdhy evening with the filing OF
blanket charges against Police Ser
Ecant j. Hannibal Martin. engaged
the forum Of public discussion here
today. Chief Of Police James X. Bell.
who Is Il first cousin OF the accused
hergcnn,. has asked the Danvillc Po-
lice Commission To investigate the
police force generally. and THIS mat
ter VIII come up for action next Wed
ncsday. ut which time tho charges
against the police sergeant are TO be
heard.
Neither Attorney John Thomas
Watson, who IL representing "a group
OF citizens" nor the accused police
sergeant, would have anything fur
thGr to say today. Martin last night
declared that nc had no idea what
the charges would be.
Chief Urges Probe.
The Police Commission had just
gone into session and Chief of po-
lice Bcii has laid Il letter before the
commission. asking that certain ru-
Mors regarding members Of the po-
lice fore. be sifrcd when Attorney
watson appeared. and asked the priv
Nese OF the noor He also asked
That the police sergeant be sent in
ana when he arrived he presented
u r.
ing The foilowing:
Representing certain citizens
whose names viii be disclosed to the
Police Commission when requested, a
charge Of improper collision with
men engaged In violation of the liquor
laws OF the city and State. AS hereby
inado against Sergeant j. ~. Martin"
The paper was signed -. r. Wat
SON" The attorney then asked that
II date be set AT which time &c would
bring forward specific charges. and
the names Of witnesses. Next Wcdncs-
day was the date get. II is doubtful
" the hearing viii be gone into then.
given tho accused man to acuuaint
himself with ,hc nature Of the
charges, and II Is expected. that he
VIII be given an opportunity to pre-
pare his defense.
Probe Ia Sweeping.
Tho Investigation asked by Chief
OF Police Boil IL more sweeping and
asks that the entire police force be
Investigated. 80 as TO clear the at
mosphcrc.
The action taken BY Mr. watson.
while "a surprise to most people. was
not astonishing 10 some. who for sew
oral days had heard reports OF prob
ably sensation. Rumor and gossip
complained Of by the Chief OF Police
had lie inception about month ago.
when Charles y. Frazier. n transfer
car driver, was arrested in the act OF
entering the home Of Walter Lee
with nearly three gallons of liquor.
~ was brought out AT the time that
Police Sergeant Martin was on duty
AZ thc time, yet the chief with secrecy
charged Two policemen on .another
..rgehnt's relief, TO make the arrest,
which ts"y did
Mr.. watson was employed to prose-
cute fyazier by tho Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union and the Law
ana order League. He states. how
ever. that IL pushing the present
CHARGES against Martin he Is sup
ported by no organization. but is
acting purely for group OF c!ti-
z"ns.'
Martin has not been suspcnded the
Police Commission declining to do this
pending more definite charges. Po-
lie" Officer Martin Is about 50 years
OF AK. and has been on tho force for
about fifteen years. his record until
this time being unstained. year or
NOR" ago he WAS n candidate for the
position OF chief OF police. but was
defeated for the post.