Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Police Chief,
3 Policemen
Suspended Here
Ten Arrests Follow Raid
On Sect Commissioners
Meet Delegations

On Wednesday evening, June 10,
members of religious sect known
as Jehovah's Witnesses held
meeting on the second floor over a
grocery store at 222 East Mont
gomery avenue, across from the
old post Office building.
About 8 p. m. that evening
Montgomery County police were
noTified that crowd was gather
ing in front Of the building. Police
men l.. B. Thompson and Charles
Peters answered the call and found
a group of young men carrying
an American flag. At the insist
ance of the crowd, Officer Thomp-
son went upstairs and asked MEM
bers of the sect if they would come
down and salute the American
tag. Replying that it was against
their religious tenets, they remain
ed in the building while Officer
Thompson returned to the street.
Storming past the officers the
crowd entered the meeting and
again asked the members to salute
the flag. Upon a negative reply
the crowd broke up the meeting,
tore up literature, smashed phono-
graph records, overturned tables,
damaging the property to an esti-
mated extent Of about $500.
According to eye witnesses no
one was injured. Sergt. Guy
Jones, who appeared on the scene
after the crowd entered the build
ing, took two members Of the sect.
Fowler Stevens, Rockville, and
Bernard L. Rowe, into temporary
protective custody. They were rev
leased after the mob dispersed.
Claims were made by the mem
bers of the sect that the police did
nothing to prevent the riot while
no arrests were made that evening.
Chief of Police Charles M. Orme,
who lives in Gaithersburg, and
who was notified that a crowd was
gathering by Sergt. Jones, APP
peared on the scene later. But the
crowd had wrecked the hall be-
fore he arrived.
The following morning, Thurs
day, June 20, the president Of the
board of County Commissioners, 7.
Earle Hampton, asked Chief Of
Police Orme for a report on the
riot. Failing to receive one a
special meeting of the Commits
sioners was held Saturday, June
20.
At this time Chief Orme was
questioned closely about the affair,
both before and events following.
Upon unanimous consent Of the
five commissioners, 7. Earle Hamp-
ton, Robert w. Farmer, John z.
Oxley, Walter T. Johnson and Q.
w. Robey, suspension was ordered
for Chief Orme and the three sub
ordinates, namely Sergt. Jones and
officers Thompson and Peters.
At the same hearing Orme pre-
sented the commissioners with a
report Of the disturbance given by
Sergt. Jones, saying that he, orme,
had been unable to get it, the re-
port, earlier. Chief Orme made
no comment as to why he himself
had not reported the incident at
the commissioners request.
On Friday evening, June FL,
Chief Orme arrested Buck Corn
well, Jack Maddox, Goldsboro Bur-
rows, John e. Barrett, George
Mullican, Joseph Fisher, James
Foster, Benjamin A. Burroughs,
Roscoe Cope and Raymond Davis.
These men were charged with dis
orderly conduct and unlawful as
sembly. Each put up a$26O bond.
Following the dismissal Of the
chief and three subordinates, petit
tons were circulated for immedi-
ate Reinstatement. Appearing
before the commissioners Tuesday
evening, June rs, in behalf OF
Orme and the three policemen were
a number of clergymen and citi-
zens.
At the meeting Of the Commits
sioners Saturday, Sergt. Roy Bod
mer was appointed acting chief.
A number Of County ministers
and residents appeared before the
county commissioners Tuesday,
June IS on behalf Of Chief Orme
and urged his immediate re-