Evening star., 1940-06-24
Sect Incident
Called Excuse
ToDrop 0rn1e
Church Group Backs
Suspended Chief
In Rockville Case
BY JACK ALLEN.

BY JACK ALLEN.
The Montgomery County Com
missioners were accused today of
seizing on the failure of county
police to protect the Jehovah Wit
nesses when Rockville mob tore up
their headquarters in Rockville last
week as "subterfuge" to bring
about the dismissal of Police Chief
Charles Orme because he has re-
fused to be dominated by politi-
Clans"
The charge was voiced by the Rev.
w. B. Waters of Rockville, spokes-
man for group of clergymen and
church members comprising an in
formal committee on law enforce
ment, who said he and his colleagues
will ask for immediate reinstate-
ment of the police official.
simultaneously it was learned
that a number of citizens through
out the county are circulating petit
tions demanding that Mr.. Orme be
restored to duty and that ,ney Will
go before the commissioners at
Rockville tomorrow to urge that
this action be taken.
Four Suspended:
Chief Orme and three subordi-
mates, Sergt. Guy L. Jones and Pvts
Leslie Thompson and Charles Peters,
were suspended on Saturday pend
ing a complete investigation into
the failure of police to protect the
Witnesses when the mob entered
their rooms in Rockville Wednesday
night and demanded they salute
the American flag
Asserting that Chief Orme was
at his home in Gaithersburg when
the flag incident occurred and did
not reach Rockville until the mob
had wrecked the Witnesses head
quarters, the Rev. Mr.. Waters de-
clared there is no real basis for
the suspension of the police chief
or to hold him responsible for what
happened"
Mr.. Orme is the first police chief
really to enforce the law in Mont
gomery County," the minister as
serted. He has refused to be dorpi-
mated by the politicians or to al1pw
politics to interfere with the ad-
ministration of his department.
That's where his trouble lies
He added that this stand caused
q rift between Chief Orme and the
commissioners and said the latter
ARE using Wednesday nights oc-
currence as a subterfuge to get rid
Of him."
Private Prayers Held.
The clergyman asserted that
there are widespread reports that
Chief Orme's suspension will be
followed by his dismissal" and he
said his group will move at once to
tntercede.
The Rev. Mr.. Waters revealed that
private prayers for retention of
Chief Orme we're held yesterday.
The church group plans to call upon
Police Commissioner r. Watt Far
mer this afternoon and advocate
immediate reinstatement.
1t also is to appear before the
County Commissioners at their
meeting in Rockville tomorrow and
file q similar request with the full
board.
In addition to the Rev. Mr. Wat
ers, who is pastor of the Faith Tenn
pie Church at Derwood, the clergy
men supporting the reinstatement
move include the Rev. William R.
Elliott of the Grace Methodist
Church at Gaithersburg. the Rev.
Claude A. Brubaker of the Mount
Zion Baptist Church at Alta Vista,
the Rev. Margaret Sewers of the
Church of God at Montrose, the Rev.
G.. D. Kundalh of the Presbyterian
Church at Neallsville, and the Rev.
Fred A. Van Sickle of the Free
Methodist Church at Rockville.
Chief Orme said today that there
was nothing I could have done to
prevent what happened"
Chief Outlines Policy.
Questioned about the accusation
that his suspension resulted from
his refusal to be dominated by
politicians" Chief Orme declared
merely that since have been chief
I have operated the police depart
ment so that it would be of benefit
to the general public and not for any
individuals or groups"
Otho Trundle of Gaithersburg and
E. Brooke Fetty of Takoma Park,
two of the citizens who are expected
to appear before the commissioners
tomorrow, described Chief Orme as
"a victim of circumstances"
Meanwhile, States Attorney Ben
II. Wilkinson, jr, announced that
trial of men arrested in connec-
ton with the demonstration had
been postponed from tomorrow un-
til Thursday night and that defense
counsel would ask for jury trials for
the men. This means that unless
an unforeseen session of the Circuit
Court is called. the men will not be
tried until November. They are
charged with disorderly conduct and
unlawful assembly and released on
bond.
Hearings for three policemen sus-
pended by Acting Chief Roy Bodmer
Saturday on recommendation of the
Board of County Commissioners has
not been set, but probably will not
be held for several days.
Sunday night services of Jehovah's
Witnesses we're held in Washington
last night instead of the regular
meeting place in Rockville. DR.. A. r.
Olson of Silver Spring, county leader
of the sect, said it was decided to