The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-21
THE WArcYMEN V1Nn1c on

HE WATCHMEN VINDICAT On
Thursday last, Constable James Mcdowell while
at the Mayors Court, jestingly remarked that he
came very nigh being crippled that morning, and
on being asked how the accident occurred, replied
that he sat up the night before with Constable Keel
ing. at Wheeey's hotel, and that feeling quite un
well, started home about o'clock in the morning
On getting into the yard, and finding the back gate
barred and locked, he had to arouse Mr.. Wheeley
who came down, to let him pass through the front
door. When the two reached the bar-roon, thew
stopped and took drink. Immediately after this
Wheeley opened the front door to let him pass into
the street, and as he about crossing the thresh
old, two watchmen, who were sitting in the door
and asleep, as he thought, tumbled in and almost
broke his legs This report soon reached the ear
OF the Mayor, who being the head of the Police, de-
termined to enquire into the matter, and il the
charge proved true, TO expel the watchmen who
had been guilty of such gross violations OF duty as
to sleep on their posts
Yesterday morning John A. Perrin and Alexan-
der Avis, the watchmen seen by Mcdowell, were
called before the Mayor, and the witness sworn
Mcdowell remarked that he had only mentioned
the circumstance as a joke, and with no intention
of complaining to the Mayor, for he did not know
who the watchmen were. He then went on to saw
that when Wheeley opened the door. two watch
men were sitting in it, and that as he was about to
step out they raised up, and startled him 30 much
with his spur. He then passed into the street and
remarked to them that they had sought good re.
treat, as the rain was then falling, He would not
say on his oath that the men were asleep in the
door and did not mention it last Thursday to in.
lure them, but merely spoke of it in ajocular man.
ner. ss sesa .lstsssl sss145 s.fsf d. ustsat5 Ea
Lieut.. Wheat testified that on Friday, Mr.. Nc.
Dowell, told him the men were certainly asleep: but
this Mcdowell denied lsff4a y gas1s5l
!, The Mayor remarked that Mr. Perrin had ALWAYS
been spoken of in the highest terms as a watchman
and as Mr.. Mcdowell was not prepared to charee
him with being asleep, he should discharge the
parties. He would take occ aston to say that twas
Just as reprehensible IN a watchman TO be caupht
asleep to his duties 10 the night time as IL
was for sentinel at military camp to desert his
post; and If proved upon him, it would amount II,
confscation of his place. He knew that the duties
of the Watch We're extremely arduous, and there.
fore he had done all in his power TO render them
comfortable; but il was essentially necessary that
all who enlisted with the city to fill that post should
be faithful to the trusts imposed in them. The
Council had fixed what il thought fair salary for
these services and the city expected that those who
undertook them would perform them INF Perrin
desired the officers sworn and examined in his be-
halt, and remarked that If the Mayor Thought he
had been asleep while on dufy, he did not wish ID
continue in the citys service.l The Mayor con
cluded by ordering and directing ssthat no Watch-
man shall go into any house in the night time nm
less on official duty, and that any violation of this
order, ifdetected, win lead to discharge
In justice to the Watchmen, we will repeat that
Mcdowell testified that when he first spoke of tha
affair. he did it in joking manner without INV n.
tention of its getting to the public ear. md
when OATH he declared that he was not prens rad
to charge them with being asleep in Mr.. Wheeley's
door. n .4.4,4s...I {