The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-07-25

7
Night Watch, that poll be opened In each !
ward In order that the people may elect bin, 70 I
spectfulIy report
Thatihe Charter docs not provide for 6iirg
vacancy in the Office of Captain Of he Night
Watch by election. They aisD report that
there are only 457 signatures Iosstla pe,son. and
Ut these Al the As1ss : q 4sSss-s and
two signed twice, that there were only "A vo
ters on the petition, aud If there more, the
committee are Of opinion that II would not justify
them In recommending 10 the COuncii TO change
their action. They the Tefore respectfully re-
commend TO the Council the rejection of the pray
or Of the petitioners.
that the citizens may fully understand sheir sotion
In this cese, that the communica; of the Mayor
and the action Of The Council on this subject to-
geher with this report, be published twice In each
Of the daily newspapers OF the city.
Respectfully submitted,
BILL,
Chairman Committee of Police.
Richmond, july slst, 1864.
The report was read and adopted by the Couh-
ell by ayes and noes, as follows, TO wit
Ayes. = Messts Ciop;on, trutchaeid, Denoon,
Gritiln, Glazebrook, Hill, Randolph, Richardson,
Stokes and ScOtt-l0.
Noes.-MessIs Epps and Waiker-2.
AW MORTON, Chamberlain,
aud CLERK OF Council.
tHAMBERLAIs's OFFIcE,l
Eichmond, May -, 1864.
At a meeting of the Council, he'd the 18th
day OF June, 1854, the fOl'oaing communication
was received from the Mayor OF The city and read,
TO wit: .,
RICHMOND, June 3, 1864
To ne President and Members ef ths Cfy C5uncsi:
Very early In the morning on the lin May, 1864,
when a very large Yankee force, under the
| mand of Gen Sheridan, was very near the city of
Richmond, and when every citizon who could bear
arms was called upon TO do SO, | received mes
l sage from the Secretary at War, desiring
at his Office. Immediately called upon him when
l he requested me 10 have assembled upon the Cepl-
tol square, as speedily "a | could, all the police
force under my control capable of bearing arms,
l and to keep them uroa the Capitol Square. With
this request promptly complied by having the
| whole night and day po Ice ass mbied at the
| City Hall, when told them the object of my
| convening them. and where they were to be sta
toned, under my authority and there to remain
l until discharged by me. They were then posted In
the Capitol Square as a distinct organic aiion. Un
| that day, while there assembled, and time
| when the square was filled with a large coacourse
of persons, think about two O'Clock In the day,
l was called on by John Green, in the City Hall,
| and asked whether | suffered card playing In the
I Capitol square by the police. [ was surprised
| at the question, and asked him what he meant,
| when was ,Od that some Of the night wateh
| wefe there playing cards. 1 Immediately ordered
| him TO 60 and order them 10 discontinue It,
| that such conduct was u disgrace 10 themselves
| and to the city. heard no more OF 1t until a
later hour IN the day, when was Informed that
| q controversy had taken place on the square be e.
| tween Captain Peasants and Mr. Seat, upon
J | the subject Of the w1ich paying cards on the
| Sauare. sent for Mr. Seal 10 know what 1t ineani
. | when Mr. S.al came before me and was asked sha,
was the difficulty between himself and taptrin
, l Pleasants he Informed me that Captain Peasants
had approaced him upon th0 Square aud said 10
him that he understood he ("eal was going 10 pre-
sent him before tho Grand Jury for playing cards
upon The Square, TO which ne, tsenl to use nj:
| own words, sali jocuiarly: Yes, he was {; and
that the s1ay had forbid their playing csxds ca
| the square." At which Captain Peasants re-
. l piled with excitement: " You may take my com
7 | pliments TO the Mayor and tell him | will play
cards whenever d--d please and wherever Id
please, In spite of Mr. Mayor or MIR Seal" Thti
| was Mr. Seals first statement To me in my uppe
| office. This statement was reafirmed by Mr. Sea
: | on oath in the Mayors court room, where thi
matter publicly inquired into. except Er Sea
| then said he couldn't say positively thar hs Gap
!. | Pieasants) used the word - damn" | deem /
! proper to say that Captain Pieasants denied thi
statement In the Mayors court, but did not deni
| his playing cards on the Square. And as neve
had the slightest reason 10 doubt the integrity o
O veracity of Reuben Seal, | believe this state
4 ment, and should do IL uuconfrmed, but one Q
= | the watchmen present tJames Kennedy has ir
- l formed me that he heard the same language.
II Mr. stokes, Of your body, and MIR Samuel Ellis
II | the Clerk oi the Ma kei, were present and Wi.
= ne ,sed much oil this most un0f1 ccr Ike cOudue
the part Of one OF the police officers of this ell
e | and the Chairman of the COMMITTEES OF Police al
n | tended the exa mination before me, and dOub
less correct any error that / may nave fallen iBi
In my recollection of the facts proved, all of whc
| are not stated here, especially the siaiemens mad
e | by Mr. Ellis, whom desire the Council to hay
% | before them, or any committee 10 whom tney ma
n think puoper confer tais subject, IL the CouHc
a | deem Ii necessary. This conduct OF tspt Piess
, ants r, quires comment from me- except 10 sa
that IL Is not tine first instance OF insubordInati0
y that In duces TO believe confidently that, a
Capt Pieasants is elected by the people rs well q
Il | mys.if he believes that be Is not under my cor
: trol OF authority, either never havrg read or er
tirely forgotten the charter or the Police o'dinane
,t of The city.
newly amended charter, page So TO the I:h sectie
y OF the ordnance concerning police, where 1t Wi
be found that IL Is the duty of every polics ofic'
TO prevent, Instead of ofcommAtins, offences again
70 the laws Of the Commonwealth and ordinances
| the city And as 1 am the head of the police
| the city, deem IL my fmpert0us duty 10 prevc
a the recurrence OF 81 dissr2ceiul scene as q
- playing OF cards upon the Capitol fquare by b,
part OF the police Of this city, especially upon
u | an occasion thie, aud TO cause the witness
= who saw 1t to be summoned TO attend to give ey
, dence before the next grand jury having jurisdi
| ton over the subject.
!. Affer the hearing of this matter, and the exsmi
a nation of these proofs, ordered the discharge
~ ~ the six watchmen engaged In the card psayii
10 tber O. and said had no authority 10 remove
l0 susnsnd Cant Peasants, I would report him al
> his conduct 10 the Council for their action
was al the time suggested to me by gentiee.
standing by that these men were under Tue eesi
that they were there under military authority, Al
| not mine, and whether might not suspend u
cution OF that Judgment and let the execute
es of 10 await the sciion of the Councii How the
b, | men, OF any Of them, got the impression whit
D. then for lho first time came 10 my knowledge
ed know not. II could not have been from anViht
Il I said os did but Yielded 10 the suggestion Of
10 gentleman. aud have not yet executed the ord'
AZ but shall do iI; for, upon mature II ttsction,
Az not zee how this can justify OF Mitigate this Gro
q ou.rpge OF law, order and deeeney, were they .
g. der that belief.
r. hays lust seen Nr Samuel Ellis upon
ga strsets fabout ten O'Clock to day. and though
Thought had a distinct recollection OF 1t, ask
him 10 repeat to me what he said when this ~
- fleet was under my examination In the Mayo
on court room, and realrmins what he then said Il
I'D ne there w-Cspt Peasants greatly excited, q
n using angry language 10 Mr. seei, and handi
him kiiis) his musket, In violent and am
a. | manner said to Mr. seai that he was then res
:, | 10 set,ellhe matter with him, there anywh
q. ejse and that such the conduct Of Mr. Pi
~ sants that he lMr Eilis) there declared ikat
c. ought 70 be taken aud carried 10 tho watch hou
n la this ePiRi0n fully concur with Mr. Ellis, ah'
ne was the duty Of every poiics oihcer present so
O. have done.
ho Isuhmit THE eoaduet 10 yoar honorable hodl
~ take such action upon IL you In yanr lsdxsas
"a ! deem proper. l. gives me pleasure 60 m
uu this report, bat nay ofAciai duty commands mt
ai0 do Il.
Ihave the honor 10 be-,
IL Very respectfully,
he Your ohedient servant,
,st Josnrn nAyo, Aayo
- tt was then resolved BY the Coanci. that Jas
~ D Pieasanin, Captain Of the Ntghtwstcb, es ~
~ moved from his olAce for uisccnduet - an ON 4
- la.s. iy 25 =