Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-11-08
EXCITEMENT IN BALTIMORE.
The Authority of the State Defied
police commissioners Difiiculty;

Police Commissioners Dlmcuty
rto ovants which have occurred within the
mast few DAYS ia Baltimore cannot fail to at
trrocf tbe attention. and some of them the re-
nrobation of all right-thinking men, not only
In Maryland but throughout the country. A
Police Board which has for years been notori-
ously acting in the most partisan and aroltrary
spirit was, after a calm investigation OF the
charges preferred against 1t, removed ny The
Governor of the Stale, IN. the exercise OF pow
er clearly delegated to him by the law; Inc
necessity for the prompt removal OF Inc late
Commissioners was apparent TO all VINO unoer-
stood the fraudulent character OF the eiecrons
held under their auspices, and who desired 10
see some protection afforded 10 the voters VINO
participated in the election OF Tuesday Mes
srs. Hindes and Wood, however, had determln-
ed TO remain in Office, if possible, until they
could. through Ubiquitous proceedings, similar
10 those they have heretofore successfully prac-
ticed. install few more members oil their po-
litical faction in lucrative and important pla-
ces. They therefore fortified the station houses,
and backed by partisan Court resorted to eve
nv LEGAL subterfuge and fiction that cunning
could devise in order TO maintain their position
until the election was over.
On Friday morning Messrs. Valiant and
Young. the Police Commissioners appointed
bv Governor Swami to take the place of Wood
and Hindes. deposed for official misconduct,
called at the Office provided for the Police Com
missioners. but could obtain no interview with
Them because it was alleged they had adjourned
for the dav. There was no disposition on the
mart of the new Commissioners TO proceed other
than in legal way, and they took no further
step until Saturday morning, when they again
made an effort to obtain the desired interview
About 10 o'clock on Saturday morning they
arain made an effort to see the deposed Com
missioners. and when they made application
at the cate were admitted within the yard
On reaching the door they were met by George
w TAYLOR. the clerk of Messrs. Wood and
Hirdes. who informed them that no interview
with his employers could be had, and nothing
further of a verbal character would be heard
He at Che same time informed them that acom-
municatou in writing would be received by
Messrs. Wood and Hindes, and the Commits
soncrs left amid the grOans and misses OF those
who adhere to the cause of the deposed, aud
who had gathered in large numbers about The
City Hall.
The Commissioners then went down to the
Office of William Schey, Esq, where the ne
cesSary formal demand was preparedand placed
in their hands to be delivered to Messrs. Wood
and Hindes. On reaching Holiday street they
were again admitted into the yard, and were
met at The door by Mr.. Taylor, who received
the communication and said it would be prompt
lv answered. The Commissioners then went to
their Office, whittier Sheriff Thomson wascalled.
TO preserve the peace of the city it was evil
e ,oOlina forca 1,ac naa1p1
and The Sheriff proceeded to summon posse
for that purpose, awaiting, however. replyto
the demand of the Commissioners on Messrs.
Wood and Hindes.
After the refusal of Hindes and Wood to see
the newly appointed Commissioners, Messrs.
Valiant and Young issued an order to the Po-
lice--thus entering upon the discharge OF their
official duties.
About tnis time, George c. Maund, Esq, the
States Attorney, appeared before Judge Bond,
and said he felt it his duty as CONSERVATION oil
the peace, TO ask for the arrest of Messrs. Va
liant and Young, that the peace of the city
should be preserved.
Judge Bond in response to this request, or
dered The arrest, and upon their refusal to give
bail committed them to Jail. Subsequently
Mr.. Thomson, the Sheriff. was committed upon
similar frivolous and groundless pretext.
Throughout the whole day the most intense
excitement prevailed, but there was no serious
disturbance of the peace. As soon as the Com
missioners and Sheriff had been committed,
MessGs. Latrobe and Horwitz, two ofther coun-
sci, waited upon The Hon. James L. Bartol, one
of the Judges of the Court of Appeals, who
was present at his home in Baltimore, and pro-
cured the writ of h0beaS corpus, which was
made returnable Monday morning at o'clock,
before the Judge i'll the room of the Superior
Court. The writ was directed to Thomas w.
James. Warden of the Baltimore city Jail, d.
recting him to produce the bodies of Thomas
w. Valiant, James Young and William Thorn
son. and have them before the Court at the "a
bove hour.
Early on Monday morning large crowd as
sembled at the Court House in anticipation of
the hearing of the case. However, the priso-
ners were not brought into Court. advantage
having been taken by the Warden and other
radical officials of provision of the Code al
lowing three days to those upon whom a writ
is served for the production of those in custody
After a good deal of discussion, the Judge
appointed nine o'clock Thursday morning, to-
day, for the hearing of the return. In the
meantime MeSSrs. Young, Valiant and Thorn
son, must be incarcerated in the City Jail,
whilst the deposed Commissioners, and recus-
ant judges of Election and other officers con-
duct the election.
Gems Grant and Candy were in the City,
having at their command number Of troops
to prevent any very serious collision between
the opposing political parties In the City.