Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-08-27
lCOMAlUNICATED.

In response, and to satisfy the curiosity OF
"Jowler," " in Saturd days Gazette, please pub
lish the following proceedings of the Sd Ward
Club, at their meeting on the 9th inst. .2
To ". ". Rar1o4y. Chairman, and Members Of
the Lincoln Third Ward Republican cru
GENTLEMEN-Your Committee appointed TO
Inquire into nets rsntog tie Morton
coored citizen of the United States, and resi-
dent f this city, have the honor to report the
following as The result of their Investigation
LIST That, without warrant, or precept haylng
been served upon the said Morton, Samuel N;
Aubinoe, q police constable of this city, called
on said Morton, and demanded, as fine i'm
posed for keeping a dog within the city limits,
contrary to law, the sum of four dollars, the
payment Of whfch!was refused, and said Morton
summoned to appear before his honor, Hugh
Latham, Mayor, to answer the charge Of keei-
ing dog, in violation of city laws.
I'd. That, in obedience to said summons, said
Morton DID, on Friday, July l9, 1867, appear
before said Hugh Latham, accompanied with
evidence to prove that he did not own, keep or
harbor dog, either in accordance with, or IN
violation, Of city law. and so informed his hon
or, the Mayor, who, dscarding the proftered
testimony, demanded the fne and SAID Morton
Il having the means to comply with the de-
mand, was, without the form of trial, benefit
Of counsel, or right of defence, deprived of his
liberty, and committed to the Migrants prison.
Sd. That while in the custody OF Samuel ~
Aubinoe, and en- route to said prison, Thomas
Deyaughn, q friend Of Morton, offered watch
as security for the payment Of said tine which
was received by said Aubinoe, and Morton re-
leased, after which he applied to Captain s. T.
Lee for redress of wrongs, and by him INFORM
ed that the law was clear, and therefore the
fine would have TO be paid before the watch
could be recovered, which, however, was after
wards surrendered by said Aubnoe to It's own
er, without compliance with the Mayors de-
mand or further molestation
Your Committee would further report that
they have examined the city laws relating to
dogs, and find that the most extreme penalty
thereof does not exceed the forfeiture of the
life 0 the animal for q non payment OF taxes
assessed, or fines within the power of the Mayor
to impose They would also state that said
Morton is peaceable citizen pursuing his avo-
cation, industriously, to earn an honest llyel-
hood for himself, and those dependent upon his
care and are fully satisfied from the nature Of
the ev dence elected in the investigation, that
thu whole transaction was nothing more or less
than an attempt, by brutal force, of an assumed
legal authority, to extort from said Morton the
amount demanded, and, therefore, suggest such
action in the premises as you, in your wisdom,
may deem sufficient to prevent Il recurrence
Of similar course Of conduct
Very respectfully, we have the honor to be
your obediens servants ... ...
Samuel McIlroy moved to adopt the report,
which motion was amended by W. u. Penn,
who moved to strike out the word mayor, Il"
and insert so called mayor" which being car
RED the report was adopted
ONE OF THE CLUB
Alexandria, August 81, 1867.