Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-12
THE POLICE CO1IHIssIONERs
The Record Of the Municipal
Court of Memphis, and the
Indictment Against the
Metropolitan Police
Board.
beaumont, Simmons and Keno.

nGaautuOMA, SAhkAOnS ana memo,
A few days since a number of cases Of
misdemeanOr ag&inst S. B. Beaumont
and A. P, Burditt, Metropolitan Police
Commissioners, were set for trial il the
Municipal Court Of Memphis, but owing
to an injunction bill being fled in the
| Chaneery Court of this city styled the
/ State OF Tennessee ex rel. A. P. Burditi
/ vs.. Geo. W. Waldrsn, the trial Of these
cases has been postponed for some days
/ by Judge Wsldran, out of courtesy to
the ChRncery Court, awaiting the de-
cision OF the Chancellor upon the shove
styled injunction bill. Notwithstanding
! the fact that Mr.. Beaumont published q
letter counting an investigation into
his official conduct and the affairs Of bis
Office, this injunction bill was filed,
which, after reeiting ex parte charges Of
/ fraud and corruption in Office against
Judge Waldran, and charging that he,
Judge Wsldrsn, was ineligible to Office
when appointed by the Governor, prsys
that an Injunction may issue, pending
the investigation, restraining Judge
WaldTsn from trying these cases, and,
in fact, from exercising the duties of his
Office. Our curiosity led US to look at
the criminal records OF the Municipal
Court. for the purpose, If possible, of
discovering key to this unique pro-
eeeding on the part Of the Commissioners
OF Police or 8 satisfactory solution
70 judicial proceedings that are always
somewhat OF q mystery to those not fur
nished with legal lore. The Chancellor
struck ont all the allegations In the bill
charging fraud and corruption, and ruled
it his fat, that Judge Waldrsn may an
swer, If he SO desired, that portion Of the
bill with regard TO the charge Of being
ineligible to Office st the time of his APP
pointment to the same. The Injunction
wss refused perem ptorily. The motion
for Injunction was argued by counsel last
Friday, and the csse has been held under
sdvisement by the Chancellor upon the
questions, whether he viii grant an in
junction or dismiss the bill for
want Of Jurisdiction. After giving
above a correct resume of the proceeding
thus far, we return to the records Of the
Municipal Court for the solution of the
judicial problem. There are twelve in
dictments against Charming Richards,
Police Commissioner, for wilful neglect
TO make report required by law"
Twelve indictments against Charming
Richards, "for receiving salary as an
officer before making report as required
By law" Ten indictments against A.
P. Burditt, Police Commissioner, 4" for
wilful neglect to make official report as
required by law" Twelve Indictments
agsinst A. P. Buriitt, Police Commits
sioner, " for receiving salary IS an officer
before making report as required by law"
Twelve indictments against P. S. ST.
mons, captain Of Metropolitan Police,
GO for wilfuI neglect to make report re-.
CURED by law" Twelve indictments
against ?. S. Simons, "fOr receiving
salary as an officer before making report
required by law Twelve indictments
against J. K. Brown, sergeant Of Metro
politan Police, "for wiIful neglect to
make report required by law" Twelve
indictments against J. K. Brown, for
" receiving salary as an officer before
making report as required by laW.r
Thirteen indictments against s. B.
Beaumont, Metropolitan Police Com
missioner" for wilful neglect to make
report as required by law" Thir-
teen indictments against s. B.
Beaumont, " for receiving salary as an
officer before making the report required
by law" An indictment OF a more Sc
rious character appears on the records
against s. B. Beaumont, one charging
not simply neglect Of duty, but pslpable
official corruption. 1t is styled the State
Of Tennessee We. S. B. Beaumont and P.
s. Simons. This important document
charges " that Beaumont and Simons
did unlawfully and frsudulently license,
agree, and have an understanding with,
one Thomas J. Dale, by which it was
then and there implied, agreed, and
understood between the parties that
said Dale, for q consideration and pay
ment Of 800 down, and q further sum Of
500 per week thereafter, should have
the privilege Of keeping keno-room in
the city Of Memphis, and that the above
contract should continue to be in force
so long as the said Dale shogld be uUGis-
turked by said Police Commissioner and
Captain of Police, or by their direction,
and il he was so disturbed the same
should be taken as forfeiture Of the
above agreement. And the said Beau
mont agreed to neglect, fail, and refuse
to prosecute, arrest, appear or give evil
dence against said Dale for unlswfully
keeping and maintaining certain keno
room for playing games Of hazard for
money, and that the said Simons upon
said agreement received the 500 down
and a like sum OF one hundred dollars
per week for eight weeks thereafter"
Another indictment appears OF record
against said S. B. Beaumont, for per-
hitting said Dale to continue violating
law after It had come to the knowledge
of said Beaumont-be being a msgis
trste, and having full information and
knowledge Of such proceedings,
been present in said keno room
while said gambling was being carried
on By said Dale, al Ia violation Of law,
and against the peace and dignity Of the
State.
Such are the charges preferred against
the men who are supreme ia power over
Us. We propose to make no comments
on them now, but simply to present them
70 thu -F1blie g6za