Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-21
Accompanying this was the following:

Accompanying G1llS Was Guo lOllOWIHs'
RESIGNATION OF OFFICER sOUTHARDs.
STAUNToN, July Sd, 1875.
Hon. YIN. L. BaIthis, Mayor of the City of
Stau11ton.
Dear Sir :-Deeming it improper for Inc
to act longer as a policeman OF the city of
Staunton, hereby tender my resignation
as such to take effect Immediately. This
communication is addressed to you because
L suppose you are the proper officer to
whom my resignation should be rendered.
If, however, you are not, please be good
enough to send this communication to the
City Council at its next session which body
will. in that event consider the resignation
as rendered to it.
In any event [ hope you may be able to
consider yourself as authorized under the
existing ordinances of the city to make
such ali appointment as will keep up the
police force to the requirements of the SER
vice without further duty from me:
Respectfully,
H. O. SoUTHARDs.
RESIGNATION OF OFFICER 7. HoUNIHAN.
TO the Mayor and Common Council of the
City Of Stanton:
Sirs Il hereby tender my resignation as
second policeman of this city, to which
place was appointed on the first day of
July. 1876.
deem it due in justice to myself to state
that when I made application 1 was un-
ware Of the existence Of the ordinance
which disqualified me from holding the
position. This communication l address
to you, thinking you are the officer to whom
my resignation should be rendered if,
however, you are not, please be kind
enough to send this communication to the
City Council at it's next session, which
body in that event will consider the resig-
nation rendered to it.
In any event hope you may be able to
consider yourself authorized under exist
ing ordinances of the city to make such ap-
pointments as will keep the police force up
to the requirements of the service without
futher duty from me, am,
Respectfully, yours,
TIMOTHY HoUNIHAN.
Staunton, July Sd, 1876.
These communications were followed by
a motion from MI. Burke to proceed with
the election Of police to fill the vacancies
named by the Mayor.
Mr.. Evans opposed going into an cleo
ton on the ground of the absence Of sew
eral members of the Council there were
nine present-a larger number than the
average attendance for three years has
been) He also stated that there might be
other matters in conn ection with the force
that members might desire to be consid-
cred. To-day, he said, the Chief of Police,
Capt. Peck, was not a policeman.
President Catlett also thought that full
Council would be better. He also thought
there were other questions to be consider
ed, one of which he thought was all in
crease of the pay of the police which he
thought was inadequate.
The election was then postponed by the
following vote;
Ayes-Messrs. Catlett, Powell, Evans,
Bagby and WITT.
Noes-Messrs. Todd, Burke, Larew and
Byers.
Mr.. Todd then moved to repeal the 21st
section of the ordinance governing the
qualifications of policemen-the section re-
curing policemen not to be over so years
of age.
Mr.. Evans opposed the consideration OF
the motion.
Mr.. Todd pressed the motion. He said
the present police force was active and eff
Gent, and he should be glad to see them
all retained, but this motion did not affect
that question, He thought the provision
a useless one, and therefore would like to
see it repealed.
The consideration of the motion was
postponed until the next meeting.
THE PRESENT FORCE.
The force, as it is now constituted, con-
sists of Fl. H. Peck, chief; M. Hounihan,
LIST officer; Jno. T. Pritchard. I'd officer,
and r. F. Fletcher, Sd officer. 1t is
matter of comment that these gentlemen
have performed their duties actively, in
telligently, considerably and faithfully
since their appointment. They are seen in
every part of the city day and night, and
as long as they are efficient as they are
now, it would be a loss to the city to dis
place them. We believe that the general
desire of the people is for the etention of
all of them.