National Republican., 1877-07-13
THE POLICE REFORMERS.
DETEC7TpE MILLER'S RET7CENCE TO
BE INVESTIGATED.

BE INVESTIGATED.
What the Board Thinks About the Recent
Trial of Gsmblers-The Charges Against
Lieut.. Austin Are Dismissed, and the Gal
liant Conduct OF an Onicer is Recognized. =.
The Police Board met last night A com.
munication from Mr. s. r. Morgan referred 10
| the engineer by the District Commissioners,
and by his recommendation to the Police
Board, was received. The communication
complained that cows ran at large about square
l0o and did injury to the parking. 1t was in
dorsed In the engineers office that no damage
had been done. 1t was proposed at frst to re-
fer 1t to the Board of Health, so as to keep IL
going its rounds, but 1t was finally referred to
Major Richards
Ex-Oficer John T. Mitchell asked that pay
be allowed him for the month Of June, or that
the board take back his new uniform. which
he had been compelled to pay for, but had not
used. Officer Mitchell was dismissed about
the time that the force was equipped with new
uniforms The request was refused.
An opinion from Attorney Riddle In refer
euce to the proper signatures to applications
for licenses was submitted. As the Office of
| District assessor has been abolished Mr. Riddle
was OF opinion that the signature of the super.
| intendcnt Of assessments should be appended
| to the applications.
communication was received from Mr.
| John Mctirann, owner ofthe building occupied
as the Seventh precinct station, In reference
| to the improvements about to be made in the
building, and the secretary was directed to
| draw up an agreement for the purpose of ef.
fecting lease of the building for five years
at rental Of $50 per month.
Rev. NJ. b. Fortune, pastor Of st. Dominics
church, thanked tho board, by letter, for the
detail Of policemen at st. Dominc's picnic at
Geisboro', on the 4th inst by whose presence
order was preserved.
The monthly report Of the operations Of the
detective corps was resolved, showing that
hfty-three arrests were made. Lieutenant
Vernon, the officer In charge, made B, Dctcc-
tive Clarvoe 3, Miller l2, CoOmes H. McDeyitt
o. McElfresh o and voss 4. There were n
robberies reported, involving loss of 81, $50,
of which S}93.65 was recovered.
RECOGNIZING MERrroRIous SERVICE.
A communication from Major Richards was
read, commencing the gallantry and meritori-
Gus conduct Of Private Officer Slattery, Of the
flith precinct, on the morning of the 9th
Instant, when he discovered a gang of bur
glars in the rear Of st. Patrick's church. and
with great courage approached them, and
after a chase, succeeded in capturing one of
them. The Major recommended that Officer
Slattery be promoted to the rank Of sergeant
rs soon rs q vacancy occurs
The complaint preferred by David Bur-
roughs against Officer Harper, alleging that
the officer had assaulted him and used i'm
THE CHARGES AGAINST LIEUT.. AUSTIN DIS.
MISSED
Mr.. Britton, from the committee on trials
made report recommending the dismissal of
the charges preferred by Mr.. William Dickson
against Lieut.. Austin, of the Fifth precinct
The report reviewed the occurrences at the
Chesapeake restaurant on the night of June 10,
saying that the officers were forcibly resisted
when examining the premises TO see IL lquor
hptn al1 md that tknra
fight. Mr.. Finley finally submitted TO arrest
under protest. In the testimony Mr.. Dickson
held that when he endeavored to accompany
Mr.. Finley into the station as his friend tho
door was slammed in his face. When he en-
tered he was especially singled out, assailed
with boisterous and ungentlcmanly language |
and forcibly and unlawfully elected, without
regard for his rights as q citizen.
Mr.. Finley held that Mr. Dickson was act |
ing the part of n peace maker, and. on the |
other hand the Lieutenant held that Mr. |
Dickson was helping Mr.. Finley In his resist |
ance. When the crowd reached the station
house the officers passed In with the prisoner, |
shutting all other parties out. In the opinion
Of the committee Mr.. Dickson had no cause of
complaint, and the report held that 1t would
be dangerous practice and embarrassing to
the workings Of the force to admit 10 the sta
tion-houscs the crowds that usually follow
prisoner under arrest. After tho excitement
erty to enter and make arrangements for his
release The report was adopted.
Mr.. Gatchel offered q resolution to appoint
committee to draft bill to be presented to
Congress at its next session, which, IL enacted,
should provide home for abandoned women
and children of brutal parents, and an indus
trial schools for girls young in vice.
Mr.. Gatchel remarked that when disrcpu-
table house Is raided the keys are taken by
the major, the women are taken to the Police
Court, and after their testimony Is taken they
are permitted to go. He thought it very
proper Tor the Police Board to originate some
movement of the kind.
Mr.. BrittOn suggested that II would he bet
ter to address Congress through the Attorney
General, and the subject was laid over for a
week.
MILLER To BE INVESTIGATED.
Just before going into executive session Mr.
Gatchel remarked that there had been good
deal said about Detective Miller's testimony In
the trial of Jones and Williamson for keeping
a gambling house. He had not heard it him
self, but heard of its character from persons Of
good authority. From what he had heard
Miller was reticent, and seemed to have more
information than he willing to impat,
and he felt justified in moving an invcstiga-
ton. He had also heard something said about
McDevitt's testimony, but not enough to war.
rant an investigation.
From what | read in the newspapcr-"
began Mr.. Sominerville at the other end Of the
table.
Il didn't take any newspaper report for
this interrupted Mr. Gatchel, sharply and
bitterly.
4 motion to refer the subject Of Miller's
testimony TO the Major, to see If there were
grounds for an investigation by the board,
WAS passed.
The subject of the recent trial of Jones and
Williamson being thus brought up, Mr.. Herr
remarked that II seemed to him that there
was a very strong case
Mr.. Gatchcl observed that he had expected
a conviction up to the time tho verdict was
rendered.
One Of the members remarked that they
would never be able to convict any Of them.
"Yes we will" replied Mr.. Gatchcl, with
determined emphasis.
The board then went into executive session.