The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-27

AGAINST CAPTAIN CHARLES H. EPPs
FULLY INQUIRED NTo-REPoRTERs AD-
MITTED 70 THE SESSION OF THE BOARD
FOR THE FIRST T1ME-A LONG AND TEDI-
GUS EXAMINATION AND GREAT CONFLICT
OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The Board Of Police Commissioners met
in the Chancery Courtroom last evening to
examine the charges preferred by Mr.. T.
L. Whiting against Captain Charles H.
Epps, OF the police force. Present: The
Mayor, and Messrs. Myers, Mayo, SHIELD,
Gresham, and Saunders.
The allegations were that Captain Epps,
on the 14th OF August, without due cause,
arrested Mr.. Whiting; that, while a pris-
oner, be offered to take off his badge and
fight him, and subsequently, incarcerated
him In a filthy cell and refused to allow
friends to see him except in the presence OF
an officer.
Messrs. Whiting and Epps made their
statements 10 the Board. They. conf1lcted
IN important particulars. A great number
of witnesses were also examined. The
tcoubIe originated In quarrel Mr.. Whiting
and Mr. W. James Epps had bad that day at
the primary polls on Second street, Wnere,
in consequence OF Mr. Epps reproaching
Mr., Whiting for working against General
Johnston, Mr.. Whiting went at Mr.: EppSS
with his whip, which be had in his band
when he jumped out Of bis buggy, ana Mr.
Epps got knife from store; but 1urtner
disturbance was prevented by tDe lntef-
position OF the crowd.
information was sent to the Third station
that fight was going on on Second street,
and Captain Epps started forth to quel it.
Near the woodward on Second street Cap
tuin Epps met his brother Jim, who told
him what had occurred. While they were
conyersing Mr.. Whiting was seen going
down Second towards Broad.
Nr. W. j. Epps remarked that Mr..
Whiting had been home and armed himself,
and was now looking for him. Therefore
Mr.. W. J. Epps tried to borrow his bro
theirs pistol. Captain Epps refused to let
him have it; told his brother to 60 about
his business, and that he would see Tom
(Mr. Whiting) and fix the matter" in
friendly way. Captain Epps went on after
Dir. Whiting.
He found Officers O'Dwyer and T. G..
Epps following 1Ir. Whiting. They were
under the impression that Mr.. Whiting had
been home and armed himself. [The testi-
mony demonstrated that they were mistaken
as to thatl Captain Epps sent these OF
ficers back, telling them that he would go
on and see MIR. Whiting and 9 fix it."
Mr.. Whiting proceeded quietly down
Second street until between Marshall and
Broad, when he stopped to talk with Mr..
Rosser Isben. When these two were about
to part Captain Epps came up and aecosted
Mr. Whiting In q friendly manner, Captain
Epps declares; in an insulting manner,
Mr. Whiting insists. What occurred be-
tween them was heard by no others. Their
own statements disagree so much that any
thing short OF full report OF each version
would probably be unfair to one or the
other.
The result was that Captain Epps ar
rested Mr.. Whiting for disordery conduct
and for cursing anu abusing him, ana car
ricd him to the Third station-house. On the
way, Captain Epps represents that Mr.
Whiting repeatedly abused him; which Mr..
Whiting denies.
at the station-house, Mr.. Whiting was
given seat in the office. Soon after, Cap
tain Epps said, in substance, "Tom, am
sorry this thing occurred; | am afraid
LIQUOR was the cause OF It." This idea Cap.
tain Epps abandoned at the trial. It was
conceded that there was no ground for that
impression. But the remark, when made,
aroused Mr.. Writings anger, and he cha
racterized it as cowardly insult to prl'
soner. That was the beginning OF new
trouble.
MIR. Whiting spoke OF the Epps family as
living on the city and as pack OF towards,
and as always focking together when one
got into trouble. Captain Epps offered to
take off his coat and fight him, Mr. Whiting
stated. Captain Epps and others, on the
contrary, assert that he represented that his
courage had been sufficiently tested in the
war, and that bis hands were now tied. MIR
Whiting responded in angry terms, which
evoked from Captain Epps the expression
! that he (Epps) had never deceived the peo'
pie by wearing an iron leg and riding bob
| tail horse with blind-bridle around town tc
excite the sympathies Of the people. and
throwing the leg aside Immediately after the
election. Mir. Whiting was prompt to re-
spond to this, and finally Captain Epps tolc
| him that unless he ceased his abuse he would
have him locked up. Mr.. Whiting said thai
he didn't care il he did; that he might
put him in irons il he pleased, dc.
Sergeant Parater was at last told to pu
| him in a cell, which he did. 1t was proved
that that cell was the best one in the house
that no unusual rules were enforced as te
friends visiting the prisoner; that justice
Crutchfeld and Mr.. Witt did have private
interviews with him; that he refused to bt
bailed until he saw his counsel (Mr. W1tt)
and he was otherwise respectfully treated.
The Board were occupied from hall-past
O'Clock until after II taking evidence. Abou
twenty witnesses were examined, IRON
which the intelligent reader will understand
that the above is but an outline OF tht
testimony. Ten OF our columns would no
hold it all. Captain Epps told the Boart
that he never did get mad with Mr.. Whiting
and now he had no bad feeling towards him
as he attributed Mr.. Writings conduct Il
great excitement.
The Board acquitted Captain Epps OF tht
charges they said the evidence did no
sustain them, but enjoined upon him fol
the future not to retort to the expression
OF prisoner.
The Board admitted reporters for this oc
casion, but particularly desired it to be un
derstood that it was not to be considered n
establishing precedent.
Fifty-iour witnesses were summoned IL
this case by the clerk of the Board, Mr. D
c., Richardson. It imposed great fabo
upon him, though not half the number wer
examined.
Delegates to the Convention.