Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-18
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FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. IS, 1878.
Local
staunton as an Orderly City.

Staunton as an Orderly City.
MIR. EVANS RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY
THE REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE,
&C., &C., sc.
Some two weeks ago Mr.. Evans, MEM
Der of the City Council for the Second
Ward. introduced the following preamble
and resolutions at a meeting of that body.
Of the committee named by Mr.. E., two
members were gentlemen. members of the
Council, who had received serenades, and OF
third member the blood thirsty crowd had
sung, "Hang Witt on a sour apple tree"
30 that it was probable that if there was
anything really in the matter these gen
tlemen would bring 1t out. The preamble
and resolution read as follows:
WHEREAS On the nights Of the 2tth and 18TH Of
December 1871 the police fource of the city permit
ted the Laws of the State and the Ordinances OF the
City, to be wantony vioated-Life and prope ty ex-
idation and insult Offered to members of the City
Council at their private residences because OF their
official acts, with effort the part OF the Ponce
to check the same no arrest made, no one reported,
to the proper authorities showing want OF dispos1
ed to them policemen of the city, Therefore be it.
Resolved. That Messrs. Cochran, WITT and Wei
tee to investigate the coduct Of the police with
er to send for persons and papers and ai &c "a
City Council whether duty sworn has been neglec.
ted, Laws or Ordinances or orders violated, Wha1
punishment the organized volators OF the Law, and
futher to make strict inquiry. in regard to the
general efficiency of the police fource, and luther
whether any official OF empoye of the city was en-
gagged giving aid to the lawnessness on the Ath
and 25th nSS with suggestion Tor the remldlal &C.
ton of the Council
The Committee sat some three or four
nights in their investigation and on last
Tuesday night made their report. They
say:
''That large crowds did gather at vari-
Gus points in the city, and fired off large
quantities of pop-crackers and made
great noise, blowing horns, &c. But there
is no evidence tending to show that life
was exposed to destruction, orsproperty.
only so far as likely to be from the indis-
eliminate firing of pop-crackers or that
gross and premeditated intimidation and
insult was offered to members of the City
Council either at their private residences
or elsewhere. On the contrary, the evil
dence shows that the noisy crowds were
composed in large measure of gentlemen
who were the warm, personal friends OF
of the parties serenaded, were iden I'll
fed with the interests of the city in all re-
Spects, and were men who would not, I'M
der any circumstances, have lent their as
slstance to any crowd which they supposed
either intended to offer insult or intimida-
ton to the above mentioned parties. The
evidence also goes to show that it would
have been a very difficult matter for the
police to have arrested any of the parties
violating the city ordinances on the nights
of the Oath and 25th, as the crowds were
generally large, and number of witnesses.
who were in the crowds testified that they
could not tell who the parties were who
we're firing the pop-crackers. Some of the
witnesses said that they did not think less
than one hundred policemen could have
maintained perfect order.
Your Committee report that number
of witnesses were examined as to the eff
fciency of the police force of the city, and
their evidence shows them to be prompt
and efficient. and at all times ready to rem
der any assistance in their power, not only
in arresting criminals in the CITY, but on
a number of occasions have assisted the
county officers in making important ar
rests The Mayor of our city, Capt. VIM.
l.. Balthis, says that he regards the p olice
force of the city as a good and efficient
one, for their number and experience, and
also thinks that they are constantly i'm
proving in efficiency. We think that the
Mayor would have better opportunity of
any one not officially connected with them
could possibly have.
Your Committee report that there was
no evidence to show that any official or
employee of the city was engaged in vio-
lating any ordinance of the city on the
nights of Dec. oath and 18th.
In conclusion, the Committee will say
that eye witnesses testified that the police
| did diSperse the crowds ON more than one
occasion, and the Mayor stated that they
were compelled to be engaged at so many
| points that they could not be present at all
| of them.
| For the reputation of our city abroad,
| which was likely to be discreditably af-
fected by the preamble and resolution re-
ferred to, had they been sustained, we are
happy to make this report, and are sure
that your honorable body viii share this
feeling with your Committee.
Your Committee regrets that temporary
illness in his family deprived them of the
valuable and efficient aid likely to have
been derived from the attendance of Mr..
Witt
Your Committee respectfully ask to be
discharged from the further consideration
of the whole subject.
Respectfully submitted,
j. A. COCHRAN, Chm'n.
W. H. WELLER,
Committee.
The members of the Council present
who voted for the adoption of the Com
mittee's report were President Fultz and
Messrs. Abby, Burke, Byers, Cochran,
Powell, Todd and Weller. Mr.. Bagby
voted against it. Messrs. Bledsoe, Evans
and Witt came in together a moment af-
ter the Council adjourned and we're not
present at the vote
The thanks Of those who regard the re-
putatlon OF the city, which is the breath of
It's life, are due to Messrs Cochran and
Weller for the patient investigation which
has resulted in removing the hurtful i'm
preston as to the orderly character of our
town, conveyed by the preamble and reso=