The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-27

CASE OF INTEREST IF Nor OF IMPoRTANCE.-
Major John Poe, Chief OF Police, yesterday
morning suspended from duty Sergeant
Seal and Policeman Il. J. Brooks for failure
to perform their duty in the matter OF rob-
berry said to have been committed unon e.
r. Law, OF Savannah, Ga, in this city on
the 10th Of April. -
The charge against the former is !" neglect
OF duty" and the specifications are "fail-
ing to report robbery committed in the
Second district to headquarters, which oc-
Cured on the 10th OF April,'' and "failins
to get warrant for parties charged with
felony when bis knowledge was sufficient
to have justified him in making the proper
affidavit before justice Of the peace"
The charge against Mr.. Brooks is "negli-
gence or ignorance OF duty" and the spe-
ei6cation ''failnY to report man drunk
who was unable to take care OF himself
while on duty 10th April" @',' -.-
On the 10th OF April q man came. to the
city and registered bis name at the St.
Charles " L. II. Law, Savannah, Ga" He
was in an intoxicated condition. During
| the day he visited two or three gentlemen
with whom he was acquainted. He is Il
printer by trade, and had been in the city
| about two orthree years previously, and on
| that occasion borrowedtc ten cents from q citi-
zen Tho knew him in Savannah. In April
he called upon this friend and repaid the
ten cents, and represented that he was
So fusb."
That night Law, who had been drinking
steadily during the day, was seen by two or
three policemen i'll company with lndcPen-
dent detective John Wren and another man,
| a Mir. Steele, it is said He was seen TO go
with them into the bar-room on Main street
above Twelih: When he came out (alone)
he went on down towards the st. Charles ;
and ut the corner Of Fourteenth and Main
told Policeman Brooks that be had been
| robbed in the bar-room of about S40..
Mr.. Brooks reported the fact to Sergeant
Hall, and when Sergeant Hall was going of
| duty in the morning he reported it to Ser
geant Seal, and that officer went down 10
the hotel and had a talk with Law. Law
was still drunk. He claimed to have lost
| the money, but was not absolutely certain
whether it was taken from him or lie had
lost it in faro bank. The Sergeant sug-
eested to him to- get out warrant. lie
promised to meet the Sergeant at the corner
OF Ninth and Main at 10 O'Clock and take
further steps in the matter. Sergeant Seal
| was at the appointed place on time. That
was the last heard OF Law. lie did not meet
the Sergeant ~. -,
The commemorative Attorney, in his
speech before Justice Crutchfield when
Messrs. Wren and Knox applied for bail
(under charge Of conspiring to defeat Jus
lice by releasing young Redford), stated
that Wren was under suspicion OF greater
crime. This was the matter alluded to-.
! Hence the action of the Chief OF Police.
The Police Boardwill meet this evening at
5 o'clock TO investigate the charges against
the police.
1t is quite certain that on the 10th OF
April Law had about S45. 1t is believed
that that can be proved. 1t is likewise true
that he repeatedly told parties here that he
had been robbed in the manner stated
that is, that Wren had taken the money
out of his breast-pocket. The only par
fies in Richmond who know Law do not
think him a very reliable man, and when he
GOT rid Of his money he was quite drunk.
It is but just to the parties seriously I'M
plicated to say that they Indignantly deny
the accusation of Law. They declare ina!
there is not bit of truth in it:
As for the officers who are to De lnYesu,
gated, the charges DO not imply any mora,
delinquency on their part. Sergeant oeaI
has been twenty.three years in the service
and is knowna as thoroughly honest, reliaoie,
and capable. Mr.. Brooks is:also one Oh tne
| best members Of the, force. AT most, theli
offences are technical. Sergeant Seal wanted
| Law TO get out warrant; but ne, Wouio
1 NIT ,tt y -ts.Ss' 2. 80 4s - ~