Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-20
Fires.
An at One Time Threatening Fire on
 Elm Street--Fire at Belle Dock:

Fire broke out about II o'clock yesterday morning on the second floor of the three story building, No. 166 and 16s Elm street, oc oupied by T. T. $ R. c. Bright, glassware, tinware and crockery mer- chants. When first discovered it had but little headway, but soon, ow- ing to the combustibles, piles of waste paper, rags etc., dense smoke was pouring out of the building Only a small stock of paper was kept stored, and MT. Bright thought there was not over 100 pounds of waste pa per. Four barrels of kerosene oil were on this floor, but, though near the flames, es- capped the fire. The firemen were soon work ing on the fire and five steamers had streams upon the burning premises. The supply of water was abundant. For time it looked as if serious confagration was impending, but by vigorous efforts the flames were brought under control. The loss is variously estimated at from $3, 900 to $4, 900. Much in the way of goods was damaged by smoke. The concern carried $7,5O0 in surance, SC, 500 on stock, $500 on rags, $500 on fixtures, all of which is sufficient to cover the loss sustained. The building is owned jointly by Mrs Edward A. Todd and Walter c. Oviatt, grandchildren of the elder Elam Hull, father of the late Elam Hull of West Haven. The roof is badly burned and will nave to De replaced, as VIII the second anu third floors. The side walls and ceilings are also badly charred. The damage to the building is estimated from $1 300 to $2,000
 The building was insured with Gardner Morse's agency in the Peoples Insurance Company of Middletown for $2,OOO. The Brights were insured with the H. l.. & J. s. Cannon's agency for $7,5OO, $500 on ra gs and paper, $500 on fixtures and $6, 800 on general stock.
 An alarm was given yesterday morning at o'clock. hoisting engine shed on Belle Dock caught fire from sparks from passing engine, with hoisting apparatus, were en- tirely destroyed The loss was about $500; fully covered by insurance.
 Board of Police Commis sioners. Reward for Services-AnOnynOu Ous Letters
 -COmp1aints Against Omcers-Changes Made-Roundsmen to be Changed Every
 Six Months.
 A special meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners was held last evening Pres ent, His Honor Mayor Robertson Cpresid- ing), Commissioners Sloat, Catlin, Harmon, Hart, Bollman and Kilbride.
 A communication from the Mayor of New London, enclosing check of $8O to Chief Webster and Detectives Brewer and Reilley for services at the Groton celebration, was read and ordered on file. The chief and de- tectives were given permission to accept the donation.
 An anonymous letter was received against policeman for stopping and talking on his beat. As the communication was not signed l it's consideration was indefinitely postponed A communication from Marcus Schwed was | read, charging Officer John W. Grant with | taking two pockets full of peaches in process l of transportation the steamer Erastus Corning of the Starin Line
 | Chief Webster said he had investigated this | matter, and MT. Miller had informed him that Officer Grant had permission to take the peaches and there were no charges to be made by him against Officer Grant. A communication came from the Common Council signed by H. A. Duntze. complaining I that the horses on the State street and depot | horse railroad were in the habit of crossing
 the crosswalk when they came up to Chapel
 street, and that it was a nuisance to passers, l and read. The communication was referred
 to the chief with power to act
 The case of the police officers who had vi.
 plated the rules by talking on the streets, | which was referred to the chief, was called
 up. The Chief reported that he had ques-
 toned the men and had imposed fines on diff l ferent officers in accordance with the orders l of the Board as follows: Officer Sweet, 3
 days pay; Shannahan, days; Boucher ?;
 Murphy, days; Schroeder, 3 days; Mer-
 win, days; Clyne 1 day; Reynolds, 8
 days.
 motion was made by General Harmon
 that the report of the Chief be accepted.
 Commissioner Kilbride opposed this mo-
 tion and advocated laying the report on the
 table until the next meeting, in order to give | the officers an opportunity to appear before
 the Board and be heard
 Commissioner Catlin favored such action
 and seconded Commissioner Kilbride's sug
 gestion.
 The motion to lay the report of the Chiet | on the table until the next meeting was lost ! by vote of to2
 The report of the Chief was then accepted | and ordered on file
 Commissioner Harmon said he would move
 to hear Officer Merwin's statement, but after
 ward withdrew it.
 | Commissioner Harmon moved Nthat the | Chief procure a book in which a copy ot | roundsmen's reports shall be copied each
 morning. He then moved that when any of
 ficer was reported derelict in duty he shall be
 warned by the Chief, or the officer in charge | of his dereliction of duty
 Commissioner Harmon said he had been l informed by the officers of the City Court
 that the police force were never more eff | c1ent than at the present time, and that they
 were doing their duties faithfully and we'll
 Chief Webster asked for two weeks vaca- ! tion at such time as he may select
 Commissioner Catlin said he had no obiec.
 ton to the vacation of the Chief, but he did
 object to Roundsman Smith being placed in l charge Of the office unless he can use better
 Judgment than he did on the night he sent for 1 ex-Mayor Shelton in the dead of night and
 then refused to take his bond for his ap-
 pearance at court. He thought it was not
 good judgment on the part of the officer in l charge
 l Chief Webster said he was absent in New 1 London on that day, but if he had been in
 the office he should not have served the writ
 until morning. He would, however. have ar | rested Dr. Brown if he had been at home. Commissioner Catlin moved that leave of 1 absence be granted to the Chief for two l weeks, which was granted
 Commissioner Catlin moved that during
 the Chiefs absence Officer Merwin be de.
 tailed to fill the captains position from D.. | m. to l a. m. The vote on the motion stood
 3 to and the Mayor cast his vote in the af- ! hrmatlve, which passed the motion. Commissioner Kllbride moved that Officer | Schmidt, who had been on the force for A
 number of years, be detailed for duty at the
 wharf of the New Haven Steamboat compa- l ny.
 Chief Webster said this was the hardest place on the police force in his opinion. The | officer there now (Stokes) had given excel. | lent satisfaction and they liked to keen him | there.
 Commissioners Harmon Sloat and Hart favored poStpOnement Of change at the steamboat, while Commissioners Kilbride. Catlin and Bollman favored the change Commissioner Bollman said he favored | changing the roundsmen more than anything I else. He would favor a change every six | months, giving the men who had done their ] duty faithfully for the preceding six months | the first opportunity.
 Commissioner Harmon moved to amend Commissioner Kilbrides motion so as to re- fer the matter of special detail to the Chief, | to report at this or future meeting It was voted to take recess of ten min | utes to give the Chief an opportunity to con- slider report in regard to changes on the force.
 When the ten minutes had expired Chief Webster said he had always wished to change Officer Stokes, whom he had always consid- cred good officer, and place him where the citizens could see him. He said he would recommend that Officer Schmidt be stationed at the steamboat and that Officer Sullivan continue to act as truant officer, that Officer Wrinn continue to act as hack officer and that Officer Kennedy be continued at the depot On motion the Chiefs report was accepted 1 in regard to appointing Officer Schmidt as officer at the steamboat and in favor of con- l tinuing Officer Kennedy at the depot. When it came to the change of truant of