The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-20
WISDOM.
THE CITY DADS MEET IN SOL
EMN CONCLAYE, BUT ARE
TIMID ABOUT BATTLE.
They Cali for the Impeachment Re-
port, and Then Postpone the
Consideration of Same.

Consideration of Same.
FULL TEXT OF THE CHARGES
OTHER INTERESTING MAT
TER AND PROCEEDINGS.
Council met in regular session with
President Robertson in the chair.
Roll called and quorum present. Min
utes of last meeting were, on motion,
approved without reading. Alderman
Hancock moved that the rue be sus-
p noel and the matter of the i'm
peacbment of Marshal Lee be taken
up. Cirried. Report of the special
committee was then read. The charges
are:
First Your committee charge that H.
G. Lee, city marshal, is guilty of gross
and wilful neglect of duty in failing
to make complaint against Ben
Thompson for discharging pistol in
the city of Austin, the night of Feb.
3d. 1884, of which fact the said Lee
was creditably and fully informed,
and further that said Lee has failed
and refused to report said violation of
the city ordinance to the city attorney
as he is required to do by the ordi-
nance.
Second. The committee further
charges that H. G. Lee, city marshal,
is guilty of gross and ineXcusable
derelection of official duty in failing
| to report H. G. Madison and William
| Howe for a failure on their part to
make complaints against Ben. Thomp-
son for discharging pistol in the city
of Austin, the night of Feb. 23d, 1884,
of which fact said policemen had full
knowledge, as he, the said Lee, well
| knew.
Therefore, your committee would
respectfully ask the adoption of the
accompanying resolution.
AUSTIN, March II, 1884.
w. B. BRUSH,
LOUIS HANCOCK,
L. NJ. CROKER,
r. B. UNDERHILL.
The foregoing is preceded by a
whereas reciting the appointment
of the committee, etc. The resolu-
ton, the adoption of which is recon-
mended, asks for the discharging from
the office of marshal the said H. G.
Lee, etc.
Alderman Robertson, from the
chair, stated that as he understood it,
the usual order is for the court to be
cleared.
JUDGE sHEEKs
being called on for his opinion, said
that depended upon the rules adopted
by the Impeachment body. City at
torney Pendexter said he had not un-
derstood this as an Impeachment trial.
A court of that kind could not, he
thought, be confined to the strict
rules of law in such procedures.
resolution was offered by Alderman
Brush: That the council meet
Thursday, March Both, to sit as a
court of impeachment. An amend
ment was offered to make it Monday,
the oath, at 7:30 p. M, for the trial.
The city attorney is to draw up the
rules and articles of impeachment.
Alderman Hancock moved to insert
the names of the presiding officers of
the council alderman Robertson and
Alderman HilD in place of the city at
torney.
HANCOCK'S AMENDMENT
was lost. The city attorney said he
preferred that a committee be ap-
pointed. The original resolution was
lost by standing vote-ayes, s; nays,
8; the chair voting no. Alderman
Hancock didn't agree with the city
attorney that the proceeding was not
trial by Impeachment. The matter
he thought was strictly in the
province of the council. He moved
that the council meet Monday
next the oath, to proceed with the in
vestigation of the charges against
Marshal Lee. Adopted. A commun-
ication from Caseyville, KY, asking
for relief of sufferers by storm and
flood, referred to proper committee.
A communication from the attorney
of F. B. Forster, asking relief of the
sureties of Edward Creepy on his Of
fetal bond and stating that he, Forster,
will pay the city 1925, was read and
approved, and the city attorney di-
rected to accept the proposed settle
ment.
A PETITION WAS READ,
from the Austin gas light and coal
company, setting forth the terms of
the contract assigned by Silverton
Watts, by which Austin was to be fur
nished with gas at a, cost of not over
81 per one thousand cubic feet, provid-
| ing further that if a corporation
1
at cost less than in Austin, that
their gas in Austin should be fur
nished at the Houston price. They
ask for exemption from certain taxes.
| Referred. Alderman Plat presented
unfavorable reports from the street
committee on the ordinance recon-
mending amendment to section 5 of
article 507 of city ordinance. Report
| adopted.
Same committee reported favorably
on the ordinance to prevent improper
use of telegraph and telephone poles.
Alderman Erwin psesentGd report of
CITY sexton. Received. The special
committee, to whom was referred the
complaint against Officer Cheneville,
reported that they had reached no sat-
isfactory conclusion further than that
Ward had been badly treated by some
one, and were in
FAVOR OF ALLOWING
Ward the amount claimed by him as
damages about $65-which Ward
claims to have paid.
Alderman Hancock presented mi
nority report against allowing the
chain, and declaring the charges
against Officer Chennevillt and Re-
corder Johns not substantiated. AL
derman Platt said there was nothing
in the charges any way impugning
Recorder Johns, who, is however, men,
toned in the complaint of Ward
For that reason the report which he
presented had not alluded to the re-
corder. Alderman Hancock argued
that Cheneville would have been dire
lict not to have had the boy brought
before the court (Tegener's) to test his
innocence or guilt.
: ALDERMAN WELLS SPOKE
, in favor or REIMBURSEMENT as matter
of Justice to an innocent party. AL
derman Hill argued that the boy haC
his recourse by civil suit if he had any
claim against the city. Alderman
Platt said the prisoner had been badl,
treated in not having been allowed
access to friends and counsel an(
: should be refunded the money he ha(
paid.
Alderman Wells argued that tn
. boy should be paid for the damag
caused by an officer of the city. Mo
: ton to adopt the majority report wa
: lost-ayes 9, noes 10. The minorit,
report was adopted-ayes 10, noes
p to- nn1