The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-02
THE INVESTIGATION
OF CAPT. SMITHS POLICE FORCE
Fairly Began la,t EvsuiDE-A Number of
Witnesses Mako Damaging Statements
~ TO the Conduct OF Omssr BurnI.
Porter smith on the wltuossstaaa.


Porter smith on the WitnoSSstand.
The members Of the Council Committee
on Police we're all present last evening
when the committee met to commence
the investigation OF the charges against
Chief OF Police Smith and Officer Burns.
Mr.. T. NJ. GArvin, the stenographer,
Clerk .GalIigan and Mayor Grub, with
Capt. Smith and Officer Burns, were
also in the room. The space where the
committee sat was rallied OF with high
backed benches, leaving about half the
large room for a crowd Of spectators,
which gathered with rapldity.
It was rather surprise TO many people
that the witnesses summoned nearly all
reported, II waa freely predicted yester-
day that none OF them would attend. II
the show OF confidence on the part OF the
accused was based on this hypothesis,
they were badly disappointed last even.
ing.
The witnesses, at least the women, evil
IDENTIFY labored under some sort Of duress
or fear, or were embarrassed to percep-
tible extent by the unusual surroundings.
Their testimony was not as freely given as
it would have been bad the witnesses been
free from all fear OF the police, or sitting
in presence OF the gentlemen OF the com.
mittee alone, Lor was everything drawn
out Of them which they knew, the cross
examination being anything but search.
ing. Nevertheless, enough was told To
coT.oboraie in all essential particulars the
statements already published.
SOME OF THE EPISODES.
When Capt. Smith himself was on the
stand he eyinced come unprecedented pc
culiaritles OF memory, or perhaps more
properly OF "lorgettory." In some vital
respects his forgettory was good. He re-
membered distinctly some things told hin
that we're not at all germane to the inquiry
while the important points had either
not been touched on in his inquiries, OF
he had forgotten the responses.
The continuous attempt oil Officer Burns
10 get Witnesses 70 assent to fairy tales
which had been concocted for him TO put
at Them, was a conspicuous failure, which
could not fail 10 unfavorably impress the
committee. Nor wss his evident attempt
TO stare witnesses out OF couutenance any
more OF success.
The funniest episode Of the meeting was
when the committee desired the presence
OF Wharimaster CroCkard, and Officer
Burns volunteered to call him, and did
Bo-actiug as sheriff Of the court which
was engaged in trying him on charges o.
grave misdemeanors.
The first witness called was Miss Bessie
Brown, an inmate OF Hattie SCOTS house
on Eoff street. Miss Brown wal sworn by
Clerk Galligan.
TIE EVIDENCE BEGUN.
Miss Brown said she knew very little
about Officer Burns, except that he was al
the house Hattie Scott's) one evening
drunk; he was in the parlor drunk; two
officers came after him, one being Shatfer
She did not remember the other one't
name, nor could she FIX the time, except
that it was since he was on the force, and
sometime during the recent summer.
Th. charge was read by the Clerk st the
request OF the Mayor, and the examina
ton was then continued. The witness
said that Burns was not boisterous or dis
orderly, but he was evidently drunk, as he
vomited while sitting on chair. He re.
NAMED in the house from supper time u
o'clock) till after dark. He was in UNI
form. He said nothing when he came in
as to his object in coming.
Question by tho Alayor-"Is itcustomary
for policemen to come there and drink
beer?" :,
"No, sir; they very seldom came there.
Mayor Grubb-"rhey do sometimes
drink beer there?"
eyes, SIR"
BY Mr.. McGregor-"You said Burns
did not drink there this time; was he
there more than once"
ayes, Sir"
"Was he there oi.en?"
"Not very often, that remember"
"Did he ever drink beer thcre?"
ayes, SIR"
"Did he always pny for his beer?"
"Yes, Sir; always that l remember Of
but once"
THE MAYOR INQUIRIES.
The Mayor here asked the witness q
very pointed question as to Burns con-
duct In the house.
Chairman Mylea [sharplyl-"Mr. Mayor,
this committee intends to ask all the qnes-
tions that are necessary"
Mayor Grub thought it strange II lie
was not to be permitted to examine wit
nesses, and endeavor 10 substantiate
charges which he had made.
Mr.. Caldwell moved that the Mayor be
allowed to ask any questions he might de-
sire To ask.
Chairman Myles said with the under.
standing that the accused might also ask
any questions he desired TO, the Mayor
might be permitted to put interrogatorics.
Miss Brown answered the Mayors last
question in the negative.
Officer Burns-"Are you still sure those
two officers took me out OF there?"
"No; l said thought they did,"
Burns-"'Are you sure had my uni
form on?"
"Yes; am"
Burns-"Haven't you often sent for me
TO come to that house on business?"
Eyes; that is, believe Miss Hattie
has,"
Mayor-"Was he sent for that night2"
mot that | know Of"
Burns-"Miss Scott will tell you whether
l was or not"
In answer to another inquiry, Min
bFoWn ealu buEns was bSIeep on tue poor
when the other officers came.
ANOTHER WITNESS TELLs THE SAME STORY.
Grace Andrews, another inmate Of
Madame Scotts house, who, like Miss
Brown, was there at the time Burns made
his now famous call, WIS the next witness
examined. She was sworn, and Chairman
Myles repeated what he had Paid to Miss
Brown-that charges had been made
against Officer Burns by the INTELLIGEN.
GER and presented to Council by the
Mayor, and ordered the Clerk to read
from the iNTELLloENCER'S article that por-
ton relating to Burns visit to the house.
After this had been read, Miss Andrews
stated that she remembered the occur
renee; that Burns entered the house about
o'clock in the afternoon, that he remain
ed there until after da K, that she sup
posed he was drunk, that he had every ap-
pearauce OF being In that condition, that