Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-22

w.s.s ~ 1.,,, faithful lsborsis IN any de-
ysrinent OF the city. or ~ ths .~r namo.r
e,,sa,,nsnt for (sIzl three hnndred and
t@s,rS long weary. WORKING dayr...
n,,r offby CITY Atfofnry-Mr. Mere.
i;t--haviDs sssureo on 20 p1S,l'e'y INA,
he AZ rvires Of Wren were valuable, and his
! biIl reasonable, you very naturaily ask how
,s.oncile our 80 widely differing opin-
| io,ss IL Is susceptible Of but Que expiana-
| zion II an correct. and that Is mat Wren
bas deceived or misled him, or ne n othef-
| wise deceived - to the facts.
N was only necessary for Dir. Meredith 10
| know the facts, and the witnesses ny whom
10 prove them; j. was not necessary ios
| hin, 10 know who discovered the evidences
and gave the names OF witnesses, and Mr..
| Meredith was too fally absorbed In the duty
he 40 ably performed 10 think OF making
Iuch unnecessary Inquiries.
that he made Wren's Office the chief place
10 receive reports and iDfornatlon-polce
officers and Others coming there, IN MI.
Meteliths absence. being absorbed Also IN
their duty or private affairs. did not feel
isposed 10 and sometimes did not wait
for his return. but left their Information
On Merediths return the new inf,rma-
ton was given by wren without saying
who Furnished IL. which. perhaps. 10 was
NOT his duty nor necessary for him 10 do I;
thus Mr.. Meredith treated ~ Wrens work
mnch done by others. and being I'm more
pressed with the idea that Wren discovered
more than all others, and this Impression
IL was 10 Wren's interest to nnrse aud IN
crease.
lie what they found out, ana the special
work done by them was not published.
Wren was published In the papers as
working In the case, he was credited before
the public eye as making many discoveries
OF evidence, which no one corrected. and
thus he became the central figure in the
case he was lauded In court by the prose.
cu.ors, he was abused by the defense. and
so the services OF all others III the same line
eemed 10 be absorbed by Wren. Mr. Mere
dIth thus misled. became enthusiastic
and energetic In Wren's behalf and the
public faith in and admiration for Mr.. Mere
dith led many good people into the eyre
giOus erTors that Wren had done much.
Others had done but little. and therefore
this caim should be paid. IL naturally fol-
lows also, that when take Issue on Mr.
Mefedths opinion and the belief OF Others
that Wren did so much, that / should be
asked, Who then did the work that con-
Vicied the prisoner? lam ready 10 answer
IN is, rs | was how Mr.. Meredith and 1thers
were 20 mised as To- the services OF Wren,
and Of this also | can furnish proof.
Judge -. G. Richardson led Oft In the case,
and 10y his own wonderful. wei performed,
end untirDg work. almost himself discoy-
cred and got control OF enough evidence 10
convict The accused.
He was bly, and zealously aided by Cap.
tam tpps, SeIgeants TomllnsOn, Hulce ana
toutins, and Officers Robins Walton.
Sweeny, and others OF the city police, each
performing his duty so fully and so well
That Wren or any other detective was use
less: in fact. so outraged was public senti-
ment at the foul murder, that almost each
household in the city was nest OF Jealous
detectives. anxious. ready, and striving to
furnish evidence for the conviction OF the
criminal.
All this police work was done under the
earnest cooperation of the chief OF Police,
and done 40 thoroughly and SO willingly
that man s Innocence would he conclusive
and clear II not convicted by these cOmpe-
tent workers, now sought 10 be 80 over
Swallowed by the assumptions Of Mr.. Wren.
In this work the police found able allies
In the reporters and stan of the city papers.
who were untirng, shrewd, and successful
In finding out and reporting many facts.
Ard last, but not least The able manner
of using these facts and arguing the case
by the prosecuting attorneys, made the
services Of others so available and effective.
Much. If not all, OF the opinion that eX-
lists amsDg the members Of your honorable
bodies or with outside citizens. that Wren's
bin should be paid. comes from sympathy
for Mir. Meredith in his earnest advocacy OF
the claim, his assurances OF the value Of
services he supposcs were rendered and adj
miIatiOn for his ability in managing the
Trial of CluYerius.
As he asked no compensation. refused 10
receive any for hisservices, aud desired that
what might be considered as due him, II he
would receive 1t. might be paid To Wren TO
the extent OF this claim, IL Is therefore said
wren should be paid. Now. in this view Of
the case, which seems TO have had 30 much
influence IN the conclusion reached Il be-
comes proper to Inquire, Was there any
just, legal, or moral grounds for Mr.. Mere
dith TO calm cent from the city?
He WAS representing the State. in place OF
a STATE prosecutor, in q State prosecution,
under the violation OF state law, for an
offence which the city could not prosecute
nor impose any penalty.
He was in the place OF a State officer 10
whom the city has. for many years roiifn-
fGriiD appropriated 81 600 each year TO sup
pemenl the Inadequate income Of the
Office, and which allowance has been richly
earned by the present able incumbent in
convictions for local offences, and thus rid
ding our community OF local criminals 20
great extent.
Under such circumstances could there be
any legal or moral obligation on the city TO
pay extra allowance To state officer for
special serS Ices in this case? II so. where
would the precede1t lead 10. and what
limit could be fixed to as strong demands
in other cases?
But II there was any obligation to pay
Mr.. Meredith, then the appropriation
should he direct TO him, and let him dispose
of his own funds.
II there was no obligation to pay Mr.
Meredith. or II the city could not legally
pay for this special prosecution. then IL iol-
lows of course, that this transfer Of Mere
dith's claim TO Wren would not justify pay
ing Wren, because Meredith has no claim.
In fact any respective claims of these gem
tlemen are IN different lines OF service. OF
differ ing dignity and value, and each should
be measu ed by It's own merits. rest on It's
own value, and be Appropriated TO its own
rightful claimant. free from comparison
with each other-and as the proper fruit OF
his own labor
If there was any Obligation to pay Mr..
Meredith. and his services were worth more
than MIR. MTens, surely the city would be
derelictin duty not TO pay MIR. Meredith
the larger amount due him, or to escape
the excess of proper allowance due him by
transferring "A less amount to MIR. Wren.
The payment 10 Wren could not discharge
the DUTY TO Mr.. Meredith, and Wren can
have no lust claim simply because the ser
vices OF MIR. Meredith have value, and he
should not be paid at all except on the ac-
tual merits Of his own claim.
Finally, TO pay this claim to any detective
in This case seems to be grave reflection
on the police force as Incompetent and un-
II TO do the duty for which they are select
ed and which the record will show they
have performed with creditable success and
with better results than before your honor
able bodies wisely las think abolished the
special detective force.
Fit isnow your conclusion that the regu-
lar police force are incompetent for such
duty, then II would seem that you should
al once restore the special official detective
service. But am confident that those best
qualified 10 Judge and most c Xperienced in
such service would decide that the present
system is fully effective and by far more de-
sirable than the other.
have done what my sense OF duty re-
CURED in This case | have only obeyed the
Stern demands OF conscience; | have set be-
fore you facts derived from n careful inyes-
bgatlOn, and now can only leave 10 your
Judgments and consciences the questions
involved, giving credit for equal honesty OF
conviction in the correctness of such action
as you may take, as know has been the
sole basis OF the positions / take on the
claim now before you.
Most respectfully submitted.
W. {. CARRINGToN. Mayor.
Dedication OF ~. JOseph's Church.
The new Catholic colored church on
jackson street, near First, will be SOL
EMMY dedicated to-day at half-past 10
A. NJ. with all the splendor and pomp
prescribed by the ritual OF the Roman
Church. Right Rev. Bishop Keane,
who arrived late last night from St.
Louis, will perform the ceremony and
preach the dedicatory sermon. He will
be assisted by Very Rev. A. Van De
Nyver, V. G. Very Rev. A. B. Lee
son, provincial Of the Josephite order,
will be celebrant at the solemn mass,
assisted by Rev. g. j. Giesen, of st.
Francis Xavier colored church of Bal
timore, and Rev. A. II. Tierney, of the
l,a1 ~. A