Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-08-03

CHARGES AGAINST PoLICEMEN.-On last
Saturday night, it will be remembered, sew
rIul roIcemen made descent on party
O, negroes who were engaged in gambling
IN The lack part of the old Eagle Hotel"
~. the west side of Union street, between
Elnr aud Prince. Lieut.. Smith, not deem
in. that the officers were clothed with pro.
p,r authority in the matter, preferred
charges against the policemen to the Mayor,
aud the case came up to-day for trial. The
Lieutenant, in his communication to the
Mayor, asserts that officers Franks, Davis,
Bremen, Simpson, Grady and Hayes, who
made the raid, entered the house without
first applying to him, who was tho officer ID
charge, for warrant or instructions, or APP
r1i,iug him of their intentions, thereby, he
alleges, ignoring his authority "a their SUI
prr,or officer. He also prefers special
charges against Messr5. Simpson and Bren-
ner for leaving their beats without his per-
mission, and participating with the other
officers in the raid
Lieut.. Smith, in his deposition, aaid he
had heard the officers talking in an under
tone Saturday night, and had asked them
i, any warrants were to be issued, and that
he had been told there were none lie then
left the station house to post his men and
-
ported as in progress Oh north Fairfax street,
and upou his return WAS tod that keno
room had been raided After learning what
had been done, he told tho men thoy had
no Authority To act thus, and hat he
intended reporting them to tho Mayor.
The Lieutenant said tie made tho com
plaint with no prejudice toward any o! the
accused, but simply desired to be treated ga
Lieutenant Hu had boen told that it had
been asserted that when raid was to he
made he must be kept at homo, and such
things were annoying to him. Had Cap.
tain Webster" he said. "boen on duty Sat
ur,lay night the raid would not have been
made without his knowledge and consent,
and he desired that tho same Difference he
shown him.
Officer Franks, one Of the accused, stated
that Oh Saturday night last he had been mot
BY Officer Grady, who asked him II he had
a warrant for the arrest of Phil. Pratt, col
ored. as he GRADY believed Pratt was IN
the house which WAS subsequently rAldcd.
Franks replied that the document WAS ut
his home aud that he would get ii. lie
then asked Capt, Webster if it was necessa-
~ and was told that it was. Upon procur-
ing the warrant the two officers proceeded
to the house where the delinquent was
SuOpOSHu I'D udtc wv uPoh iii'f 80 :,
there failed to find Pratt but discovered
about fifteen colored men engaged in gam.
bling. who were arrested and locked up.
No Intentional disrespect was meant to.
wards the lieutenant.
Officer Davis testified that he also was looking
for Pratt, but did not know gambling was going
on in tho house where tho man was Thought 10
have been secrcted Capt. Webster had consented
TO officer Grady leaving his beat.
Officers Simpson, Grady snd Bremen testified as
above.
Offices Pat Hayes stated that no had gone to
look for Pratt, but had suspected that gambling
had been going en- i'll the house raideo. for the
reason that over a year ago no had entered the
place with Lieut.. Arnold, Of tho Washington po-
lice. and Lieut. Smith with some other officers, to
look for colored man wanted in Washington,
and had discovered gaming there on that OCCASION
No arrests had been made then.
Tho Mayor having heard the statements OF the
parties concerned, reserved his decision until to-
morrow.