Evening star., 1886-11-26
THE POLICE MIDDLE.
what the Commissioner Say.
COL. LUDLOW SAYS THEY HAVE NOTHING I
rnp

Va eticet Improvements ana lnattc@s Feiadus 10
their annual report and IL was difficult 70 get
access to them.
Col. Ludlow, who wrote the original of the
report or findings Of the Commissioners,
said to q STAR reporter to-day in refer
ence to the comment upon their action:
I'VE nave nothing to apologize for.
The Commissioners have decided this case ac-
cording to the evidence before them. The fact
is that the public have really had and consid-
cred one side of the case only. They have con-
demned Major Walker on the testimony of two
men, Arnold and Kelly, losing sight altogether
contradicted them. Arnold, of course, was an in
terested witness but we did not take the ground
took into consideration the tact that the sug-
gestion, which Major Walker did make, that
the police should influence their friends in Con.
gress, might be translated in the minds of men
who looked at the matter from the police view
as suggestion OF base character We con-
demn del Major Waiker-but perhaps should not
say condemn, as he was not Oh trial-for the in.
he did to police officers. that they
gress: l think our conclusions in tine matter
Will bear critical examination by any one who
would take the trouble to read the testimony
on which they were based"
Col. Ludlow, when asked whether the Conn.,
mssioners, in passing Judgment upon Lieut..
Kelly tor ''making false statements 10 the Com
missioners. had not made it appear that they
believed he had spoken the truth upon the
stand, said: "The false statements referred to
verbal statements to the Commissioners. In this
matter we judged him by his own testimony
alone. He confessed that he had made such
false statements"
COMMISSIONER WEBB SAID
to-day that he had written report in the case
himself, Which was longer than the one adopted
and went into the case more fully, but practi-
cally amounted to the same thing. 1--WE acted
AS judges in the MATTER he said "and have
done what we believe 10 be right"
COMMISSIONER WHEATLEY SAYS THE VERDICT
WAS UNANIMOUS.
Commissioner Wheatley said to q STAR re-
porter that the Arnold case was closed SO far as
the Commissioners were concerned. 1.-THE
judgment OF the Commissioners was unani-
nous, he said. I'VE could not decide the case
on popular claInor, or iii Difference to popular
demand. Whatever our verdict had been there
would have been the same clanor. Citizens
who have no official responsibility are apt to
judge hastily. The newspapers, In no case,
gave verbatim reports OF the testimony.
there were links missing here and there. We
carefully considered the whole testimony, and
arrived a, at the only conclusion we could upon
the testimony"
Mr.. Wheatiey said the letter of Maj Walker,
alleging a conspiracy to injure him, had been
sent TO the commissioners, but was not received
by them, as they could not receive such paper
While they were considering the case.
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY.
Among citizens of the District opinions are
varied, though sentiment apparently sides with
Arnold.
Mr.. John w. Thompson said to-day that he
thought the District Commissioners acted
honestly, upon the best evidence at their dis
pOsal, in the police matter, and that the citi-
Zens ought not to be in u hurry to endeavOr to
little time may show everything connected
with the matter, and better and fairer popu-
lar judgment can then be reached.
Mr.. VIM. Dickson thought that Lieutenant
Austin would be made chief OF police perIn:i.
nently anu that he would make a good officer.
Another citizen, who did not want his
nm, enid in nnf ha nfsI
that public opinion was satifled that Arnold
had told the truth in his evidence and being
convinced, it was as well settled, that Austin
friends with his superlorS he did not believe
that the people would be satisfied with the pro-
motion of Austin and the condemnation of
Arnold.
Mr. n. d. Larner was of the opinion that the
entire police organization snouid be over
hauled and revOlutiOnlZed.
A citizen who did not wish his name men-
toned, butAwno, nevertheless, is one OF the
prominent and influential men in the District.
said to u STAR reporter this morning, sit seems
To me that every time the District Commits
sioners are the subject of criticism or there is
some Slight grievance felt, then people are
found to advocate "A charge in the present form
Ot the District government. / wish simply 10
state in this apparently grave emergency which
has come TO the District that We enjoying
the best municipal government in the world.
There is no city that has any thing equal To ii.
We pay a fair proportion OF taxation and get
the worth of our money. Now we will con-
tinue to enjoy these advantages, even though
Major Walker and Lieut.. Arnold have lost their
places, and have no intention OF rejecting
upon either of these gentlemen. will iurJher
aud that believe there Is nothing In the recent
events to justify the belief that there are no
District men capable OF managing the affairs
of the District.
Mir. W. C. Hill, who is largerly interested in
real estate here, said this morning that in his
opinion the best thing the District could do
would be to appoint Lieut.. Arnold as chief OF
Mr. Fred b. Mcclure said that he thought
4 nor .nf
the city for men to ill the city officer. There
were plenty OF good men, ii the right ones were
MIR b. H. Warner said that he could not un-
derstand what all the talk was about. In the
course Of administering the affairs OF the Dis
trict the Commissioners no doubt had to make
changes in their plans we'll in the men
who were their sGbordinates, but he did not see
that such ripples necessitated a change in the
form Of the District government or reflected
upon the District men VINO were conducting
the public affairs of the District.
Mr.. George l.. Sheriff said to u STAR reporter
this morning, didn't the Commissioners make
jacks of themselves in their verdict on Arnold
and Kelly? Congress will silt this matter TO
the bottom and will pass judgment on the
Commissioners themselves ana the District
citizens viii suffer from the whole case"
NO SLEEP LOST AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON AC-
COUNT OF THE SCANDAL.
Everybody about the White House declines
to express any opinion about the verdict OF the
Commissioners in the police scandal matter.
COL Lamont, when asked about the Presidents
position in the matter, said that no sleep was
being lost on account of 1t, but that the Presi-
dents time was fully occupied with the duties
OF his office, without giving his attention to
matters that did not belong to it, This remark
was not intended, however, to convey the inn
preston that Tie President took no interest in
the matter, but rather that he did not feel in
clined to interfere even by expressing an
opinion in a matter that belongs to tue District
government.
MASS MEETING ON SATURDAY.
The following paper is receiving a large num-
Der of signatures of business men and other citi-
Zens to-day:
IA mass meeting of the business men, prop
erty holders and citizens of the District OF Co
lumbia will be held at pm. Saturday, Novem-
Der 27th, TO protest against the decision ana
action of the district Commissioners in relation
to Lleuts Richard "A. Arnold and John +.
Kelly, and 10 take such action looking to their
and restoration to position and
rank in the police force as may be found neces-
sary. All persons Interested in the protection
of their lives and properly from criminals as
we'll all lovers of justice and tair play re-
Quested to be present.
Who Will Succeed Major Walker.
In police circles to-day the question receiving
most thought and attention was as to who
is to wear the Majors straps and
badge. A number of candidates are already
mentioned Capt. Austin, who succeeds
Major Walker in command of the department
naturally figures in all the
discussions OF the matter, his
position makes him the most conspicuous
member OF the force. The police as a rule favor
Capt Austin's promotion to the place. The
to-day received q formal appli- |
cation Tor the place from Col. II. w.
SiUnpd himself slate colonel .Srd Noxv Iorvou