The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-01
JACK WEST BxOYBRATED.
The Police Board Restores him and gives
him his Pay.

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The Police Board Restores him and gives
him his Pay.
The investigation Of the so-called
charges against Officer Jack West, of the
city police force, by the Board OF Police
and Fire Commissioners, drew large
crowd to the municipal court room last
evening. Commissioners Travis and
Wolf and President Miller wsre present.
Attorney John 0. Pendleton appeared
for West, but the Board ruled lawyers
out. The charge Of having insulted Mr..
W. A. Isett was dismissed, Mr.. Isett not
appearing. That OF refusal and neglect
to enforce the ordinance against selling
liquor on Sunday was then taken up,
and Mr.. Noah Beck, on whose state.
ment Commissioner Travis preferred
this charge, was called to the stand and
sworn.
Mr.. Beck said he desired to make an
explanation. He did not complain OF
Officer West to Mr.. Travis. He told him
OF some things us facts, but he never
supposed that on his talk charges would
be preferred. He would be careful
hereafter how he talked to n Commits.
siOnCr.
He continucd'that on April or 8, he
forgot Just which, he had seen four boys
OF 10 or Is 90 into the side door of Frank
IIeaIy's saloon. AS lie had heard that
Capt. Smith had issued u special order
that all saloons must be closed on that
day, he directed officer Vests attention
to the case. The officer smiled and said
nothing. On the 22d he and ]. NJ.
Clouston, with Mr.. A. G. Howell, were
passing Healy's over the new pavement
in the alley, when they saw two men,
and moment later four others, come
out OF Healy's, and about the same time
three others went in. The witness
shortly met West and said, "Healy's
saloon is open again." Mr.. Clouston
stopped and talked to the officer. The
same day he saw number OF men,
there must have been n dozen, go into
the back door OF Joe Webb's saloon. A
little later another crowd was refused
admittance to Webb's. Near the same
time another man failed to get in, and
going around to the street entered the
front door-"Simply showing the fact"
said Mr.. Beck, "thRt the law in refer
ence to Sunday selling is not enforced
in Wheeling"
Officer West-''How long did you stay
in your office on the Sth?"
Mr.. Beck-"Fifteen or twenty min
utes."
West-"And in that time I went to
Healey's, and then went on around, and
was back on the same corner when you
came out"
In conclusion, Mr.. Beck volunteered
the opinion that West was as efficient an
officer as there was oil the force.
]. NJ. Clouston was next sworn, and
told the same story as Mr.. Beck. He
added that he had also named Webb's
saloon rs being open when he was talk
ing to the officer. He told Of seeing one
man staggering drunk come out OF
Webb's saloon, besides a number OF
others. Several also went in. Soon after
Webb's bar-keeper came out into the
alley and noticed the witness and bis
companion. After that, no more men
went into the back door. but the witness
saw one go into the front door. at is
notorious. fact, said he, "that Webb's So
loon is open on Sundays; have seen it
SO on three Sundays. On Main street it
is Just rs bad. | do not think Officer
West is any more to blame than every
other man on the force. There is appa.
rently no effort madeto enforce the law"
Mr.. A. G. Howell Corroborated part
OF the other witnesses testimony. He
said he did not hear Officer West refuse
to attend to his duty.
Officer West was next sworn. He re.
collected when. Mr.. Beck came to him
on the Sth, and asked, "Whatis going on
at Healy's?" The officer asked, care
they going in pretty lively?" and with
the remark to three men standing with
him that he would look after the case he
went up street. He saw nobody going
into Healy's. The second time Mr..
Beck and others came to him, hesmiled,
and again went to Healy's, but saw no
signs OF the place being open.
Officer Carney corroborated Vests
testimony, he having been with him on
the Sth. Mr.. Thomas Burke, another
OF the party, told the same story; like
wise Mr.: Daniel Hughes.
Officer West wanted number OF wit
nesses examined as to his efficiency and
gentlemanly bearing, but the Board
thought this was unnecessary.
After few minutes Of consultation,
Capt. Travis arose and moved that
Officer West be reinstated and allowed
pay for the ten days he was suspended.
This was, adopted unanimously.
Mr.. Travis then paid West n high
compliment, and said that but for the
fact that his iniormants insisted upon it
he never would have brought the
charges. After the way Mr.. lsett had
talked, he was sorry he did not appear
in answer TO the summons.
Officer Wcst-"So am 1; l wish he
was here"
The decision OF the Board was re-
ceived with hearty applause, and when
it adjourned the people crowded up to
shake hands and congratulate him,
many Of these being leading business
men on his beat.
Altogether it was better for West that
the charges were brought.