The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-11

An immense crowd gathered at the
mayors ofiica yesterday ut ] p. III. to
witness the arraignmcnt of tho police
force OF Roanoke and It's respec led
mayor.
Sensational developments might have
been expected by everyone, and from
publication and conversation it was
even expected that charges would be
made and evidence in support of them
adduced, which would result in the
uphcaval Of inc social fabric of Roanoke.
Public Safety" "Welfarc," and
Justice" Blanche, Tray and Sweet
heart, were 10 appear and demolish the
police force. B|t-thcy didn't demolish.
Tho charges against Ctlcer j. e..
Wolfe, made by Officer Browning were
the first business transacted Wolfe
was charged with being drunk on the
morning of the 18th of October, 1890, on
the occasion Of fire in IL saloon. 1t
was shown by testimony That Wolfe
went to the saloon at n. III. on the dar
iii question; that the saloon was flooded
with burning liquor; that he assisted in
saving property, and worked amid the
burning liquor for quite n while; that
after water was gotten upon the burning
premises lie was drcnchod, and took one
drink Of whiskey. lie then showed
signs Of intoXication, which others cx-
periencnd during the night while work
ing res cuing goods from the burning
fuid as u result or inhaling the fumes
Everyone testified that Wolfe was {;
most excellent officer, an! was not u
man addicted to drink Mayor Evans
and others testified to this effect, and
the board promptly dismissed the Charge
as frivolous and unbound, 4.
Colonel Penn then presented q state
mcnt from Messrs. w. +. buff and ID. i;
Williams Of the Cos uccvat. This state
mcnt ~ cited that they did not appear
rs pros; cutors of any particular police
man, rs they did not deem such q coursc
digniiied or proper. But they pub
lished newspaper, and in doing so
reserved thu right To publish criticisms
ufou any public officials.
When thcy made such publications, if
they contained reflections upon an
official, they would furnish the NAMES
OF witnesses to substantiatc any charges
made against such paison. But they
would not appear as prose cutors. Then
il was the duty OF the board of police
commissioners. il anyone within their
provice was conc IN d. toinyestigate the
charges and Summon the witnesses sug-
gcated by the paper. Tho paper was
ready To answer questions, but not to
prose cute.
dir Scott then took tho paper, which
contained three charges, and said the
board would refer it t, the chief OF
police for invcstjFat ton and report.
Mr. Is. Lacy lioge, as counsel for the
police generally, thought this mode OF
procedure extraordinary. If charges
were to be entertained The accusing
party should name the accused, and not
bring in Il general Indictment for the
misdecds of one lie insisted that the
delinquent ones should be specified.
Mr.. Scott said that the chief of police
would find out who the parties were,
and then the case could be properly
tried
Colonel Penn suggested that the only
thing that the Cosmocrat Was called
upon to do Was 10 come with their in
formation and witnesses.
Chief Morris requested that the first
guagc at tho postuilice BIZ = members Of
the force. he heard now.
This was as reed to, and William
Rider. the stamp clerk at the posto!lice
was called. and II cognizcd ono Butler
who had been special policeman during
the holidays. as the party who made uSo
Of the language. MIR. ID. ID. Williams,
editor OF the C0SmCcrat, also positively
identified him as the p1rty
Mr.. Scott held that inasmuch as
Butler was no longer an onc II, the
board had no jurisdiction, but in Justice
to Butler he would allow him to make Il
statement on oath.
Butler was thereupon sworn, and
made y rambling denial OF the sworn
statements of Rider and Williams. AS
the case was disposed of Butler said,
in threatening way, that nothing
must be published aife citing him in any
way. or Il law suit would be the result,
and after the hearing he mcnaced a re-
porter for THE TIMES in order to sup
press publication.
And then came tho grand finale. The
grievances of the Cosmocrat having
been disposed of in part, and. the re-
vestigation, a public demand was made
ioi eHc appearances oi upIiC Sulcty,
"Welrare" and "Justice.'
Mr.. Fisher, who had at tho previous
meeting acknowledged the authorship
of the Public Safety articles. made
no response, but Mr.. Il. IL. Donnelly,
who used the other mons de plume ON
occasions i'll the Evening World and
Cosmocrat, advanced within tho rail
and iked what was wanted of him.
MIR. DOnnelly said: 81 am the author
OF tho letters signed Welfare and Jus