The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-04
800. 800. SUSPENDED FIFTEEN DAYS.
That's Mcrriman and Mnbry's Punish
ment for Drinking While on Duty.

That's Mcrriman and Mnbry's Punish
ment for Drinking While on Duty.
The board OF police commissioners
met at the mayors office last evening at
o'clock. as this was the first meeting
OF the new board, the order of business
taken up was that of organization.
Mr.. Turner was elected president and
hlr. Miller, secretary. Mr.. Sproul is
the new member of the board. This
gentleman created favorable impress
sion by his open and frank contena ICE
especially among the officers. Few of
them had ever seen him before.
MIR. Miller. the city solicitor, appeared
before the board and stated that he had
appeared as prosecutor in the case Of {.
j. Ormsby for resisting officers. During
hearing OF the case the fact WAS
brought out by the officers themselves
that they had taken drink OF whisky
each while on duty the night they made
tho arrest. They had both made 4
plain statement which commended them
for truthfulncss and integrity. He OBJ
1ectcd to them making statement at
The time which would criminate them
selves. but Acting Mayor l'uckncr over
ruled him. He hoped in view of the
board would be as Intent with them Us
possible.
After waiting few minutes Mayor
Evans came III and the board took the
charges against Officers Norman and
Mabry.
Officer Merriman said he had been
unwcll for some time and after eating
his lunch took glass of whiskey about
IL o'clock in an alley near Wainwright's
saloon. lie was not a fec tod in tho least
by it.
O MIR. Mabry said he took a glass of
whlskey and soda at the same time.
He, too, had been unwell, butas to that
part he had no defense to mako. lie
would leave the matter with the board.
Mayor Evans said both men had been
good officers. lie never knew any
thing against them, and was surprised
when the fact was brought ous that they
drank while on duty.
Chief Morris said he knew nothing
against them as officers. Ii had been
frequently talked that some Of the men
had been drinking while on duty, and
he hoped the board would spare no one,
but adhere to the rules SO closely that
the practice would be broken up.
Sergeant Jones saiu he had never seen
either OF the officers under the influence
Of liquor.
The board then retired, and after a
few minutes cOnsultat ton announced
that In accordance With their rules they
would be compelled to iniict some pun
lehment for violation of them. and
would suspend them for fifteen days
each.
Mr.. Turner stated that the practice
OF drinking while on duty was the wors5
thlnp for ru ntIipor m do u e-o,o $780,,
VINO furnished the liquor or drank with
them a certain power and weakened
the officers influences. 1t was tho idea
OF the board To build up good police
force: TO weed out all the black sheen
anu have 1T composed OF body OF
gentlemen, in whose care the wives and
daughters Of the citizens could be en-
trusted.
5. Il. cambridge was appointed as a
special policeman for the Grocer Iron
Company,
Chief Morris asked the board to meet
next Wednesday evening 10 inves tigate
the charges against an officer, reported
In Tue TIMES Friday morning
MIR. Turner said he had been appraised
ofthe case. and proposed to sift ii to the
bottom.
Mayor Evans made a statement to the
board in reference to the case. He would
not be present Wednesday. The reason
he did not lay the matter before the
board was because he took the man sus
pected before the woman and she en-
phatically said lie was not the man ac-
cused OF the act. He had been misrep-
resented by the press in speaking of the
investigation as farce, but OF this he
cared naught. lie hoped tho board
would make full and free investiga-
ton.
Tho board then adjourned, to meet
Wednesday evening at 3 o'clock.