The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-29
FOURTH EDITION


There are certain rumors concerning
Elwood Knight. one Of the new officers,
which do him an injustice. On Sun
day night August 81. 1890, there was
an dnprovoked assault committed up.
on L. Newton Gem. an aged man and
keeper OF the toll gate on the Philadel-
phia turnpike. noar East Lake On
Monday. September 1st, the following
appeared on tho police docket: Officer
William Il. Todd; Elwood Knight; 10. 40
p; M; native; aged 81; machinist. "
September ]. held under $1,000 bail
Tor a hearing on September 10. Fined
$50 and costs; total. s60.05; sentenced
to six months mprlsonment. Com
mitted.n
John Hemphill was MISC arrested for
The assault and at the hearffg fined
800 and costa and sentenced to one
Years imprisonment. Knight was uf-
terwarde pafdoned and the way this
came about was as follows: Mr.. GEM
being satisfied that the only part
Knight took In the affair wus to pull
Hemphllt from him, and push him in
the carriage. had q petition prepared
asking Governor Reynolds to pardon
Knight, as he was positive that he did
not take any part In the assault. This
paper was taken around by Mr.. Genn's
the Governor hads fully investigated
the matter, the pardon was granted.
1t has also been charged that Knight
was arrested for wife beating, but this
Is also incorrect, and arose from the
following entry OH the police docket.
Sergeant Robert Chambers; FL.
wood Knight; drunk and disorderly;
April ID, 1898. 1915 p. M; aged 2S
foreman; native; hearing April IA; held
Tor another hearing at Up. m, April Is.
Ordered to pay the costs. Sl75; paid"
1t seems that Knight. who had been
urinklng. and his wife had a quarrel
about their child. during which there
was crimination and recriminatlon,
when che went out and secured war
rant Tor lis arrest. Before the case
was called next morning she tepented
81 her action. and tried TO have 1t set
Tied outside OF court. This Judge
Ball refused to permit, and when 1t
was taken up the city solicitor. who
had tuily investigated the matter,
recommended that 1t be dismissed on
payment OF costs, which was done.
There was no charge OF wife beating,
or tl.at he had oven laid his hands on
her
1t is however certain that Knight
ms been, In the past, in the habit OF
f5See'hs aiuhhs uVb liz may nave IT,
formed, and II such should be the
fact. he should not be punished for II
now. Still it Is the duty of the COM
missioners to fully investigate the
matter. before he Is sworn In, and see
that his reformation is genuine, as no
man who Is addicted TO getting drunk
Is lit person to serve in any position
on the force.
The bare fact OF commissioner
having the resignation OF such man
IN his pocket, to be used the first time
he transgressos, will not do, as such
men should not he appointed. The
new commission assumes power
against the wishes of majority of
the people, and they will DO hold to a
strict accountability for tho conduct
OF those whom they appoint.
Arthur Sidwell aud Robert McGar-
vey were marked as Democrats yes
terday In the list OF officers, which
however was mistake, as both mon
are Republicans.
James McIhtlre. a Democrat, and
Lewis HAYDEN. q Republican, have
both been refused by the examining
surgeon as not coming up to the
| standard.
This was noat way OF getting rid
OF Hayden, who was taken from thu
patrol wagon and given place In the
ranks where 1t was known he could
not come up to the standard. There
mas not been any names mentioned as
| their SUCCESSORS,