The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-08
THE griffin IYTESTIGATIOy.
Meeting OF Police Commissioners-Tb
Charges Against Onicer LampAin.


The Board Of Police Commissioners
met at the Office Of the Chief Of Police
| yesterday afternoon at o'clock, and
were in session nearly four hours. Con-
! siderable interest attached to the meeting
for the reason that two police officers
were before the board. The first was
Officer Griffin, asking an investigation Of
the criticism made in a local article I'm
The Times November 18th Of his conduct
In grabbing The Times reporter roughly
by the arm and hauling him across the
vestibule OF the Second Baptist church
on the oct aston OF a marriage in that
sanctuary, when the reporter was in
extensively standing in the vestibule and
not breaking any of the rules or pr0prie-
ties OF the occasion.
The other was the Investigation Of
charges made by Mr. Allen Potts against
Officer Zeph. Lampkin Of an attempt 20
eject him from the football grounds AT
Island Park ThanksgiyingDay when he
had Il right to De there. and that the
officer was in citizens garb and without
badge to show his official position, and
that he behaved i'm q manner unbecOming
member Of the force.
The investigation OF the criticism Of
Officer Grifin's conduct at the Second
Baptist church during a marriage was
first taken up
Mr.. Griiiin had summoned several wit
nesses' who were heard IN turn
me reporter who was the subject OF the
oi1cers rough treatment on the occasion
named was present, and was sworn and
invited to make a statement.
lie contented himself with confirming
the statements made In the published re-
port When asked IL he had summoned
any witnesses. the reporter replied that
ne had not, and that he did not desire
any witnesses. as he was neither on trial
or had preferred any charges against the
officer. He further stated that ne dd not
even know the name Of officer Griffin al
the time of the occurrence, and did not
ascertain IL until the next day.
Ofhcer Griilin's statement substantiated
the reporters statement I'm minor respects
and differed from it only I'm respect 10
the direction from which the reporter
came and the degree Of force used and
the distance he pulled him.
The main point in evidence seemed 10
hinge on the direction from which the
reporter came, he claiming that he came
from The east side Of the vestibule and
was standing stu when grabbed by the
officer, and the officer claimed that the
reporter came from the west side and
was passing behind him when he took hold
of him.
The only witness who undertook IN
give evidence on this point was Charles
W. Miller. negro. who fatty contra
dicted himself.
Oiiicer Marion sutton and Mr. John
II. Knowles, neither saw the occurrence
but thought that if anything extraordi-
nary had happened they would have
heard IT,
There was no lobk OF evidence to show
that the occurrence as stated by the
reporter took place, but there was an
entire lack of evidence outside Of the
statements Of the reporter and the Off
Ger as to the degree Of force Issued bv
the latter in his treatment of the former.
The board rendered the following de-
cisiOn: Resolved That from the evi
dence presented to the board we conclude
that the conduct Of Policeman Griffin
on the occasion mentioned did. not merit
the severe censure in the published arti-
Gle under considerations"
In the case of officer Lampkin there
were number of written charges. The
evidence showed that on the occasion /
of the Virginia North Carolina football /
contest on Thanksgiving Day, officer |
Lampkin visited the grounds I'm citi- |
zen's clothes and was put on duty by the /
sergeant I'm charge. Mr.. Potts was 4
assisting the Dispatch reporter I'm the |
game and had been duly accredited by |
him as a reporter 20 the police SER
geant in charge OF the grounds.
Officer Lampkin did not know that /
Mr.. Potts was filling the position Of
special reporter, and attempted 20 eject
him. Mr.. Potts did not see the officers ,
badge. which was partially hid by the
lapel of his overcoat, and refused 10
move off the ground
officer Lampkin who is quite deaf. did
not understand the import Of the pro-
tests made by Mr. Potts, and did not
heed them. Finally the sergeant APP
and explained matters and Mr..
Potts continued on the ground
The board rendered the following decl-
sion I'm this case:
Resolved. That the board finds that
the charge that officer Lampkn attempt
"a 10 EJECT Mr. Alien i1trf from me
park, when he had a right 10 be on the
field. and that officer Lampkin did not
have his policeman's badge properly eX-
posed. is sustained.
2. The charge that officer Lamphn
used threats TO a citizen 10 do him
bodily harm on some future o'NdSiOH' -
not sustained by the evidence.
3. The board finds that officer Lamp
kin was acting under orders from the
sergeant in charge Of the grounds, and
that the attempted eiectment Of Mr.
Allen Potts was the result OF a misun-
ierstanding. Mr.. Potts having failed 70
exhibit any badge Of his authority as
special reporter and The officer having
failed TO hear his statement that he
was a reporter.
4. That the president OF the board be
Instructed TO reprimand Officer Lamp
kin for violating the regulation requir-
ing an officer to properly expose his
oadge while on regular police duty"