Richmond planet., 1895-04-27
CITY OFFICIALS.
MEN WHO DISCHARGE
THE DUTIES FOR
CITIZENS.
INTERESTING SKETCH
ES.
Many Beloved by Colored
People.
The Observation of the
Oath of Office.
ALL MEN EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW

The City Hall officials control the des-
tiny, so to speak of the white and colored
| people of Richmond Despite the fact
that there are many extremists and Ne
| gro-haters who would make this exclu-
| sively white mans government, and
| deny to the cOlored man the opportu-
nifty to earn a livelihood, this perni-
cious and disastrous feeling is not
| shared by any means by the better
class of white citizens. The colored
man who supports himself keeps the
city from supporting him. Moreover
, on becoming producer ne adds TO the
material wealth of the community, and
must necessarily increase its revenues.
| The teachings OF the scriptures are al
so needed Dy many of these City Hall
officials ''As ye would that men would
do to you, do ye also unto them"
HON. ]. TAYLOR ELLYsoN.
But, let us deal with the prominent
characters in this picture.
Standing in the centre, with an UNI
brelia in his hand is Hon. J. Taylor
Ellyson, now ex-Mayor of Richmond,
| but who held that position when the
| photograph from which this s'cut" was
made was taken. He is a gentlemen
of high character, Democrat of the
most pronounced type, and yet so
-
scientious in his official functions that
he meets every one with that urbanity
| OF manner that makes them feel "at
ease" in his presence.
APPROVED THE coLoRED ARMoRY APPRo-
PRIATIoN.
He signed the measure appropriat-
| ing ($75OO) seven thousand, five hun
| dred dollars offered by Alderman
/ 4 fhn - 4
armory building which structure is in
| process Of construction. Mr. Ellyson
served on the Common Council for
| years was elected president of the
same two terms. He served as chair
man of the Finance Committee and
| Committee on Ordinances prs vious to
that. He was elected to the State Sen
ate, and in 1888 was elected Mayor of
Richmond, serving three terms of two
years each. In 1894, he declined re-
/ election and went out of office in July,
1894, being succeeded by the present
| Mayor Hon. Richard M. Taylor
Mr.. Ellyson has been a member of
| the City School Board and its presi-
dent.for IL years.
SANG HIMSELF INTO OFFICE.
To the right of Mr.. Ellyson, standing
side-wise is Capt. Frank w. Cunning
ham, the City Collector, who gave us
| the photograph of the officials. He is
one OF the most popular young men in
| the city. He sang himself into office
aud his voice and his ability keep him
there. No one who has sat under the
/ mellifiuent, soul-stirring influence of
his magnificent and magnetic voice
1 will doubt the truth of what we say
relative to his extraordinary powers.
/ A ctRrOus AcRFE.rENT
He is accommodating, even at times
to the injury of himself, and is favor
ite as much among the colored people
as he is among the whites. 1t was at
! the funeral of the cOlOred barber, VIM.
Ferguson that he sang the audience to
tears. Speaking of it, he said that
there was a bargain between them, if
he died first Ferguson was to shave
him for nothing; if Ferguson died first
he was to sing at his funeral. He kept
the contract.
THE CHEF OF POLICE.
To the right of Capt. Cunningham is
the veteran police-Official in Virginia
Who is it that does not know John Poe
Jr., Chief of Police. His handsome
beard, countenance which can be SYM
| pathetic or stern as the occasion re-
him loved by the deserving unfortu-
nate and feared by the vicious. He
has history. Today no man stands
: higher in the community in which he
has for well-nigh half century spent
/ his best days. He was appointed S1n-
der the Enabling Act in 1870 and serv-
ed about II months previous to that.
! He has served since 67-8 except about
: IL months, durinG She military rule
and has been in the position ever
since.
When he was first appointed there
{ detectives. Now there are 100 men, 3
D captains and 13 sergeants.
DETECTIVE ALEXANDER ToAILINsON.
Next to the Chief is Detective Alex
ander Tomlinson, one of the shrewdest
officers in the South. He is connected
with the police department..
To see him one would think he was a
b day laborer on the street, and yet his
Z profession requires him to go this way
= He is a terror to evil-dOers. He has
!. made an enviable record during the
= last i've or six years. In conversation
{. with him, he spoke of his Familiarity
: with human faces. He never failed tC
: remember one. On the other hand he
= could not remember animals.
CANNOT IDENTIFY ANIMALS.
j He lost his horse and his neighbol
10 having found a stray animal sent fol
:, him to come and identify it. He look
ed and had to admit that he did no