Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-18
THE POLICE COMMISSION Hold a Meeting to Elect Four
 Officers. OFFICER c. s. WILSON TRIED On Three Charges Preferred by Chief McDon- ad-The Verdict Was Guilty and Pun
 Shment Dismissal.

The board of police commissioners meet in adjourned session at s o'clock last night, with President Mudd in the chair At roll call all the other commissioners were present as follows: Messrs. M. c. Reynolds, A. H. Stevens, W. c. Garrett and T. F. Thornton.
 The minutes of the last regular meeting were read and approved, after some al iteration
 Charges were preferred by Chief Me Donald against Police Officer c. $. Will son. There were three charges as fol- lows: Insubordination, incompetency and neglect of duty.
 Commissioner Garrett was called to the chair by President Mudd.
 Officer Wilson asked that he be tried under the city code, inasmuch as the new regulations had not been given to the or ficers.
 Acting President Garrett then read the code as to the charges preferred.
 The first charge-leaving his beat-Was taken up The clerk called city witnesses as follows: Chief Mcdonald, Capt. Will Weir and Officers Goggans and Bodeker.
 Officer Wilson offered plea of guilty, with privilege of making an explanation. He said the time the charge was made was at midnight, when the relief was made. He and his relief have been accuS- toned to meet each other when in sight, as this has been customary ever since ne has been on the force. All the policemen have done this and if it is violation all have been guilty.
 Chief Mcdonald said that he has sev- eral times given the day sergeant and night captain strict orders to notify the officers not to leave their beats until their relief came.
 The second charge-ineompetency was next brought up. The charges pre- ferred were that man rode a horse on the sidewalk, a woman was knocked Tn the head, all occurring on his beat, ana which he failed to report. The city Wit nesses were called and answered to their names.
 The defendant asked as to the full charge of incompetency preferred against him. After receiving the infor- nation desired he called his witnesses, some of whom failed to answer
 Witnesses for the city testified as to woman having been knocked in the head on First avenue, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, on Wednesday eVenr ing last by boys who were throwing rocks. After two witnesses had been heard Officer Wilson admitted that a woman was hit at the time and on ms beat.
 Chief Mcdonald, Captain Weir and Sergeant Donelson testified as to defend- ants beat Officer Bodeker testified as to the time he heard of the occurrences which was about 12:30 a. m. Thursday
 Witnesses for the defense testified that no police call had been made al the time the woman was hit.
 Officer Goggans testified that he some- times meets his relief at the alley, though his orders are to meet his rellet on the street. .,, =.
 Officer Bodeker testified that on the night of the 10th instant he met Oilicer wilson between Third avenue ana sec ond avenue He also testified that ofh- cer Wilson often met him there coming to relieve him. .,,.,,
 Witnesses testified as to negro riding a. horse across the sidewalk at the corner of First avenue and Twentleth street. One of them said the horse seemed to pe high strung and unmanageaDle.
 This matter was also introduced by the chief of police in his charge Of lncom- petency against the defendant
 The charge of insubordination was next brought up ~, tho dav referred to. the 18th, MT. Wilson was sitting on a bench with his citizen clothes on I asked him if he was going to worl and he said "No." I asked him why ana he said he had right to lay off II ne chose to, and I said he had not.
 On cross-examination Chief McDonald said Officer W1lSOH put Oii 'iio and reported for duty, but was aiterWard relived by Sergeant Donelson.
 Clerk Rowlett testified about the same as the chief. ,. ,,,
 Commissioner Reynolds asked MT. RoWlett if he thought MT. Wilson's an- swer to the chief was in respectful man nar a nd he answered that he thought not.
 Officer Perdue also testified as did the other witnesses and said he thought Off, cer Wilson answered the chief in an un- pleasant manner. ,,
 Sergeant Donelson testified that Off, cer Wilson asked to be laid off. but he re- ferred the officer to the chief.
 Officer Wilson made a statement rel alive to the matter about the same as Chief McDonald but disclaimed any sharp or disrespectful manner. He also said that so far as the verdict Of the po- lice commission was concerned, It was immaterial and he desired to tender hls resignation to go into effect at once lie wrote the resignation at the suggestion of the acting president, and it was, on motion of Commissioner Stevens. not ac- cepted.
 The board then went lnto executiNe ses- sion.
 In few minutes the president pro tent read the verdict as follows:
 MT Wilson is found guilty of incom- potency and insubordination and is here by dismissed from the force"
 The board again went into executive session for the election of officers and in n few minutes elected the following: T. z. Hagood, w. T. Rolla, c. w. Austin, w. D. Perdue.
 The board then adjourned.
 Messrs Hagood and Perdue were, up tol the time of their election. supernumera-. ries and Messrs Rolla and Austin were. ex-members of the police force.
 WE WILL SELL car load of Well-broke Ken-. lucky horses and mules at