The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-13
They Have Very Important Four
Hours Session.
The Trial Of Officer Snyder, Charged
With Serious Ofense. Con-
cluded, Honorably Acquitted.
Bass on Trial For Drunk.
ness. Case Continued.

Tor drunkenness. The Board. learn.
ing OF such action. tdeemod 1t matter
TINT should be fully Investigated.
Oiiicer Bass testified that tho time
that ho was charged with drunkenness
was on tho 2Gth of June, tho day on
which he received his iurluuph.
but that tho charge was utterly with
out foundation. aud that tho first no
knew of 1t was when ho was citad to
appear before his church to answer to
tao charge; that he did not appear at
that meeting, but produced copy of
letter he wrote tho official smembers,
d ,nying tne charge and apologizing
Tor any ill,tempered remarks he had
made in regard to certain members of
the church who had been instrumental
III bringing tho charge against him. -
The Bonrd told him that he should
have gone before the meeting of the
official members of his church and
v;udioated himself. His failure to do
60 initiated against him.
Mira. Bass WAS present and testified
that MIR. Bnily, one of the witnesses
who testified against her husband, bud
told her that Ii. did not SAY that her
husband was drunk, but he appeared
to bo SO. and then gave different
statement ut tho trial. She also stated
that she had seen her pastor, the Rev.
w. f. Watson, who said that no was
very sorry that the matter ended as it
did; that 1t was all done during his nb-
sence, and had ho been III the city the
trial woud never have come oil, aud
that the cnso could again be reoponed
aud MIR. Bass giving IA hearing.
Officer Bass WAS again called, and
t,I. al Q
seen his pastor in reference to the
charge, ana he had told him TINT there
would nothing come out of the matter.
The officer snid that tho charge WIS
the outcome of malice toward him on
the part of one oi thc members, MIR.
Bailey.
Mr.. Nerdier read n letter from MIR.
n. u. Walker, IA former member of
Sturgeon Memorial Church, stating
TINT he had evidence III his possession
to show TINT the trial and conviction
of MIR. Bass was ill-tImed and wholly
without foundation.
MIR. Ncrdier was disposed to exhon-
crate officer Bass on the statements IN
this letter. Capt. Bolton iuterposed
tho objection that the letter was simply
the opinion of one man who was not "A
member Of the church and therefore
could not have the same weight with
him that regular church trial would,
rs 1T was there that all tho iucts in the
case were brought out on which IL con.
viction was found and verdict of ex
pulslon arrival at.
On motion. the case of Officer Bn,s
WAS left open until such time us he can
get further testimony Ill his behalf. lie
was also directed to get u letter from
his pastor corrOboratIng what lie snid
his pastor had told him, and further
stating thar had he have been in the
city ut the time there would not have
beeu any trial, and the Board wonld
then have final adjudication OF the
case.
The case of Officer Snyder, charged
with bong party TO IA criminal assault
on colored girl named Maddio Ious
ms, was taken mp from where it was
lett oil at the last meeting.
Officer 1ltmus was called for the
prosecution. HIS testimony was that q
night or two alter the alleged assault,
Mike Perry Informed him of what had
occurred and told him lie did not see
how an officer could be guilty of such
an act, aud asked him what to do m
regard TO the matter
Officer Curtis WIS called, bnt his
testimony had little or no bearing on
the case.
Sallle Sanford, Officers Sykes and
Griffin, VIM. Thoroughbred, Jno. Walker
and Willie johnson were heard for the
defense. Their evidence, with the OK.
ception of SHlle Sanford, tended
strongly to break down the character
OF the evidence against Officer SNYDER.
The witnesses were subjected to
rigid cross examination by the counsel
Tor the prosecution. After oil the
testimony was heard NJ. Julins 4.
Saunders, counsel for tho complainant,
aud Col! Geo. Martin, who Representa- d
Officer Snyder, briefly addressed the
Board on the merits of the case, after
which the Board went into
EXECUTIVE SESSION
to settle the matter and rendered tho
following decision:
That the board after mature deliber
alton Is OF the opinion that the charges
against Officer Snyder are totally I'M.
founded. The testimony for the prose.
cution rs borne cut in tho trial estaG-
fishes the fact that one OF the principal
witnesses against the officer, Mike
Perry, colored has been tried
nnd convicted OF larceny before
the courts and sentenced to SIX
months confinement III the Nor
folk jail, and that the remainder OF the
witnesses, including the girl Aladdie
Cousins, are of like bad character,
and their testimony cannot be believed
by the board and thay 40 tbarat,,,