The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-27
HOWARD, CHIEF OF POLICE.
The First Station Captain Chosen TO
Succeed Major Pos.
SERGEANT THOMAS FOR CAPTAIN,
And Mr.. shinbsrger Promoted to Sergeant
Star-Chamber Meeting of the Com
missioners - Sketch of the
New Chiefs Career.

The Beard of Police Commissioners
met promptly last night at $50 O'Clock
in the Office OF the chief OF Police in
the city HAN, for the purpose OF elcctlng
Chief OF Police to succeed the late
Major John Poe, and hll such vacancies
as might follow this election. The entire
board was present. as follows Mayor
Ricnari VI. rayl0- and commissioners
). B. Welsh. OF Marshall ward. l.. &.
fIgg. OF Jefferson ward, 4. q. Boshcf,
OF Madison ward; j. ". Lauoe OF Mon
roe ward, J. +. Jacob, OF Gay ward,
and -. \. MeinDrun, OF jackson ward.
Inc representatives of the morning
papers were, OF course, on hand, ana be-
lore the board went into session they
asked the commissioners as 10 whether
they would be admitted 10 the meeting.
The commissioners at once Ieured ~
the inner room, and after a Drlet consui-
tatiOn Mr. Bosher, VINO acted as "pokcs-
man returned with the message iual
the BOARD had decided 10 continue their
former rulings and hold the election with
closed doors. lie then Withdrew, ana
the board then locked themselves IN with
AIr. Edgar Is. White, tnelr secretary.
arAK caAMBtE PEOcLEDINGs.
The star-chamber proceedings lasted
until II o'clock, with TWO or intee ofitl
.nteruissions. when some OF the COM
mlssloners reappeared IN the outer room
for a moment or two TO enjoy urinA
of ice water. ID the meantime, crowd
OF several hundred statesmen ana pollu-
clans remained on the Sidewalks around
the City Hail. patiently awaiting tie re-
suit OF the cOuclaVc ana eagerly uiacuas-
ing the possible chances OF the various
candidates.
Wnen the meeting finally did break up
Mir fieg was the first 10 appear from
the inner room. He had ms nat vn'
and Immediately bent his steps nome
ward. lie was followed by the othcg
members of the board, who all heelleu
10 be very anxious to leave the Dulldlh5.
The same could be said OF secIclais
White. and the only one who remained
any length OF time was Commissioners
Toster 1owover very little Information
could be gathered from that gentleman,
the board having decided not 10 1lNuisc
anything than the fact that the .oho" ihs
members OF the police ioree nan os'n
elected or rather promoted 10 higher io-
CAPTAIN B. F.. Howard, Of the First
district, chief OF Police. ,.-. null,
Sergeant ". l.. Thomas, OF ,nc LINZ"
| district. captain Of the FIRST district.
| Artiu1, Sergeant John f.. Shlnbefger the
| present clerk of the CHIEF OF folice' Ser
| eeant of the First district.
| William T. German. stOnc-cutter' Ot
| Clay ward, police Oflcei' 10 pv "9''-"O"
| 10 4 district by the chlei'
HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
In speaklng OF the result of the meet
! ing. MIR Bosher said he kne" that ~
! To the time when the board went in'o So
| sion none of the members knew MHul
/ tha outcome would be. According 10
! fheir agreement. nothing could be learn
| ed As to now the vote actudiiy stovu'
! how many ballots were taken, VINO made
| the nominations. and VINO ehuoIseu tuc
same. 10 is pretty well UNDERSTOOD, nvN
1 cser mat t6.. members OF Church Hili,
! iha commissioners from MarSnai ana Jci-
forson ward favored Captain Howard ior
| chief Of Police. 49,. 49,,
| missioner Bosher of Madison ward, de-
| sired to see Mr.. ShinDerger elected lof
| that position. Finding, however, tht .e"i..
zation OF his wish an iniposslDlitty, u
| would not have been surprising IT thtt
| gentleman finally changed MS Fo'e ia
| favor OF Captain Howard provided ne
| could thereby secure lfomOloh oi ms
| candidate. IL also stands 20 reason tna1
| A commissioner from the Third district
| who was not originally in favor or cap
| tain Howard's promotion, nnalIy chdhs-d "a
| his vote in order to ~ ,ure the advance
| mcnt Of Sergeant Thomas
| TIE NEW CRItF OF POLICE
| Captain b. +. Howard, the new chief OF
| Police. was appointed private on me
| rclice force on December -, 1850, by David
| j. Saunders who was then Mayor or
| Richmond by appointment OF the COM
mander Of Military District no. J. On
| July, 1866. he was promoted 10 rouhlaI an
/ ana dSeltu.l 10 llt 'fNDlit tAHAi V'
! July /, isfs he was appointed acting SER
| geant, and served in that capacity until
| the military commander aplointcd cap
tains ana serseants Tor the Shute Sltsf
| lie was then put back on beat duty,
| and remained in that capacity untl tne
| Enabling Act OF 1870 was put IN force.
| Hon Henry x. Ellyson then became
| Mayor and Major JOnn Zoe Chlel OF
] Police.
| When the latter reorsanized the police
force Policeman Howard, with others
| was appointed sergeant lie Wos assign
| ca 10 duty with eight men TO guard the
| Capitol and Governors Mansion where he
| remained until the CahoOn force retreat
| ed. He was then transferred 20 the First
| district. where he served as sergeant un-
| iii June 10 1895. when ne was promoted
| TO captain TO succeed the datc captain
| James Brooke Peasants.
| Chief Howard was "A gallant soldier
| during the war having entered IL as
sergeant at the organization OF Company
| a." OF the old First ON April ~. ls0z
| at the reorganization Of his command
| al Yorktown, he was promoted 10 the
office OF lieutenant. and at the death
| Of Captain J. A. Tabb, who was Killed
| August 80 1862. Lieutenant Howard
was made captain Of his company at
Manassas. He served until the close or
| the war was wounded several times,
| and distinguished himself as soldier
! OF the "Old First"
THE orHFR APPoNTFEs
Sergeant w. l.. Thomas. Of the Third
| district, who has been elected captain OF
| the First district. has been a member OF
the police force since 1872 and about 1850
| he was promoted 20 sergeant. This ser
| vice has been markell by efficiency, gen
tlemanly conduct on all occasions, hon
esty and answering regard for duty.
| lie is spoken Of In the highest terms by
all who know him. and his promotion
| is considered a well-deseryed one, anf
| with general approval
Acting Sergeant John +. ShinberSers
| who Will hereafter be one Of the SER
eeants lOf the Third district. IS we'll
| worthy OF that consideration. for he not
| only possesses a high education, being
a graduate Of the University OF Virginia.
but he has given ample proof I'm the
past that he can be relied upon at any
lime for his faithfulness and strict atten-
ton 10 duty.
Chdef OF Police Howard will select a
member OF the force 10 succeed Mr. Shin
berger as clerk in his office.
o