The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-03-23
POLICE MIDDLE
The Force Getting More Disorgan-
lied Daily.
The MEN NEED INFORMATION
Substitute Woodhouse Heavily Fined
for Clubbing Boy. The Arrest
of MIR. Waller Termed an Out
rage by the Justice of the
Peace. Other Matters.

,he Chief aud the detectives, have
thoroughly demoralized the Police
force, and there are but few of the
men who would be astunlshed il sum-
moned ct any time TO show cause why
they should not be removed. There
are very many people who sustain tho
Commissioners and hold the admins.
tration responsible for violations of
law, since promise was made
that there would be general
CLEARING OUT OF DIVES
and punishment of offenders. Aside
from the arrest of number of crap
shop proprietors, one or two policy
dealers, the net has caught but little.
Great efficiency, 1t is said, caunot he
expected when the force IL composed
almost exclusively OF raw men;
SO raw that they do not know
the streets, nnd SO green that they be.
lieve, i'll the language OF Mayor Eettit,
''tbat they have the right To stop u
man on the street and smell his breath
TO see il he has been drinking" Want
of information on the part of the men
will likely
CAUSE TROUBLE
unless the Commissioners establish o
school for police instruction.
Recently The VIRGINIAN reported
that three prominent citizens were
driven from the corner of Main ana
Cranky streets by n policeman, who
thought they had been too long in one
place. The outrage was rcbuked by
the Justice Of the Peace.
1t WAS not the officers fault, how
ever, Rs he did not know that mnu,
or rather these men, had "a right to EN-
this regenerated city. Yesterday there
was trial in the Police Court worthy
of more than casual mention.
Officer Woodhouse, Il substitute, a
few days sgo
CLUBBED WITHOUT PRovICATIoS
boy named Williams not half his size.
He thought the boy WAS drunk; the
boy was not offending. but the officer
being clothed with all the dignity OF
both OF the Commissioners, or all of
the dignity they could give, concluded
to take him III anyhow. The
boy protested, then ran. the officer
followed aud used his murderous black
jack on the little fellows head. The
affair was witnessed by several citizens.
They were indignant and when the boy
was taken TO the station they followed,
and one OF the funniest things III police
history occurred. Mr.. Waller, IA well
known citizen, who saw the assault.
preferred charges to Capt. King against
Woodhouse.
SECOND ASSAULT.
The substitute policeman heard the
charge made at the railing, was
offended anu walking up to MIR.
Waller, caught him by the coat and
M haf i
IT? l will pref,r charges against You
for interfering with me in the dis
charge OF my duty"
The charge was formally made and
MIR. Waller was locked up. Those who
know the substitute policeman are not
disposed to blame HIM. He thought
really that Mr.. Waller had interfered
With him in the discharge of his duty.
lie vas ouly a substitute, with nobody
to instruct HIM.
The Police Justice. however, thought
Otherwise, ana IN spite of the ability
OF MIR. Small and Messrs. Vennbe X
Mcllwaine. his counsel, the court held
with MIR. Duncan, counsel for Williams,
that great outrage had been commit.
ted, and fined substitute Woodhouse
$50. The Justice characterized the
incarceration of Mr.. Waller in severe
terms.
CHARGES AGAINST CHIEF,
LIE NIRGINIAS was informed last
night by the secretary OF the Police
Board that when the charges against
Chief Rebman and the detectives are
heard that the doors will be thrown
open to the public, so that there can
be all OF the light possible shed upon
the investigation, that the commission
eIs are we'll fortified with facts.
The Chief was furnished with tue
specifications yesterday, go that he
might have time to prepare his de-
feDse.
saAn effort, it is thought, will be made
to induce the Councils to refuse to
confirm any one in Chief Rebmans
place. THIS will hardly succeed, vt is
thought, as the fight is family affair
TO be settled by the administration,
and Democrats will be apt to ei7e the
Prohibitionists full swing.
The detectives will certainly walk
the plank. They can be removed at
will.
The new administration has been
IN power over nine months during
which time there have been more
chiefs, captains and sergeants, than in
the ten past years. One of the promi-
nent administration men said yester-
day, eve will change them once