The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-04-02
THE POLICE BOARD.
The Charges Against Capt. King and
Officer Woodhouse Heard.


raised the Police Board last night
heard the charges against Capt. King
and Officer A. .. Woodhouse. The
former was charged with oppression in
olhce aud false Imprisonment, the com
plalnant having committed no oilense
IN the presence OF Capt. King. Officer
| Woodhouse was charged by the same
complainant with brnIally clubbing one
Charles Williams, who looks like an is
year-old boy, but who testified yester
day that he was % years of uge in Feb
runry.
Tho prosecution was represented by
Mr.. James L. Duncan, tho defendant
by Mr.. Sam w. Small.
Ii was decided to hear both cases at
one time aud Mr.. Page Stires was call
ed to the stand. Mr.. Stires was stand
ing ut Church and Union streets on
Tuesday. March 18th. when Officer
Woodhouse arrested young Williams
aud told of the Officer clubbing him.
lie went to the station house with Mr..
Waller, who desired to make churges
| against the officer. While MIR. Waller
was making the charges before Capt.
King, Officer Woodhuuse interruDted
him and placed him under arrest.
charged with interfering with an of
duty. He denounced na false state
ment made by the officer in the Police
Court that Mr. Waller had pulled n
button OIL his coat ut the place wbero
Williams was arrested.
MIR. Richard Baylor was called TO
the stand, but 1t WAS agreed bv oppo-
sing counsel to take the record of the
Police Court wkere Oilicar Woodhuuse
was lined so and costs for tho assault.
aud dispense with the examination of
other witnesses who had appeared be.
fore that Court, and MIR. Buylor was
told 10 stand aside.
MIR. w. y. Waller. the complainant,
theu took tho stand and detailed the
arrest and clubbing of Williams and
his own arrest Ill the station. house. lie
said he had no words with Officer
Woodhousc except in the station house
aud that tho Officer arrested hlm while
he was preicrring chaiges before Capt.
King.
Justice Ashburn was called and tosti-
| lied TO the station house affair, but re-.
membered little of the conversation
preceding Mr.. Walters arrest. While
the Justice was on the stand. Officer
Woodhouse seemed convulsed with
| laughter ut times.
Capt, King then took the stand. Ho
| said he thought that the officer had a
right to arrest MIR. Waller for inter
ference and that MIR. Waller did not
prefer charges against the officer.
The Msyor-"iou say MIR, Waller
never preferred charges"
Capt. King-"ue never got to TINT
point"
MIR. Duncan-"You never let him.
| that any citizen who demonstrated
with an officer was amenablo to
charges?"
Capt. King -"No, sir"
Mr.. Nerdier asked if there was not
an order that prevented the Captain
from releasing III prisoner when brought
in by an officer.
The Mayor Mr.. Waller was
not brought in.
MIR. Nerdler-"lie was under arrest
| and the order held good"
The Mayor-"Ihen it's n bad order. {"
Officers Price, Hamilton, Reid and
Sherman told OF their connection with
the case, and then Officer Woodhouse
was called to tie stand The officer
| had those present couvused with
laughter at times by the manner in
which he gave his Testimony and his
effort to emphasize the fact that he was
an officer of the law. In the course of
his examination Mr.. Small asked:
'W here arc your rules and reguls
tons"
81 haven't any, sir" replied the Off.
Ger. 81 have applied for them several
times, but never bad any"
Then you have never had any In.
structions?" asked his counsel.
"Ihe only instruction | ever got
was from Capt Bolton, when | mot
him on the street" aud a smile uassed
around the room.
MIR. VierdIer afterward explaipe d
that Chief kebman was not to blame
for the failure OF the officers TO have
the regulations-ihat it was entirely
the fault of the Board.
Oilicer WoOdhouse created copsider.
able surprise by saying that he believed
he was mistaken when he charged Mr.
Waller with having interfared with
him, that it was man WHO looked like
MIR. Waller.
When the officer had stepped aside
MIR. Duncan opened the argument
during which he said he didn't attn.
butte Capt. Kings conduct IN locking
MIR. Waller mp to malice, but thought
he didn't know any better,
MIR. Small followed in speech of
fifteen minutes and Mr. Duncan closed,
Tbe board then went into executive
session and IapIln1 10 1oro- -.