Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-09

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 There is no department connected with
 the administration of a city that figures
 more prominently or vitally in the public
 interest than that department which
 holds guard over the citys peace, prop
 erty and liberty Therefore it is that the policing of city is matter of the grav- est importance and that community
 which is well ordered in that regard be-
 comes not only safeguard to its imme-
 date welfare, but is confidently relied
 upon by the country at large Significant of this fact are the many important crim- J inal apprehensions that the Birmingh ham police have returned to distant communi- ties Since the force has won such well deserved repute abroad and has so eff fcently looked after the immediate pro- lection of Birmingham, 1t is but just to the force that they be invited to stand before the public eye. if To begin with, the force is under sept | arate management from the city admin istration. It is under the immediate con | trol of police commission created by an act of the legislature. This, 1t is believed removes the demoralizing influences of politics. IT In March, 1892, T. c. Mcdonald was elected chief of police and during his term of office he has made an enviab1e l record. Captain Mcdonald was born in Greensboro in 1854. Ills grandparents on his mothers side were related to Presi- dent Madison and, Daniel Webster and his ancestors came from historic Vir- ginia. The Mcdonald family moved to Birmingham in August, 1871. In 1871 Mr T. c. Mcdonald married Miss Annie Bracitt Isabell of Sumter county. The Isabells also are of an illustrious Virginia descent. MT McDonald's father was a member of the first board of aldermen organized in Birmingham under the may! oralty administration of Robert Henley Chief Mcdonald went to Tuska1oosa
 county in 1878 and returned to Birmng- ham in 1885. He was elected a patrolman on the Birmingham force in March, 1885, under the Lane administra ton. After years service he was, promoted to city
 tax collector, which, he filled for three years. In 1889 he was made lieutenant of police and afterwards captain MT Mcdonald is of independent means and is estima ted to be worth $5O,OOO.
 Capt. Will Weir.
 Mir. Weir was born in Pickens county.
 and comes from one of the best families in the state. He came to Birmng ham in 1887, and was elected on the force as a patrolman. In 1892 he was made captain | of police. He is a young man of splendid physique. handsome, quiet in manner and neat and genteel in appearance. Sergt, J, B. Donelson
 is a Tennessean, son of General Donel-
 son, after whom Fort Doneson was
 named. In the early part of the civil war he, then but youth. entered the Confederate service and was ain officer on
 his fathers staff. After the war he was a cotton planter in Florida, living near Tallahassee. He came to Birmingham in 1886, and was shortly thereafter elect ed to a position on the police force. Sergt J. 0. Rowlett. was appointed on the force March 22, 1895, as desk sergeant and the chiefs pri- vate secretary. The Rowett family are prominently identified with the first days of Birmingham. He is deservedly popu- lar with the force and the commission, whose deliberations are considerably aid- ed by his accurate minutes.
 The Patrolmen.
 The following names are the bone and sinew of the force:
 w. J. Mcdonald. J. S. Oldham, J. s.
 Johnson, w. P. Walton, J. H. Whaley, M. Eagan, A. Ellard, G. H. Bodeker, H. T. Culpepper, A. A. Gambill, G. E. De- vine. A. D. Brown, G. w. Armstrong w. A. Disheroon, J. w. Byars P. J. New man, R. w. Walker R. H. McCallum, w. H. Baker, I. T. Goggans, G. w. Kirk ley, J. M. Nix, N. H. Erwin F. L. Brigen- dine J. M. Langston, T. z. Hagood. " D. Perdue. c. w. Austin, w. T. Rollo. R. H. Patton; J. J.. Gambill, J. H. Mullin. supernumararies.
 Mounted Men.
 R. w. Walker rides pretty Betty Black and the ithe and willowy form
 of J. s. Johnson is often seen astride the
 gallant mare "Sorrel Jenny" s, Patrol Driver Jones is one of the most efficient as WEI as one of the most courteous officers -9n Io hoS whila in the service and is universally esteemed. Wardens. 5ss MT. Donovan is a veteran in the busi- ness, but his kind heart has often won | him warm friends with the prisoners The night warden, MT. Cunningham, is equally considerate. of the comfort of the unfortunates coming under his charge, and he never omlts an opportunity to ide all in his power for his prisoners. J n Scattering Remarks. ,s.a Thirty-two men are on the force. MT. R. H. McCallum Is 56 years old and is the oldest man on the force. 'os' Sergeant Donelson is the oldest in the service. iS Chief Mcdonald is the wealthiest and Pete Newman, patrolman. comes next in
 money. -lS The tallest-Sergeant Donelson and Captain Weir. r-tzt"~' -if The handsomest-Goggans. Austin and Baker. The jolliest--Cunningham and John The shortest Gin stature)-Eagan. The shortest rwise)-Johnson. as The heaviest-Goggans. is The lightest-Rowlett. ..; .s The homelest-Cunningham Most erratic-Jones. sg Most sedate-McCallum. Best educated-Rowlett.
 Best record, exclusive of officers, for