The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-31
The Board Of Police Commissioners
Makes An Investigation.
PA7ROLAEN AGAINST THEIR SERGEANT
They Tell About Tint Now Famous
search Warrant and Sergeant
Kirchmier Explains Why He Did
Not Arrest Mr.. PrinAe->Qrfcer
summon Fined.

ing.
The first matter taken up by the board
was the charge preferred by Sergeant
kirchmier against officer Summer, for
being off his beat last Thursday night
Sergeant kirchmier made u statement
of the case, which was simply that he
found the officer off his beat on the
night in question and that lie was on
the premises Of the electric light COM
any's plant. officer Sumner testified
that he simply dropped into the place
10 get a drink of water: that the place
lane) was open to the public; that he
was not in there five minutes altogether.
and did not intend to violate any rule.
MIR. Salisbury, engineer of the electric
light company, corroborated the officers
sta tement TO the effect that he was only
IN there Il few minutes: that the officer
did not sit down while In there, and
that he was detained by him (NIr Sal
iSbury) on account of that gentleman
asking him some questions about a
rumor that negro man had run over
board while being chased by an officer.
Chief King and Clerk Gregory ,csti-
fled tC the officers good reputation.
The next business taken up was the
charges against Sergeant Eirchmier,
preferred by Chief King. for dereliction
of duty on the part of the Sergeant In
connection with the raid on the Allan
tic Social Club. No. q James street, on
the 2Gth OF January.
ana testified to the manner of going to
the place on the first occasion in the
morning, as published In the papers at
the time ard the subsequent taking out
of warrant and going to the place a
second time in the afternoon: that the
law was found to be violated. and that
the Sergeant placed the proprietor, Mr..
Prince. under arrest; that Prince pro-
tested. but the officer insisted that he
must go with him: that he also stated
to the other inmates that they were
under arrest as nusances: that the Ser
gcant talked the matter over with MIR.
Prince alone. took down the names of
the men in the place. and suddenly told
them (the olIicers) to come along, and
they left
Sergeant Kirchmier asked Officer Cur
tbs If he did not hear him ask Mr.. Prince
If he was the president of the club.
and that Mr.. Prince replied that he was
not. officer Curtis replied in the mega
tive.
Officer Williams was called and testi-
fled substantially the same rs officer
Curtis, but stated that during the con-
vcrsation with Mr.. Prince and Sergeant
Kirchmier he went down stairs and re-
manned about twenty minutes before he
was called back up stairs: heard the
Scrgcan: tell Mr.. Prince that he would
take the liquors TO the station-house
with him. but afterwards decided TO
leave them, but took a memorandum of
them: did rot hear the Sergeant ask
Mr.. Prince II he was president Of the
club When asked by the board IL he
had been In charge of the raid what
course he would have pursued, and he
replied that he would have arrested
Mr.. Prince.
officer Hunters testimony did not
vary materially from the testimony
Of Officers Curtis and Williams. Said
that he saw no one drinking ut the
. I. ,i,Yl,t Il
Heard Mr.. Prince tell the Sergeant thG's
the President of the club was not there
and refused TO give the name of the
President Did not remember whethe,
the Sergeant asked Mr.. Prince If he was
the President OF the Club. Thought he
was President as he seemed 10 assume
all authority. Heard the Sergeant tell
Mr.. Prince that he intended to take
all tho liquors, &C. to the sta tion-house
and should take him with him. but af-
terward decided not to do so. Remain
ed at the place about thirty minutes
before coming back to the station-houSe.
Officer Ludy was called. and stated
that he first Went to the door nj the
back of the house, and afterwards
went up stairs with the other officers
Saw Sergeant liirchmiier and Mr.. Prince
| discussing the matter Heard him tell
the Sergeant he had no authority to
! arrcS; him without specifying the
| charges The Sergeant told him that
he should prefer the charge of nuisance
| against him. To which Mr.. Prince re-
! piled: Il have committed no nuisance
| but ! will 90 down with you, but II
| you put year hand On me you will
| assault me" Did not see the warrant
Officers Hodges ana l.. O. Moore were
| called, but knew very little of the
| affair
officer Snyder's testimony did not
| throw any light on the matter
| c,nrSrp1nt Il rcb nj. Ia
| own benalf. He stated that when he
came 10 the station-house at night Of
| ficcrs Williams. Hunter. and Curtis call
| ed him one side and handed him the
| warrants saying. Here are the war
rants, and asked him to go with them
tie TOOK nOid OF the search warrant and
corrected ii, and then led the partv
| When he got to the house he saw n
man sitting in chair at the door
| who refused to admit him until he read
| the warrants In Il few minutes Mr.
| iush came down stairs and then went
| back up stairs and called Mr.. Prince
| down. VINO answered the call by coming
| down. and he went up stairs with him.
| pa not ma any gambling parapherna-
| ia on inc premises. Saw the bar and
| the liquors. and saw white man
standing behind the bar in his shirt
sleeves. saw no liquors drank Asked
| Mr. Prince who was the President of
the Club. and he refused to tell him.
| ASKED him If he was the President
| ana he said he was not That he was
| only a member Told him thai he
| should put him under arrest and take
| MN 10 the Station-house, when he re-
pheu that he had no warrant for him
ana therefore you have no right to car