Birmingham state herald., 1896-09-09
ALL WERE IN ATTENDANCE Full Meeting of Board of Police
 Commissioners. THREE OFFICERS WERE UP And Got Light Doses of Discipline -CoIored
 People Want Negro Policemen.
 Summary of Chiefs Report.

The board of police commissioners held regular meeting last night with full attendance. Chairman Stevens called the meeting to order and the clerk read the minutes of the previous meet ing, which were approved.
 Chief Mcdonald preferred charges against Officers Armstrong and Baker for violation of rule 91 (negect of duty) Also against Warden Donovan
 Officer Armstrong plead guilty to the charge. Loss of sleep and being unwell caused him to go to sleep on duty.
 Night Captain Weir stated the nature of the case.
 Officer Baker plead guilty to the charge, and asked to make a statement Night Captain Weir stated that he found Officer Baker asleep on his beat. He said the officer reported as being unwel and failed to answer at roll call, but on being sent for came to work, though un- well.
 Warden Donovan pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Chief McDon- ala stated that MT Grant re- ported to him the escape of a pris- oner. Warden Donovan had sent out a prisoner to clean up the market who had been fined $5. but it developed the prison- CT was bound over on charge of at tempted rape.
 Desk sergeant reported virtually what the chief stated.
 Market Clerk Grant said that the man who had escaped had worked in the mar kets before, and on examing the docket he found a charge of disorderly conduct against him, and he stated that he had been fined $5
 Warden Donovan was busy talking to Judge Feagin, and I asked him to let me have the man."
 He said the warden was not as much to blame in the matter as he. The negro ran away after being put to work in the market.
 Warden Donovan said he let the pris- oner out at MT. Grants request, as he wanted him to clean up the market. Whenever a man was held on a serious charge he was always notified. The man stated that he had been fined $5, but when the card came from the clerk of the court it developed that he had been bound over to the higher court.
 The several commissioners had a run ming fire of cross examination of the wit ness as to the rule governing the keeping of prisoners.
 A petition was read from number of colored citizens asking for two secret service colored policemen to be used in keeping down vice among the colored people. The petitioners set forth that with two such men the evil could be rem edied to great extent.
 w. D. Martin. Esq. appeared in behalf of the petitioners.
 Chairman Stevents stated that he had received a communication from MT Emil Lesser, president of the Birmingham Turn Verein. thanking them for their aid in making the summer nights festi- val success. He stated that he had &C., knowledged receipt of same. The chair mans action was sustained.
 The communication was neatly worded and was received with pleasure by the board, who were unanimous in praising the festival and stating that they were pleased to have been of service to the German American citizens of the city.
 Chief McDonald's reports for the months of July and August were read. Following are extracts from them:
 In July the total amount of fines as- sessed was $3057.25; collected, $1046.75; to- tai cash receipts, $131S.10; value of stolen property recovered, $427.50 amount of street tax collected, $1119; poll tax, $690.50 Amount of police pay roll, $2331 .25; aver age number of prisoners in jail daily, 57 at work. 40.
 Amount of fines assessed was $3912 50; ; collected s1O67.22; total cash receipts, $1242.47; value of stolen property recov- cred, $51650; amount of street tax collect ed $801; poll tax $332; amount of pay roll for August, $237795; average number of prisoners in jail daily, 105; at work, Il.
 Chief McDonald stated that he had re- ceived three bids for the winter uniforms for officers and patrolmen.
 The board decided to meet on Tuesday next at o'clock at Garrett & Under woods office to open the bids.
 Rewards were reported as follows: To Officer Culpepper, for returning Willie Williams to Georgia $2.
 Officer Culpepper returning Andrew Mills to prison; $25.
 Captain Weir and Officer Oldham, re- turning D. l.. Stacy to Illinois; $2
 Officer Walker, returning John Thomas to Anniston; $2. Recovery of watch $5.
 Officer Langston, returning Jim Paris to Hayneville; 1.
 Captain Weir and Officer Johnston, re- turning George Thomas to Shelby coun- ty; $2.
 Officer Hsgood. returning Will Jones