The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-15
NO PAY FOR POLICEMEN.
Metropolitan Force Is Waiting for SUI
preme Court Decision.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
HUNTINGTON, Ind, Oct. 14.-The liti-
cation growing out of the appointment of
a metropolitan police board for this city by
the Governor is still on. One case, attack
ing the validity of the appointments
brought by the Democratic members of the
Council, heard by Judge Robey and decided
in favor of the appointees, has been APP
pealed to the Supreme Court. The Council
then refused to pay the officers who had
been appointed policemen. The captain of
the police brought mandate proceedings for
his salary and Judge Watkins ordered the
Council to pay the officers, but it still re-
fused, first having filed bond for an appeal
to the Supreme Court from the ruling of
Judge Watkins. The Council was then cited
to appear for contempt. In reply the DEM
ocrats set up that their bond for an appeal
acted as a stay of proceedings in the lower
court; The argument was heard Saturday:
and this morning Judge Watkins decided
that the Council could not be punished
pending the hearing of the case in the Su-
preme Court. This leaves the case badly
confused The metropolitan police board
is in authority, but the Council refuses to
pay salaries The authority of the State is
openly defied, and all for malicious partisan
purposes AS the Council no longer has
authority to appoint policemen and will not
pay the present officers, it is possible the
town may be handed over to the thugs and
hoodlums until a Supreme Court decision
settles the matter. 1t is conceded that the
metropolitan police service is more efficient
anu from 9OUU TO 3I.UUU a year cheaper, out
the Democrats are fighting it because it
has removed the chance of paying political
debts with positions on the force.
Medal of Honor for Captain Ferris.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
ALBANY, Ind, Oct. A-Captain E. w.
Ferris proprietor of the Grand Hotel, has
received a letter from the War Department
notifying him that he had been granted a
medal of honor for most distinguished gall
lantry in action and the letter gives the
following statement of the particulars:
Near Berryvile, Va. April 1, 1866, this
officer, then first lieutenant and adjutant
Thirtieth Massachusetts Volunteers, having
obtained permission to go outside the lines
of the army, accompanied by an orderly,
moved three miles from camp, when he was
airy and his surrender demanded. He re-
fused and resisted his assailants, MORALLY
wounded the leader of the party, sezed his
horse and pistols, wounded three more had
a running fight with the remainder was
himself wounded, but escaped His orderly
was endorsed and captured but finally es-
capped and returned to camp. The leader of
the Confederates was taken prisoner and
died from his wounds, as did another of the
wounded men,.
The letter closes as follows:
1.-The medal will be forwarded to you by
mail as soon as it shall have been engrossed.
''R. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War"
The above recital of Lieutenant Ferris S
encounter with Mosby's men is corroborated
in a book entitled Partisan Life with Mos
by" written by Major Scott of the COM
mand. who devotes chapter to the Gallant
Action of Yankee Lieutenant"