Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-06-08

ested in the recovery of the watch. As
he was party to civil suit which mad
grown out of its loss that he was nor
drunk on the night Of April 6th, as had
been stated by the witnesses examined
and in regard to being of his beat on
the night the chief was making his
rounds be reiterated what The witnesses
had testified to concerning Dan Corbin's
house.
Mayor Thompson asked Mr.. Fergu.
son if he was not aware OF the fact that
from reports which bad been circulated
that the chief was making his rounds
for the purpose of personally ascertain.
ing their truthfulness; also If the ser.
geant did not tell him the chief was in
the neighborhood. He acknowledged
that the sergeant did tell him the chief
was around. Mr. Ferguson was further
asked if he did not tell some one the
next day OF the fact that the chief was
on the lookout for them which caused
communication to appear in city
paper in which the chief was treated
with contempt by being termed a
frosted bearded spook which some
brave policeman should capture and
see why it dies so hard" He denied
that he inspired the article or told any
one of the chiefs presence in the reigE.
borhood.
Sergeant Smith followed His state.
ment was in substance a repetition OF
that of Mr.. Ferguson. He denied the
charge of visiting Rices saloon, and in
defense OF his visit to Jessie Pops sand
be was seeking information concerning
Harry Shoots watch. When asked by
the Mayor why he did not call upon
Officer Sherwood, who was il the
Second ward beat, to accompany him 10
the house, he gave no satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION, and the fact that large
quarter OF the city was allowed to RI.
main without au officer for three.quar.
tiers OF an hour in the wee sma nous
remained. He was further asked if he
did not talk in derisive manner OF
the chiefs inspection of the beats
when Officer Ferguson was caught oil
his, and after some close questioning
he acknowledged that he had mention
ed the matter. He was further asked
if he was the author of the insolent
communication concerning his superior
officer and ne answered he was not.
He had told Robert Knight of the
chiefs tour OF inspection.
Mr.. Marbury then made shor. sd.
dress, in which he urged that the
charges against the accused had not
been proven, and he trusted they wonld
be exonerated.
All were then dismissed and the coui-
missoners met for the purpose of sum
ming up the evidence, anu it was con.
cluded that the testimony in rebuttai
was sufficient to exonerate the accused.
Mayor Thompson said as be was about
to retire from his position he desired TO
do so in peace to all. For that reason he
had determined not to use his power of
;usper sion Certainly not in the case of
he accused) as he was convinced it
would be misconstrued, as had
)een the case on a previous occasion.
lie had therefore determined to turn
I'll charges over to the board and it was
to him what disposition was
made of them. The information con-
erning the charges which had been
had been brought to Chief
Webster, he had written them out and
presented them to the speaker; the LAT
er had submitted them 10 the
BOARD. While the evidence against the
.ccused was unsatisfactory, the fact
emained that the Sergeant since
lie had been reinstated by the board
ind declared not in contempt of the
Mayor had been carrying on a sort of
guerrilla work, reporting virtually to
10 one, and the Mayor had DO more
dea of his movements than had the
commissioners. The Mayor further
stated that when the cmbroglio be-
.ween himself and the commissioners
occurred he had then said that if the
assumed by majority Of
he board was sustained the Mayors
was at an end. Here was a
patent fulillment of the prophecy.
There was repetition of the oilense
ror which the Sergeant was suspended
alleged Information con-
corning felony in the stealing OF a
watch which has never been reported
10 the heads of the force, and is mad
-he pretext for visiting houses of ill.,
lame after midnight and leaving one Of
the business quarters of the CITY at the
mercy of the incendiary and ro6ber not
withstandiDg the owner of the watch has
said he bad lost all iptere7t
IN it. Besides the additional fact IT,.
mains that the Chief is treated with
while on his rounds in the
discharge of his duty. The Sergeant
passes him without any sauiatiou,
aud acknowledges that he reported the
next day the fact of his presence at
night time TO a man who under his ia
spiration wrote the insolent communi-
cation referred to concerning the
head of the police force. In short
The chief, after third of century Of
service. while in the discharge
Of his duty, has fun made of his beard
now whitened by the SHOWS of many
and which to the right think.
ing is a mark Of respect and not sub
ect for dersion. So long, the Mayor
said, as officers reported the affairs OF
The police department to outsiders
who were the originators of all the
troubles which had occurred during
the past six months) instead of to their
,uperiors there would be friction and
.rouble, and for himself, under the pre-
sent conditions, he was glad he would
soon turn his responsibility over to his
Some of the commissioners, howeyers