Evening star., 1897-03-19
Alexandria Still Hard at Work Try
ing to Solve It.
THE MAYORS POSITION CRITICISED
The Evening Star Warmly Praised
for Giving the News.
OTHER NOTES OF INTEREST
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 121 North Washington street,
Telephone, 116,

mayor and board Of police commissioners
which resulted in the mayor and chief OF
police refusing to obey the order OF the
commissioners to restore to duty forth
with Sergeant James T. Smith and Officer
Furgusson, has been the one subject OF
conversation again today, and there Is no
change In the opinion of the large MAJOR
ity that the mayor is clearly at fault, de-
spite the opinion of the corporation attor-
rey. 1t is under section 81 of the city char
ter as amended by the state legislature IN
1896, which reads: "The mayor OF the city
of Alexandria shall have the power and
authority to suspend the chief. lieutenant
or any policeman for misconduct in office
for a period not to exceed thirty days, or
until such board shall convene and take
action in the matter" That Corporation
ATTORNEY Brent advised the mayor that he
had 1.-The right and authority" to suspend,
and his Judgment Is final and conclusive,
and is not subjected to be reviewed by the
police commissioners"
1t is said by those who agree with the
commissioners that the corporation at
torrey has entirely failed to construe the
meaning of the words "or until such poaro
shall convene, and take action In the mat
ter. They claim that the commissioners II
unable to come to any decision that would
reverse the mayor, that the clause and
take action in the matter means notnlng,
and is of no effect Certain II Is, say the
commissioners there is no sense In TAX
ing action If such action Is without au-
thority unless it agrees with the mayor.
Mayor Thompson Severely Criticized.
At many places last night the mayor was
severely criticised for the manner In which
he has run the police affairs during his in
cumbency and especially this recent i'm
brogiio and those doing the talking were
prominent business men who have the best
interests of the city at heart.
The commissioners. 1t is understood nave
employed counsel, who will look into IN ?
case from a legal standpoint purely, and
the natter will be promptly brought up in
the corporation court
There is another interesting fact In con-
nection with the case that has been dis
CT ssed which, it is claimed. the suspension
of Sergeant Smith and Officer Furgusson to
have been Illegal. The constitution of
the state of Virginia on this subject says
in speaking of the control of the mayer
ove ver the members of the police force: He
shall also have power to suspend re-
move such officers, whether they be elected
or appointed, for misconduct in officer or
neglect of duty to be specified in the order
of suspension removal: but no such re-
n oval shall be made without reasonable
notice to the officer complained Of and an
opportunity afforded him to be heard il
his defense
1t is fact that Sergeant Smith and Of
ficer Furgusson were never given any notice
of any charges against them. nor Was there
an opportunity given either of the men to
be heard in his defense as required by the
section above quoted. 1t will be remem-
bered by readers of The Star that these two
officers were suspended at the conclusion
OF the trial of Constable Webster who
charged with having the watch of Mr.. Har-
rie Smoot In his possession or information
as to its whereabouts, and without any
previous intimation that they were on trial;
In fact. 1t was apparent to the casual OBJ
server that while Webster was supposed to
be on trial, Sergt. Smith and Officer Fur
susson were really on trial without their
knowledge. officially or otherwise. The de-
cision of the mayor, as announced in The
Star at the time. was considered unjust and
unfair by Alexandrians generally. and the
proceeding of the court a most extraor-
dinary one, based rather on feeling than on
law and justice.
Chief Webster's Announcements
AS an evidence of the feeling existing,
though denied by the authorities to the
Commissioners not to be, Chief Webster
informed The Star reporter that as soon
as Sergeant Smith and Officer Furgusson
are restored to duty, they will, by order of
the mayor. he separated, and Officer Fur
gusson put in another squad. 1t is a matter
Oh record that these men working to-
gether have rendered invaluable service to
the community In ferreting out important
cases to a successful determination They
nave the utmost confidence in each other,
and together have done much successful
planning. Separated, this will be at an
end, for the men will be compelled to do
duty at different hours, and on account of
the hours of duty will be unable to see
much of each other.
Compliment to The Evening Star.
Mr.. Ben. Carlin of j. F. Carlin's Sons &
Co.. in talking with The Star reporter last
night, said: Il have read with much inter-
bles in police circles, and i am glad to see
that one paper at least is not afraid to
publish, without fear or favor all the facts
in connection with the case. If our Alex
andrta papers would do the same thing the
best interests of our city would be pro-
noted to large extent. We are tired of
the muddle and want it stopped
There is but one opinion as to the manner
In which the whole trouble from the begin
nirg has been handled by the press, and
that Is commendation by the prominent
business men Of the fearless and non-par-
tisen position The Star has taken in pre-
senting all the facts to the public 1.-The
Star is all right. Keep it up.
When the smoke blows away it will he
found that The Star has been of great
benefit to the best interests of this old CITY
of ours
An Accident Long Expected Occurs.
The long-expected accident at Dead
Spring Bank. on the electric railway, Just
at the corporation line. occurred about 80
o'clock, when an electric train in charge of
Motorman Atwell and Conductor Davis
struck buggy belonging to Maj f. H.
Janney, in1uring the horse to such an ex-
tent that 1t had to be shot. and hurting the
occupants Of the vehicle. Benjamin Thomas
and Marion Madella, quite badly
Thomas was driving leisurely into town,
and as he reached the crossing did not no.
tice the approach Of the train, which, it is
said. was coming up King street at a lively
rate, and he knew nothing until he found
himself in a ditch some fifteen or twenty
feet away. The electric train was stopped
and on examination 1t was found that
Thomas head and face was badly cut, and
he was covered with blood from the
wounds. The woman was found alongside
the carriage. She was picked up and car
ried to the office of DIR. Arthur Snowden.
where Drs. Snowden and O'Brien attended
to her injuries. after which she was taken
to her home. She received cuts and bruises
on the head and shoulder. The horse had
one leg broken. and later was shot by
Policeman Bettis.
Motorman Atwell says he did not see the
vehicle until 1t was too late for him to stop
his train. No arrests were made, but an
investigation will follow, which will doubt
less result In lawsuit