The times., 1897-03-19
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA
Chief of Police Refuses to Obey the
commissioners Order.
Colored Couple Injured by Being
thrown From IL Carriage by
Collision With Motor Car.

Alexandria, March 1S.-The action OF
/ the board of police commissioners in adopt.
ing IA resolution at their meeting last night
reversing the action of the mayor in the
suspension of Officers James I. Smith and
William Ferguson, and directing the chief
! OF police toreinstate the officers, has been
! the general topic OF conversat ticn through
! out Alexandria today, and the termination
| OF the conflict OF authority between the
| board and Mayor Thompson is anxiousIy
| awaited. The commissioners contend tina [
| they have the authority to review, and
| If, in their Judgment necessary, to revoke
! the action of the mayor, while that official
| contends that his decision is final, and in
this he is sustained by Corporation A l.
torney Brent, who today gave ii as his
opinion:
II hat under the statutes the mayor has
the power and authority To suspend the
chief, lieutenants or any policeman for
misconduct in office for period not to
exceed thirty days, or may suspend any
OF the officers until the Police celnnls-
sioners convene and take action in the
matter. If the mayor suspends any of
the officers for a Period not exceeding
thirty days his Judgment is final and coz
elusive. and is not subject TO renewal by
the police commissioners
Chief of Police Webster will observe the
order OF the ma yor, and today sent the fol
lowing letter TO the police commissioners:
' MIR. John F. Tackctt, Secretary of the
Board of Police Commissioners:
Dear Sir-l received note from Ma yur
Thompson last night instructing me not to
obey the order / received from the police
commissioners to reinState Sergt Smith and
Officer Ferguson until the thirty days ex-
pire; that he had consulted Corporation At
torney Brent, and that he had Informed him
(the mayor that he had the power to suS-
pend an officer FOR thirty days without con
sulting the police commissioners. l waited
on Mr.. Brent and he gave me the same in
formation, and advised ME that he was pre-
pairing his opinion in writing. The MAYOR
also advised me that if reinstated the Of
ficers named he would Immediately suspend
me. Therefore l will have to, under the
circumstances, decline to carry out your
order. Respectfully,
JAMES F. WEBSTER,
'Chief of Police
This evening confer enCc was held in
which Corporation Attorney Brent, Police
Commissioner Bryan, Mayor Thompson, and
MesSrs. A. W. Armstrong and Col. F. L.
Smith participated. Wheninterviewed these
gentlemen stated that they were bound to
secrecy, and would not make known what
transpired at the conference. Mayor
Thompson said: 81 am firmly Of the opin-
ion that my standpoint is correct, and if /
am to be compelled to appear before the
police commissioners as plaintiff in cases
of contempt shown me by subordinate of.
ficers, and rely on the board for redress,
it will he a humiliation never imposed on
any other executive of the city, and will
be the death knell of all discipline of the
police force. / am firm in my determine
ton to have the issue settled once and
for all time by competent legal opinion
which cannot be questioned"
serious accident occurred tonight at |
the electric railway crossing at Spring
Park, near the corporate limits, at the |
head of King street, which came near |
resulting i'll the death of Mrs. Marion E. |
Madella and Benjamin Thomas, both col |
ored. The woman and man, who are em- |
ployed at Maj E. H. Janney's, short |
distance west of this city, were driving to |
in a buggy. When near the
crossing they noticed the approaching
train, but were unable to check the horse
and the animal dashed across the track.
The next instant the motor car dashed
into the vehicle.
The occupants We're thrown for some
and the horse was so badly
injured that it had to be killed Mrs
Madella was placed in carriage and |
taken to the office OF DR.. Snowden where
Drs Smith, 0'Brien and Snowden at
tended her. Sheis seriously injured, though
t is not thought that her injuries will
prove fatal, Thomas was taken to Jan
ney's drug store. He was badly cut about
the head, but his injuries are not re-
garded as serious. The train w which col
ided with the vehicle left this city at
7:15 and was in charge of Conductor
Davis and Motorman Atwel.
Officer Davis tonight doubtless saved
The life OF j. W. Tillett, OF Fairfax, who
came near driving his team into the river
at the foot Of King street. The man was
found to be very drunk when taken in
charge by the officer, and he was locked
up at the police station.
Judge Norton, of the corporation court.
oday granted charter to the Northeast
Temple Company, OF which Samuel Cow
'ell, OF Washington, is named as president:
Ind to the Smith Flexible Chain Manu-
acturing Company, of which E. J Smith,
Of Washington, is president.
Rev. DR.. Perry, OF Washington, preached
he Lenten sermonin Christ Church tonight
A meeting of the congregation of the
Second Presbyterian Church. will be held
IN next Wednesday, when the matter of
extending u call to some minister to
ill the pulpit will be acted upon
There were printed and circu-