Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-19
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
The Charges Filed Against Policeman w. Il.
Atkinson. 3 st
Quiet Election of Delegates Held
Inst Evening-Suit Brought TO
Settle Point.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 500 King street,
Bell Telephone No. 1857

ALEXANDRIA. Va. June 10. 1S97.
AS stated in The Star yesterday. charges
have been preferred against Policeman
Weston H. Atkinson by Lawyer Eugene B.
Taylor. The accusations are that on the
night Of June II. at the station house,
Officer Atkinson made an unprovoked as
sault upon him. cursed him and was other
wise abusive.
The trouble is said to have originated in
the fact that Mr.. Taylor had asserted upon
several occasions that Officer Atkinson has
been guilty of cruel conduct in kicking and
cursing a tramp whom he had arrested
When Mr. Taylor went to the station house
Thursday night Mr.. Atkinson asked him
about it. Mr.. Taylor replied in about the
same language as stated above. The Off
Ger told him he was mistaken, whereupon
Mr.. Taylor is alleged to have replied by
saying: II you say you did not KICK and
curse that tramp while he was down you
are a liar" The officer called Atkinson
another" whereupon Mr.. Taylor made for
him, striking him in the breast In the
scutfie which followed the officer struck Mr.
Taylor lightly on the cheek.
For q few moments, it is said, things
were quite lively, but friends interfered
and the trouble ended. Mr.. Taylor made
formal complaint to the mayor. Mr.. At
assaulted or cursed Mr.. Taylor, but says.
matter Of fact, II any one at all was
assaulted 1t was himself.
Officer Atkinson has always borne an
enviable reputation, and his many friends
say it is more ridiculous to charge that he
used profane language of any kind toward
Mr.. Taylor. Mr.. Atkinson has been on
duty at the station house for the past two
years, as one of the keepers, and there
is not a member of the press in Alex
andria who would not cheerfully go be-
fore the commissioners and testify to the
fact that. as an officer, the accused has
few equals.
AS station keeper upon more than one
occasion he has been in position to use
profanity, If he so desired. No man, 1t is
believed. ever heard Weston H. Atkinson
use vulgar or profane language toward a
prisoner or any one else. 1t is claimed by
his MANY friends that it will only take the
commissioners very few minutes to
hoEorably discharge him from the charges
preferred against him..
Delegates Elected.
An adjourned meeting of the city demo-
cratic committee was held last night and
took action in reference to the manner In
which the meeting for the election of dele
gates to the gubernatorial convention was
held Thursday night in the fourth ward. at
which disgraceful scenes took place Chair
man Sweeney was upheld for the manner
in which he adjourned that meeting.
Another meeting was held at o'clock
last evening for the election of delegates.
At WHICH MT. sweeney was again elecltu
chairman, and the following gentlemen
were placed in nomination.: Francis L.
Smith. John A. Marshall, c. R. Davis.
Frank spinks, Ed. w. Lawler. Theodore
Ficklin, r. T. Cook and NJ P. Vincent.
Tie balloting resulted in the election of
Messrs. Smith. Ficklin. Cook and Marshall.
Resolutions instructing the delegation to
vote for Mr.. James r. Cation of this city
for lieutenant governor, and indorsing the
Chicago platform, were unanimously adopt
ed. The delegates were not Instructed as
to the choice for governor. =. 1s
what they were the night before, when the
Lights We're extinguished and, ethe bballot
boxes stuffed. m
To Settle Legal aueStion:,
City Auditor Price was YESTERDAY after
noon served with notice to appear Mon
day before Judge J. X. M. N6tton IL the
corporation court ito show cause why he
should not be punished for contempt for
his disobedience of an order 6f the court
In making allowances" which allowances
the auditor would not pay by variants.
The reference is to allowances made for
Glenn Dorsey, colored, who cohtmitted sui
eide In April last. The case was only
brought to settle the legal question, as the
following note addressed to Mr.. Price by
Judge Norton will show:
my Dear Sir: The sergeant will today
serve process on you, returnable Monday.
to show cause why you should not be pro-
ceeded against for contempt. write you
this SO that you will understand the pro-
ceeding. The question will be as to your
right to refuse to pay warrants In such
cases, or. rather, to. issue warrants. You
are perfectly right in looking out for the
city's interests. and. OF course. I do not
propose. even II you should not have au-
thority to refuse to issue your warrants,
to really proceed against you personally
for contempt. II It should appear, after q
to issue warrant. no action Win be taken
against you personally, except mere
nominal sentence. The whole matter Is
merely to raise the legal question"
Refused to Release Mina.
John H Nowland was brought before