The evening times., 1898-07-13
POLICE CIRCLES ANIMATED
Discussions Over Appointment
of a New Superintendent.
CANDIDATES. FOR THE OFFICE
Chief Clerk Richard Sylvester and
Capt,.fn NuryiIIe A. Austin Prom
fBent Among Those Mentioned.
The Vacancy Will Not BE Filled
Until After Major MOOre's Funeral

There is much discussion in police cir
cles as to who will succeed the late Major
Moore No announcement of a successor
will be made until Friday or Saturday.
Meanwhile the friends of Chief Clerk
Richard Sylvester and of Captain Man
willie A. Austin are exerting themselves.
Mr.. Haskell, sealer of weights and meas
ures. who was brought here from Ohio ID
President Mckinley and Senator Mark
Hanna is spoken of as candidate for
the office.
1t is conceded that he is not the logical
candidate, and only stands a chance of
appointment by reason of political infiu-
ence.
Both Mr.. Sylvester and Captain Austin
have been in the police department for
years.
Mr.. Sylvester is native of Iowa City.
Iowa, where he was born in 1851. During
the war his parents moved to Memphis,
Tenn. He turned his attention to repor-
torial work on the St. Louis Press, his
father then being associated with Mr..
Stilson Hutchins on that journal. He
served in both Congressional and State
conventions. and came to Washington An
a newspaper capacity in his twentieth
year and served as a correspondent of
several Western newspapers. He was
later appointed disbursing officer of the
Ute Indian Commission, and on returning
to Washington. accepted the office of
chief clerk of the police department.
which place he now holds.
In 1885 he married Miss Laura V. Nc
Fall. daughter of Col. John McFall, of
ST. Louis and has a daughter and two
sons.
Captain Ma1ville A. Austin. the eXecu-
tive officer of the department is the son
of Valorous G. Austin. of Erie county.
Pa. In February 1864, he enlisted in the
Fiftieth New York Engineer Corps and
was engaged in active service under Gen.
Grant. He has worked mis- way to his
present office from the police ranks. He
was appointed a private May 3. 1866. and
was made sergeant January 81. 1861.
He was promoted to lieutenancy No
vember q. 1858. and was in command of
the Fifth precinct for nine years. During
the progress of the Gu!teau trial he had
command of the detail of police at the
Criminal Court. He was detailed night
inspector September II. 1882 and July 16,
1886 was made captain to succeed Capt.
Vernon. He is now the acting major
pending the appointment of Major
Moore's successor.
Capt. Austin lives at No. Gil Sixth Street
northwest. He marred Miss Julia Olivia
Renney, in this city, in 1864. and has five
sons and five daughters.
The selection of Mr.. Sylvester to take
charge of the Washington police depart
ment would make vacant the Office of
chief clerk
Among the eligibles for this office Mr.
James Arthur Kemp stands at the head
OF the list in the order of seniority of serv-
ice. He is assistant to Mr.. Sylvester,
and in the absence of the latter the duties
OF the chief clerk have frequently devolv-
ed upon him. He is an expert telegrapher
stenographer and typewriter When he
left school he entered the employ of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
where he remained until he was appointed
telegraph operator to the Department of
Justice. He has acted as private secre-
ators.
He was born in October, 1862 and lives
at Rockville, Md.
The promotion of either Capt Austin
or Mr.. Sylvester would mean promotions
all along the line in the department.
Should Capt. Austin be chosen it would
result in the promotion of a lieutenant to
the captaincy and also the elevation of
a sereean'.
Both men refuse to offer themselves as
candidates and decline 10 discuss the
subject.