Evening star., 1898-07-16
SYLVESTER CHOSEN
Is Appointed Major and Superintend-
ent Of Police.
UNANIMOUS VOTE oF COMMISSIONERS
The Appointee Overwhelmed With
Congratulations.
SKETCH OF NEW CHIEF
UNANIMOUS VOTE OF COMMISSIONERS
SKETCH OF NEW CHIEF

| day appointed by the District Comm, ,ssion-
ers as major and superintendent of the
] police force, to succeed the late William G..
| Moore.
The appointment of Mr.. Sylvester was
| practically announced by The Star the day
Col. Moore died, and the PRONUNCIATION of
| the order today occasioned surprise
| whatever. AS stated in yesterdays Star,
| 1t was the intention of Commissioner
Wight, who has in mediate charge of the
police department, and whose province it
was to nominate a successor to Col. Moore,
| to do nothing in the matter before next
Monday. But, he explained today, tie
| appointment of Mr.. Sylvester seemed so
clearly the unanimous wish of the pecp'e
of the District that he decided to make
the nomination today, and to recognize the
wishes of the people by choosing Mr. Syl-
Vester.
The Commission ers held board meeting
this morning, but the nomination was rot
made at that meeting, and when 1t had al
journed Mr.. Wight had given no in-flia-
ton of making the nomination teddy. Bat
a few moments after the EolT1 mai #d-
1ourned he sent for Mr.. Sylvester, and.
after a short conversation, tenderel him
the place. 1t was accepted, AL Mr. Wigh.
at once made out the nomIn alton, svnt il
10 his associates, who promp.iy approved
IT. and the appointment was made ,ut.
The moment 1t became known, Mr.. Sylves-
ter was made the recipient of coner- tula-
tons from not only every employe and Of
ficial of the District government on duly
at the District building but as the news
got abroad, his office was crowded by ci:-
izenS who fastened to congratulate him
and wish him success. Mr.. Wight was a,sc
called upon by a great number of citizens
and congratulated upon his selection, Us
were the other Commissioners.
The Man for the Place.
AS intimated in The Star. Commissioners
Ross and Beach were ready and willing to
approve Mr.. Wights nomination of Mr.
Sylvester at once and they were deeply
gratified. Mr.. Sylvester, said Mr.. Ross,
seemed beyond all question the man for
the place, and he said he was sure ABOUT
every one here expected to see him ap-
pointed. Commissioner Beach also thought
1t an excellent selection. Speaking of his
action in nominating Mr.. Sylvester, Com
missioner Wight said that, while he
thought yesterday 1t would be just as we'll
to wait until next week before making the
appointment, he was today SO overwhelm-
ed by written and verbal Endorsements OF
Mr.. Sylvester that he determined to make
it at once. The hesitation, explained Mr..
Wight, was due to no lack of apprecia-
tou of Mr.. Sylvesters worth or fitness for
the place, for he had learned to appreciate
his abilities and fitness through their inti-
mate Official relations. Mr.. Sylvester is an
standing, and has been of great assistance
to him in his official work. Therefore.
there was not the slightest reflection on,
him in delaying the nomination. 1t gave
him great pleasure to make the nomina-
ton, and 1t is particularly gratifying to
know, said Mr.. Wight, that 1t is an ap-
pointment which will meet with general
approval among the people of the District,
and also among the members of the police
force.
Citizens whose opinions were asked to-
day We're all of one mind-the appointment
was heartily approved by all.
The selection is proper one," said In
spector Mattingly. Not only is Maj. Syl-
vester well qualified because of his knowl-
ecge- of the Office, but his superior ability
reflects credit on the Commissioners for his
appointment. l have been associated with
him for a long time, and ii he does half so
well as major and superintendent as he
has ac chief clerk there will be no occasion
for fault-finding
''The appointment is the finest that could
have been made" said Andrew Gleason to
a Star reporter. Major Sylvester is the
best equipped man In the whcle District
for the position, and the appointment gives
entire satisfaction to the people. / am con-
fident he will make the best chief of police
this city has ever had"
The District has a great deal of good
ms terial,'' said MIR. f. G. Davis, collector
of taxes, but the Commissioners could
rot have made a better selection for The
place. He is not only fully acquainted with
the details of the department, but he is an
efficient man in every respect, and will no
doubt make a first-class chief of police"
Capt. Austin said the men at head
quarters, as well in the precincts, are
rejoiced over the selection, and Chief Clerk
SyiVeSterS elevation to the highest posi-
ton in the department is certainly crafty
ing. The new chief, he says, has a loyal
corps of men in his department who will
work hard to attain the best ends and sup
port him in any policy he may adopt.
The New SunerfMfendenf'a
Richard Sylvester. although not native
Of this city, has lived here many years
and has taken an active interest in all
movements made for the welfare of the
city. For about fifteen years he has been
chief clerk of the police department, and
during this long term of service he has
many times been called upon to handle the
reins of the department. Each time that
he acted In the capacity of chief there was
existing need for a good executive officer
and his excellent management on the occa-
sions mentioned had great weight in his
favor with the appointing power when the
time came to choose a new superintendent
His selection meets the approval of all
law w-abiding citizens, who feel that they
will get the best police protection possible |
with the force at his command.
On his paternal side the new chief is the |
grandson of Col. Henry H. Sylvester of New
Hampshire. for over twenty years a resi-
dent of Washington, being associated in |
%, b.
French. Colonel Sylvester married the |
sister of Henry Hubbard senator and rep |
resentative from and at one time governor |
of New Han pshire On his maternal side |
he is the grandson of Rev. DIR. W. W. |
Woods of Iowa, who took prominent part |
In the anti-slavery movement; was the |
warm personal friend of President Lincoln. |
and who temporarily filled the pulpit of the |
Presidents church. Dr. Woods was APP /
pointed to a chaplaincy in the army and |
died in the service at Camp Nelson. XIV.
His wife was Martha Gillespie Houston of |
Tennessee, the full cousin of Gen. Sam
Houston
Native of Hawkeye State.
Mr.. Sylvester is native of Iowa. where |
he was born in August 1857 During the
war his parents removed to Memphis.
Tenn. and In 1869 to st. Louis where he |
had his first business experience as entry |
clerk in the wholesale house of Meyer,
Bannerman & Co. Upon leaving that es- |
adjustment he entered the academic de- |
partment of Wa ashington University, and at |
the termination of his connection with that /
Institution pursued the study of law for a /
year Subseq lently he turned his attention /
to reportorial work on the ST. Louis press. /