Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-11-05
W,.T.WEBB DISMISSED
Summary Action of Board of
Police Commissioners.
THE DECISION ASUhPRlSE
A1s'Aehee offered ut 'be Meeting Last
Night. Policeman Found t;m1,x
Of Beating Tho1n4> ayne- With
out Prov"caL:on. wi. II Il. gree"

o"t ESVoCALsOn.A. " l. II IT, gree
The Board Of Police Commissioners
1ast night dismissed Police Officer w. +
OF clubbing without provocation Mr.
mos Blynes, foreman for Honan Il
sons, on October 4th the day the bat
tieship illinois was launched.
IL VIII be recalled that Officer Webb
arrested Mr.. Baynes on the charge OF
resisting an officer. which charge was
dismissed by Justice Brown The next
naE on the fourteenth of October. Mr..
Baynes preferred tins charge before
the board:
That on the 4th of October. 1895. on
Washington avenue in the said city.
the said w. T. Webb unlawfully and
without cause or excuse With his club
beat me cruelty and unmercifully. in
n;rtlng wounds on my head and body.
ana that he is not a fit man to ,l>e. 4
police officer or guardian Of the peace
in the said city of Newport News
Inc case was set for last night, when
a special meeting was held for its con-
sideration. with President NJ V. D.
Doughty. Commissioners j. M wilson
and w. &. stuart. the remaining mem
beers OF the board. present.
MI. haynes Was the first witness. He
testified that he was the overseer of
gang ot men employed on the sewers
by NJ: Honan & Sons. On the day in
question he sat down on a pile of pipe
on Washington avenue. opposite Hop
klns drug store. aud fell asleep; that
Officer Webb came up and shook him
violently and told him that he wanted
him. Witness asked him Wat for and
the officer said. for lounging on the
street and started Off ito Jail with him.
He explained to the officer that he was
the foreman of gang of men working
uf"n the street. whereupon the officer,
after verifying this statement released
him With an injunction not to go asleep
on the street again.
Mr.. Baynes followed officer Webb
down the street and saw him meet
Honans timekeeper opposite Kor's
drug store. He heard him tell the time
Keeper that he had found Banyne asleep
and his hat lying in the street. The
witness said that he then called the
officer .'-- liar" where-upon Webb
struck him over tn head with his billy
several times knocking him senseless.
Mr.. Terry Malloy, the timekeeper. was
next interrogated. His evidence was
practically the same as that of Mr..
eeTffed in his (Atalloy's presence.
L. II. Furlong also supiTulleu en..
testimony already in, and said that
he regarded the assault entirely un-
called for. |...
George Conway. clerk in Hopkins
drug store, saw the first encounter be-
tween the officer and Mr.. Baynes, but
did not see the second. or. at least. dld
not see the clubbing. on account OF the
crowd gathered around the interested
parties Isaynes came into the drug
store half an hour later. and witness
did not notice and wounds on his head
Thos Daily saw the clubbing. His
revision agreed with that of Mr.
BayneS.
Frank leeds John Beck. Thos. Will
liams and William Atwill were also eN-
amned, but their evidence was not i'm
pOrtant. ..
officer Webb then testified in his
own behalf. saying that on the day OF
the launching he found Mr. Baynes sit
ting on pile Of sewer pipe. asleep:
There We're many tramps in the city
and as Mr.. Baynes was dirty and
poorly dressed, he thought he was
Rnynes by striking him on the bottom
of the foot with his billy. AS soon as
he discovered who he was he let go.
officer Gray had told him of having
on the sidewalks. and he webb
thought it best to speak to the time
keeper about it. He met the time
keeper. and while he was talking to
him MIR. Baynes came up and called
HIM a - - liar" and drew his fist
back as though he were going to hit
him and to protect himself he webb
hit him over the head twice with his
billy, and once Cn the back of his right
hand. He attempted to force the man
using further violence. He went after
officer era ford. and the two went back
after their man and took him to jail.
Mr.. BayneS made no resistance when
they went back for him.
officer J. f. Gray testified that he
had had considerable trouble keeping
men from sleeping on the sidewalk and
when he spoke to them about 1T. some
of them We're very abusive.
The taking of testimony was conclud
ed at S:45 O'Clock and the board Went
into executive session which continued
until nearly 10 O'Clock. wnen President
Doughty announced that the board hat
decided to dismiss Officer Webb from
the force. at the same time expressing
his due regret at having TO perform
duty so disagreeable, never -the-less, III
4 said the board thought that the hes
ss interests OF the service demanded it.
There is reason to believe that th'
decision was not arrived at without con
siderable difficulty and was not en-
tirely unanimous. It was a surprise t
not only Officer Webb. but to other
familiar with the case.
The vacancy will be filled by Specia
Officer Wood and the vacancy cause
by this promotion will be filled at tn
next meeting OF the board.
HOTEL ARRIVALS.
Judge Geo T.. Christian and Mr. p. {
Randolph. of Richmond. were anon