Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-28

..ryxAyr SMITH RESTORED TO
LsU-T3 be Board of Police Commits
DUTY aTer a vacation OF several
;'a S,h. met last night in the Mayors
aooIn''T he meeting had been called
o1:e Instance O, Lieutenant James
a Joe D rbo had been suspended for ten
:nl!D' W =" Friday by the Mayor for
daEs ,, ,a5s 10 awake Officers Herbert
9'gl' ~, md William Wilkinson, who
halsa5t tbe stai)n house one night
ea tssIIy and fell asleep during the time
I'cgu, gsre supposed tc be on duty.
l9s! o " and all the commissioners
were present. -osac,oa vas tho
~. ..a nj n . secretary, and Mr.. Ashby
, ,,'i.'Y' who 5 &C eds MIR. J. f Tackeu,
Al's s',o,rr secretary, as member Of the
.-F ~ from the Fourth ward, was
o'', ,ad 10 the position of secretary.
'S V.yor simpson then stated that the
49,. .A oftbe meeting was TO review his
U Uo!,y in suspeuding Lieutenant Smith
Ealing TO awake the sleeping 9TH
III ,' According to his own admission
V s" i;.atensol let them remain 10 the
' IN house for two hours without
s.-.l them. lie further stated that
''a accannt of the trial OF the lieu1en'
'-I an, and the Two officers as published In
S'' % o'. va. correct. and he was
'..n.r4d 10 make affidavit TO that
sa.rt before notary.
'D iisn,ensnt Smith had asked to be
.ia~sj counsel. and the Mayor and all
o., r., commissioners signilied their will
; ~, to grant the request, and Col.
smith was introduced, and rep.
-..snted the lieutenant during the
nearing OF the appeal.
Col. smith stated that in cases OF ap-
nasltbs Judge from whose decision ex-
p,n.ions were taken never took part
IN sppela!e proceedings. He therefore
. =. that the Mayor should re-
TAIN FROM voting on this occasion.
The Msyor acQuiesced in the colonel'5
yev. and signihed his Intention OF
laying the room, but the commission
ers prevailed on him to remain, as they
desired to hear his version OF the case.
After the Mayor had made his state
n.pt the examination of witnesses fol-
loved
r,lonel smith subsequently, made an
elaborate and iorclble argument, In
which be took the ground that the
lieutenant neglect to arouse the sleep
INK men was not OF so serious a nature
As TO warrant his suspension. He re-
ferrel to military usage when sentinels
we're found asleep on their posts, and
sld lhat waile il Was expected that
the Inspecting officer would awaken
such deliuquents, it was not always
done, and IL some cases guns had been
taken from sleeping sentinels. While
Lieutenant Smith might have awaken
Ell the men, the fact that be did not
could tot he construed as grave de-
reelection Of duty, bGt slight oversight,
iisn Oheuse al all.
At tne conclusion OF the colonels re-
marks the board by unanimous vote
decided that the Mayor carried out the
spirit Of section - o police regulations,
bit exceeded bis authority in the strict
letter Of the law, and reversed his ac-
lion and restored Iieut. Smith to duty.
with pay.
DlrIug the meeting Commissioner
P:ce announced MS exceptions 10 some
Of tue rules now prevailing in the gov
eminent and working OF the police
force. His structures were replied 10
by Mayor Simpson.
This morning Mr.. Miller, the secre-
isfy OF the board, sent the following
COMMUNICATION to Mayor Simpson
alexandria, Va, Sept 81, 1899.
non. Geor2c L. simpson, Mayor, Alexan-
diia Va:
Dear sir beg to inform yop that at the
meeting Of the Board of Police Commissioners
lea THIS evening, to hear the appeal of Lient.
James Smith fIon your order suspending him
nom duty for teu days for failing TO awake
Policemen Knight and Wilkinson while
Sleeping Ia the % ice station on the morning
Of September 10, the following resolution
Ea' sdopol:
Resolved, Thst it is the unanimous opinion
oi This board that the Mayor carried out the
punt OF the 52d section of the p lice regula-
IONS tut III constituting strictly the letter of
iI SEXTON, We are Of the opinion that tho
AAFoI erred IN Judgment and we reverse hi;
A'ilol. ant lc''ore Lieutenant Smith to duty
with i'y. signed
HERBERT BRYANT,
NOBLE LINDSEY
FRANK PRICE,
AstIuN- MIL