Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-12
The OFFICIAL AXE
Continued from third page.)
merely Jest begun by the witness.
CIHCEIE PIIIIIPS


! Captain Jeff Phillips, chief OF the
Bloodfield police, was at the meeting
but he never saw either of the officers
take any active part in the meeting. He
saw Officer Crafford get up on the table
about the time row was imminent.
and try to quiet the crowd. Both Off
GERS, he said were standing over on one
side with the Newport News contin-
gent. which was taking no part in the
meeting. The witness said he never
saw two better officers than Crafford
and Shorter
MFR. J. c. Ronewell stated that he was
at the meeting and saw the two Off
| GERS. but they took no part in politics.
| He did see the officers. try to keep or
der The only thing he heard Officer
Crafford say when ne was on the stand
was keep quiet" The conduct of the
two officers was that of ordinary, dis
tingushed citizens.
The next witness was Mr.. Thomas
Sinclair, who was at the meeting and
| take any part in politics. He saw ON
Ger Crafford trying to keep order.
| Mr.. William Bagnell. of Newport
| News, went up to the mass meeting
and saw the officers there. They did
not take any part in politics. He did
| not see Officer Shorter open his mouth
| except to pass the time OF day He
| saw Officer Crafford quiet the crowd,
and thought if nc hadn't said what he
did there would have been a serious
| row.
| MIR. John r. Locke attended the meet
| ing, burt did not see the officers take
any active part in politics. Officer.
Cratford got on the table and attempt
ed TO restore order. but took no other
part in the meeting. IL.
| NO POLITICS.
! Mr. r.. M. Lett was at Warwick
| Courthouse attending court He was
present at the meeting and saw the Off
GERS. HE did not consider that they
took an active part in politics 1t was
Il 'iwhooping' meeting and the Wit
ness never saw SO much noise. Officer
Crafford attempted to get order but
there was no suggestion OF politics in
what he said. AS soon as he found he
could not get the crowd to divide he
went over to one side of the room and
sat down.
| The witness aIowed that he (tile Wit
ness) was NOT taking an active part in
politics. "
I. OFFICER CRAWFORD.
Officer Crafford being sworn, said
that ne went to Warwick Courthouse
| in response to a telephone message
from Mr.. Smith. He was in citizen S
| clothing but took no part in politics.
when there was a row imminent be
! tried to quell it. He did not remember
| having said that he was there in tn.
| interest OF his uncle. but he supposed
| down in the bottom of his heart he
was. though he did no soliciting nor
was he in any other way politically ac-
! tive. Officer Shorter, he said. took no
part in the meeting
Officer Shorter said he had no state
| ment to make. Thus being the case
! and Colonel Baker not desiring to make
any argument, the board went into ex-
| ecutive session.
The officers had half a dozen more
! witnesses, but did not deem it neces-
| sary to put them on.
NOT GUILTY.
! At the expiration of about ten min
! uteS d decision was arrived at. The
officers were sent for and informed by
the board they We're acquitted Of the
| charge.
On motion of Mr.. Stuart, seconded by
| Mr.. Wilson, the rules We're amended
| so as to provide not only that a police
| man shall take no active part in poll
tics. but that he shall not attend Il 20
| litical meeting outside of the city linz
its without first obtaining the consent
in writing OF the police commission
ers, or to attend Il political meeting
within the city limits except to exer-
| else their prerogative as officers