The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-01
CAPT. ScREVEN IN CHARGE.
THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF
POLICE TAKES COMMAND.

Was Given Pleasant Reception by
Ex-Chief NcDermOtt who Vow Re-
tires tn Private Lffe-EN-Lieut.
owen Reilly Made Senior Sergeant
and Patrol Driver John Kelly Dis
missed-The superintendent of PO-
lice One of savanuah's Most POpu-
lar Citizens.
capt. Thomas Screven, ex-a herman, took
charge Of the police department yesterday
afternoon at 4 o'c.ock as superintendent
OF police. Ex-Chief McDermOtt was at
the barracks awaiting Capt. screven and
gave his successor a pleasant reception.
Some few minutes were spent in discuss
ing the affairs of the department, after
which ex-Chief A1cDermott took Capt.
scTeven on tour of the buildings. ex-
planning the arrangement now in vogue.
The ex-ehief assured the superintendent
that he would be glad to give him any
information or assistance in his power.
He then took his departure
The new superintendent and ex-Lieuten-
ant of Police Owen Reilly then proceeded
90 a more complete inspection and to
discuss the workings of the department
in detail Mr.. Reilly has been connected
with the department for years, and is
well equipped to give any information de-
sired by his superior officer. He and
Capt Screven have been friends for years,
and there rs every assurance that their
relations will be very pleasant
One of the first official acts of the su-
UPTtUfpO1puf no n
pointment of the ex-lieutenant as sergeant
The new sergeant will be the senior of
the force and viii be in charge during the
absence of the superintendent. Besides
Sergt Reilly. the police force now has
six sergeants, three of whom, Killourhy,
Mock and Lingg. divide the desk work
and the other three, Baughn, Floyd and
Davis ride the streets by turns. Ii is
not likely that any changes will be made
at present, Supt. Screven said.
Another Official act of the new superin-
tendert was the dismissal of John Kelly,
the driver Of the police wagon Kelly was
an appointee of Chief McDermott. He
took an active part in the recent election
on the losing side. w. H. Harrison has
been appointed to succeed Kelly.
The position of night Waterman a the
stables was abolished. This was a tenn
porary appointment, il is understood, hav-
ing been only recently created.
Supt. Screven directed Sergt Reilly to
instruct Mounted officer Deignan 20 re-
turn to regular duty.
one of tie last official acts of the Po-
lice Commission was to elect officer Deig-
nan sergeant of the Ocean Steamship
force, to succeed the late Sergt Lang
bell. The officials of the steamship COM
pany objected. however, the grounds of
their objection being that promotions TO
position on the steamship force should be
from the ranks of the force. The COM
mission, when informed of this dissatis-
faction instructed Chief McDermott to re-
turn Officer Deignan to duty with the city
police force and he has stree been acting
as desk sergeant. There was no objec-
ton 70 Officer Deignan on the part of the
steamship officials. except that he was not
a member of the steamship force.
capt Thomas Screven, who is now in
charge of the police as superintendent
is so wen known that il is unnecessary TO
waste words in giving him an introduce
ton 10 the people of Savannah His pop
ularity in his native city has been pro
verbal for years. This has been evinced
I'm several elections. In 1893 he was the
only candidate OH the Harmon ticket to
get into the McDonough board, and two
years later at Mr.. Myers first election
as Mayor, he led the ticket, and in accord
ance with the usual custom, was made
chairman of Council. In the recent cleo
ton he ran second on the winning ticket
d.had it not been for a special movement
which threw votes from the opposition to
Alderman Tiedeman, the present chairman
of Council, he would in all probability have
led the ticket again.
Capt. Screven has been identified with
the military for q number of years He
has been captain of Company b of the
Savannah Volunteer Guards battalion for
the last ten or twelve years and is the
senior rantafp n ha eta ri
esteem in which he is held by his men
was well evidenced by the fact that when
the Guards battalion volunteered for the
war Capt. ScTeven carried a larger Der-
centage of the enlisted strength of his
company than any other COMPANY COM
mander The men who composed Company
b of the Second Georgia were from every
walk in life, and yet all were devoted
to Capt. Screven. Notwithstanding the
fact of his popularity, Capt. Screven prov
ed himself very strict disciplinarian.
and his own friends and associates who
volunteered with the company were shown
no more favor than the ordinary recruit.
1t is likely that Capt. Screven will miro
duce some of his military discipline in the
police force. lie is the opposite of the
martinez, however, and only requires that
q man should do his duty TO the hest Of
his ability. ANY member of the police
force who thinks he has a lenient, easy
| going superintendent to deal with will find
himself sadly mistaken. The new superln-
| tendent can size up a man about as quick
| ly as the next one, and the smart Alexis
! of the police force need try no games on
| him.
Superintendent Screven said last night
! that he intended making no address to the
! force Such orders as he has TO give then,
will be read by Sergt Reilly He expects
! The men to know their duty and obey 10
| the letter. Later in the season the police
/ drill viii he resumed. This is nothing
! new, however.
| Hereafter all appointments to the police
! force and all dismissals will be made bv
/ the Mayor on recommendation of the su-
| periutendent. The police commission hav-
| ing been abolished, the old rule is re-es-
! tablished. Members of the force, charged
| Win any misconduct or infraction of the
/ rules will be tried by The Mayor.
sCRAPPED OVER POLITICS.
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