Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-03
DU ROSS VS.. CAPT. CHAMBERS
Charges Investigated by Board
of Police Commissioners.
ALLEGED EXCESS OF AUTHORITY
In Closing the Butchers Place
of Business.
Much Time Devoted Monday Night to Hear
Ing the Witnesses - The Final Action
Postponed Until Meeting winch VIII
Probably be Held Later In the Week.

sides in connection with the charges
brought by Daniel DuRoss, q Mill
Creek hundred butcher, against Police
Captain Robert w. Chambers, in
which DuRoss accused tho captain of
exceeding his authority in closing his
stand on June 18th. On that day
DuRoss had his meat stand in the
alley on King street adjoining Third
street market, which is the market
house company's property and at
about O'Clock in the afternoon the
captain, on complaint of the officers of
the markethouse company, who said
DuRoss was trespassing, closed the
latter's stand Much time was con-
sumed in hearing witnesses, and
after all Of the evidence had been
heard the commissioners deiberated
for short time, but final action was
postponed until future meeting,
which will probably be held later in
the week.
The hearing was before full board
and President Pyle conducted the ex-
animation of witnesses Chief of Police
Doian, Clerk Schell, Capt. Chambers,
President Patrick Monaghan and
Attorney John X. Bradford of the Will
mington Markethouse Co., owner of
Third street market, were also present.
DuRoss' charges against the captain.
which were in writing, were as fol-
lows; Wilmington, Del, June ODD,
1899. To the President and members
of the Board of Police Commissioners
Gentlemen: | wish to make formal
complaint of tho action of Capt.
Robert w. Chambers of the police force
of this city, in, without proper
authority and without instruction
meat offered for sale by ms at No. 225
King street on June 18th, 1899. The
captain came to my stand about A. 30
p. M. on the above date and after
examining said meat, SAID: This beef
is not wholesome, and in reply asked
what was the matter with it, and he
said: 1T is not fit to sell, at the same
time picking piece of beef off the
stand and saying that he would take it
to the chief and allow HIM and the in
spector to settle it, and instructed me
to get out from whore | was and stop
selling. My complaint to your hoard
is: First, That said Capt. Chambers
exceeded his authority and acted in an
unjustitiable and unwarranted manner
in condemning meat which had beer
approved by the meat inspector and
compelling me to stop my business.
Second, That his report, as printed il
part in the newspapers, to the etfect
that the meat was unwholesome ano
diseased, is wholly false and untrue
and having found its way into tn.
newspapers has injured my business
and caused me to lose money. | hopt
your honorable body will hear wit
nesses which | am willing to presen
in support of my charges and put
stop to this uniustified interference
with mans business. Respectful.
yours, Daniel DuRoss. ~
The charges had been made unde
oath before Magistrate Kelley an,
Capt. Chambers had been furnishes
with COPY by Chief Dolan. At tn
beginning of the hearing they wer
road
Daniel DuRoss, the complainant
was the first witness called. II
reiterated what he had stated in tn
affidavit, after which COMMISSIONS
Hart asked him how old the COW wa
from winch the meat was taken tina
he was selling when Capt. Chamber
visited his stand.
mine or ten years DID," DuRos
replied.
fIart--"was 1t fat or salable?"
RuRoss-"It was not fat. br
salable.' He also said that it weighe
about 1925 or $50 pounds. In reply I
Capt. Chambers, he said he was
butcher but not practical one. II
SAID he did not know the definition
the word Skinner" He also said,
answer to the chief, that he had
license, but not to sell the produce
his farm, as he has no farm. L
claimed that he rented the place whe
he had his stand from a Mr.. Powell
who was selling fish there. NJ
Powell, he said, told him he rente
the whole alley. He had had his star
on the opposite side OF the street in ;
alley. He did not know he was vi
lating the law.
well, you were violating the law,
Chief Dolan remarked, to which
replied, well, this is not the place
try me-, y and Commissioner Pyle to
him he involved himself in that co
troversy through the point at ISSUE
DuRoss upon resuming his stat
ment, said the captain told him to
to Madison street market and he won
be- under no expense; to take his me
there and sell it. The captain i
formed him that that was the be
thing to do, as he did not want to &
him into any trouble, and after IL
he left the place. He wished he h
remained and allowed himself to
arrested, as he thought that was VII
should have been done. The meat
spector, he said, saw the COW kill
and passed it, Witness said he KIN
the COW was all right. He had bong
it from Alfred Springer Of Mt. Cui
Ibid not ask you," Capt. Cha
bers asked, where your place
business was and you told me 70
brother was in business in Maids
street market and had an ice b
there, and i told you you had bet
take the meat there and place it in [
ice boxY"
NO." DuRoss replied. "You tt
me to take it to Madison street a
sell it. And didn't | tell you tn,
was no market in Madison street
Saturday nightY'
Capt. Chambers replied in [
negative, and in reply to the CHI
DuRoss said he sold the meat after
had been closed up to butchers.
was compelled to take whatever
could get for it. When Capt. Cha
bers asked him what he received for
he replied "That's my business. -
made the same answer when the C;
tain asked him what he paid for
He told Mr.. Pyle that he had inform
Capt. Chambers that the meat inspec
phad approved his meat in the slaught
house, but tho captain insisted thai
was unwholesome and told him to Ii
it to Madison street to sell it. Furth
in reply to Mr.. Pyle, witness said
the time the captain visited his sts
it was partly below the alley, in fir
Of hn oil hot h0 hnl