Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-20
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

the Commissioners being present, but
the Mayor was absent. Captain Bryant
presided.
Captain Webster presented his month.
ly report. 1t stated that four cases Of
petit larceny had been reported; two
persons had been arrested and con.
victed of the charge, and that part Of
the property had been recovered and
returned to the owners. The city was
quiet.
The resolution adopted at the last
meeting directing Sergeant Smith to
appear before the BOARD and explain
the part he is alleged to have taken in
the legal proceedings recently iusi.
tuted to cause the removal o. Police
Commissioner Price was then called
up, and Sergeant Smith was called be.
fore the board.
Captain Bryant then asked Sergeant
Smith if he was aware OF the affidavit
before the board and requested him 10
state what he had to do with the case.
Sergeant Smith said he went to zee
Commemorative Attorney Marbury ard
Mr.. Armstrong to ascertain if he would
be treating the Commissioners with dis.
respect or insubordiuation in ectipg in
the matter. MIR. Msrbury had told him
that he would have to put In writing
anything he had against Mr.. Price: he
then asked the Mayor how t. make
out an affidavit; the Mayor had ad-
vised him not to do anything; bis broth.
ers also had told him to do nothing in
the matter, and that they would take
action; later be saw Mr.. Spiuks and
told him be had talked with bis broth
ers and would not do anything: MIR.
Spinks then said he would act and
would employ counsel; Mr.. Armstrong
had told him be had right TO do wnst
he had done and that it would not be
treating the Commissioners with disre.
spect; he had told Mr.. Spinks that az
he had spoken to Mr.. Armstrong about
the matter, il he lSpinks) wishej 10
take the case he could employ Mr..
Armstrong. In answer to que ,ioo.
| Sergeant Smith said he had 10 gliey.
ance against Mr.. Price and that be held
no malice toward anyone.
Commissioner Miller wished 10 knew
,. why Sergeant Smith or any other officer
wanted Mr.. Price removed from The
board; Mr.. Price was a regular attend.
ant at the meetings and performed oil
the duties of a commissioner; the orly
objection offered against Mr.. Price YVES
that he held government position IN
. Washington.
Sergeant Smith said he had nothing
against Mr.. Price and had done no one
any wrong and If anyone said he had
done so and would prove it be would
resign from the force; he was not sack
ing the removal of Mr.. Price; that be
had troubles OF his own; he had been
tried by the police board .ime and time
again; as far as he was concerned Mr..
Price could stay on the board the re.
m ainder OF bis life.
Commissioner Price said he had made
the affidavit Oh which Sergt. Smith bad
been summoned before the board; that
Mr.. Marbury had told him price that
Sergt. Smith wanted TO make Charges
against him and had asked il be (Mar-
bury had any objection to the employ.
ment OF Mr.. Armstrong in the case; be
had also been told that money $50 mad
been paid Mr.. Armstrong as his fee and
that the money had been made up By
gamblers.
Sergt. Smith said he had never paid
cent nor had be ever been asked for q
cent; he had dropped the matter sfter
his conversation with his brothers.
Commissioner Miller suggested thst
before proceeding further an affidavit
from Mr.. Msrbury (who is not in the
city, be secured as to the conversation
had with Sergeant Smith.
Sergeant Smith suggested that Mr..
Armstrong should also be asked about
the conversation.
A colloquy then followed between
Commissioners Price and Sergeant
Smith, during which Mr.. Price said
that Sergeant Smiths brothers and
Mayor Simpson would turn him off the
police board if they could: and that the
Mayor had been fighting him ever
since he had been member OF the
board.
Sergeant Smith said he and his
brothers were gentlemen. if they were
poor. and that they had never done
anything to be ashamed of. II matters
outside this case were gone into be
could tell q good many things about
Commissioner Price, if the board wish
ed to hear them.
Commissioner Miller, who in the
meantime had been engaged in writing
resolution, offered the following:
"The board OF Police Commissioners re.
quest Commemorative Attorney Leon
ard Marbury's to furnish the board
with his deposition of the conversation
that took place in his Office between
himself and Sergeant James I. Smith
concerning the removal of Police Com.
missioner Frank Price from this board
This was adopted and the board ad'
journed, subject to the call OF the secre'
tary.