Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-09-26

station some fuel that had been
stolen and he had ordered him
to arrest woman that he (Cbief
W. thought was mixed up in tn
Grayson case or ne would report
hini to the board. On another occasion,
he said, he had told the men to get
ready for their summer suits 10 two
days and that Sergeant Smith soon
thereafter stated that the Mayor want
ed the men to appear In their summer
suits the next day. At the time young
Beckham appeared in the city he had
told Officer Belts that Beckham was
under indictment and to arrest him.
The Mayor had thereupon said
that he would not give his
consent for the men to ar
rest Beckham till the Commonwealth
Attorney had consulted him on the
subject He he'd then told the Mayor
that he (Chief wy would arrest Beck
ham If ne saw him. He said that he
had been hampered for some time; that
the Mayor never consulted him,
and that some OF the men had been on
the same beats for two years.
Captain Bryant asked Chief Webster
if 1t was not at his suggestion that OFF,
Ger Smith was made Sergeant to assist
him in bis duties.
Chief Webster replied that he under
stood that Sergeant Smith was put in
Office to assist him, but that he had
been working against him for four
years; he did not have much regard for
man whom be had taken into his con-
fidence and who then had gone back
on him. He said that he had been told
that policy was running loose and that
on January 16 last he had given orders
to Sergeant Smith, In charge Of the
men latter telling them that policy
tickets had been found on the streets),
that they would be held responsible il
policy was allowed to go on in their
beats. Sergeant Smith had then given
orders to the officers to arrest men who
had slot machines on their premises
and the policy matter was dropped.
Moreover, the Sergeant had told the
men arrested that he (Chief Webster)
had given orders to arrest them. He
said the Mayor sent messages to him
by the Sergeant or by Officer Fergu-
son, but did not give orders first to him
or to Lieutenant Smith. He was at
the station house every day and the
Mayor could always give him orders If
be chose,to do so. He said that dur
ing the "smallpox time" Commissioner
Lindsey had teIephoned to the station
house to look into q certain case. o.
6cer Ferguson took the message and
he (Chief Webster) told the officer that
he had better report the case to the
Mayor. Ferguson replied that he
would be Id if he would, and If the
Chief wanted the message communi.
Gated TO the Mayor he Chief Webster)
could do so himself. There was con-
siderable friction between himself and
the Mayor, but no quarrel. The May
or bad turned over the Chiefs private
room at the station house to Sergeant
Smith during the smallpox t$m& Aand
he (Chief Webster) had not 33n it
since. He then showed pa slip
that had besusHscked up on the estreet
in front OF the electric raj way pffice.
Mr.. Price said if all was'true that
Chief Webster had reported 1t was
rotten police force.
Captain Webster said he had been
turned down twice by the May
or and had made no more COM
plants to him. Once he had found
officers Lyles and TIGER, when on duty,
10 a saloon, and they said they were
looking for horse () and when the May
or was informed of the matter he said IL
was all right. Now he made all the
| rep )rts to the board.
In reply to question of MIR. Miller
Chief Webster sad that two men were
on duty at the station house from am.
to 10 p M. and one from 10 pm. to am.
The Mayor detailed the men. he
Chief w y had selected men to go TO
certain places and the Mayor had
changed them.
Mr.. Hill asked if the board had the
power to reorganize the force.
Captain Bryant said removals could
be made for cause and other men elect
ed in their places. .
Commissioners Price and Hill asked
if the board had the power to reduce
the force.
Capt. BRYANT thought that power was
vested in Council.
Mr.. Miller asked that If there were
two factions on the force with one
against the other, what could be done.
Captain Bryant said, under such con-
ditions the board could dismiss every
man on the force and elect others.
The board then adjourned to meet
next Tuesday night.
In THE REALM OF THE ARENA.-The
| Earl Sisters with the Wallace Circus