The age-herald., 1900-01-10
MUCH BUSINESS ! WAS TRANSACTED Meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners. OFFICER M'KNlGHT ON TRIAL Exonerated of the Charge of Neglect of Duty-Will Ask for Ten Addi-
 tional Men-Chief Aus
 tins Report
OFFICER M'KNlGHT ON TRIAL

and much business was transacted. The meeting was held in the council chamber at the city hall, and was called to order at 8 o'clock by Chairman Chiles, with the fol- lowing members present: Commissioners Stradford, Nobley, Bridges and McCory. Commissioners Parker and Norton came in during the session.
 The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, and the resolution re- garding arresting fees was passed over un- til the next meeting
 The first business taken up was the trial of Officer Mcknight on the charge of vio- lating rule No. 91-neglect of duty.
 The charges were based on the alleged failure of the officer, who is stationed at police headquarters, to answer call on the night of November 27. It was claimed that a telephone message was sent in call- ing for an officer to quell disturbance at a boarding house, and that Office Mcknight failed to respond and other officers had to be summoned. A number of women were present to testify to the facts, but Officer Mcknight proved that about the same time he received the telephone message, an emergency call came in from the Southside, stating that woman was being murdered, and that he responded to the latter and caught the assassin. After hearing the testimony the commissioners went into executive session and exonerated the of ficer and commended him for answering the urgent call first.
 Pay for Lost Time
 Petitions were read from Officers Oldham and Mcknight, and Patrol Driver Mingea, asking that they be allowed salary for time lost through accidents and sickness, were taken up separately. Officers Oldham and Mcknight received favorable action, and Patrol Driver Mingea was allowed half pay. The consideration of these petitions pro- voked considerable discussion, especially the petition of Driver Mingea, who pleaded sickness.
 J Further discussion was provoked by the presentation of a grocery bill against one of the officers, which came near causing the board to rescind the action taken shortly after its organization regarding old claims against policemen.
 -, It was expressly stated that the poard' by Its former action, did not intend to pro- tect any member of the department from honest claims, and the case in question went over for Investigation
 A communication from Chief Austin ask ingthat the mayor and Goard of aldermen be again peutioned for additional men, was read, and on motion resolution asking for ten additional men was authorized, the same to be signed by every member of the board.
 A communication was also read from the chief recommending that the salaries of several of the officers be raised in accord ance with their number of years of service, having been advanced on January l, and that Officer J. S. Johnston toe made night sergeant at salary of $75 per month was granted, subject to the approval of the city attorney, to whom was referred the legal questions involved.
 splendid Report
 The report of Officers Bodeker and Dish eroon, assigned to special duty, was read and was highly commended, and pointed out as a strong argument for regular de- ,tectives.
 The reports of Chief Austin for Novem- Der and December were read as follows:
 Birmingham, December l, 1899. To the Honorable Board of Police Conn missoners, Birmingham, Ala.-
 Gentlemen: l have the honor to present herewith @ report of the police depart ment for the month of November, 1899. To amount of fines and fees col
 lected. ..... ....... .... .$1 ,634. 90 Increase over November, 1S9S... 327 .65 Amount of stolen property recoy-
 ered..... ..... ..... =. ............. 415.OO Number of arrested for burglary
 and grand larceny..... .....( ...... fl Number bound over to the grand
 jury..... ..... ... ....... ........... IS Total number arrests. ..... ......... 837 Runs made by morning mounted
 man.. ..... ............. Sz Runs made by evening mounted
 man.. ..... =. .......... ............ 143 Runs made by patrol wagon.... .... 140 Very respectfully, c. w. AUSTIN,