Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-09-27
A CARD FROM MAYOR SIMPSON
riends and FELLOW TOWnsmep:

office to Insult those under him, / deem
1t but just to my numerous friends,
well wiShers and ,ellow citizens to tres
pass for moment upon the domain of
explanation and, in justice to myself
and to the excellent opinion which Al.
exandria's law-sbiding people enter
tain for me, refer to charges some OF
which, if true, would bs barred by the
statute OF limitation and others so i'm
probable that one not lueal descend
ant of CULVER or an apt pupil OF Nun
chausen would resent as an insult to
his Intelligence. The Chief of Police
stated to the Commissioners that
when one James Grayson was
arrested for burglary, several years
ago, he made a suggestion to the
Ser,esnt and the Sergeant said
that he bad nothing to do with the
case and that he bad reported this to
the Mayor who had made light of the
matter and that be then asked the
Mayor to define his duty and if his po-
sition as Chief did not demand the re-
spect of the men and the Mayor again
made light of the matter and said he
was not expected to do much-just stay
about the station house. AS a matter
of fact, and my memory is guite-good,
the conversation referred to and terri
bly, distorted, occurred in my presence
and was blsed upon the following
facts: Sergeant Smith and his men
had been working diligently over the
Ao1 af,,1
in their efforts and when the Chief told
one of the men to arrest some parties
10 the same case the Sergeant merely
said, neither angrily nor disrespeclful-
ly, "Why, Chief, am working up this
case myself" and | was quite astoDsh-
ed when the Chief turned to me and
asked about his duties. Indeed l took
especial pins to explain that the Ser.
gesnt did not intend any disrespecl,
and followed this up by kindly telling
him that the Lieutenant and Sergeant
were expected to do all the hard out
side duty and that if he remained at
the station house attending to office
work it would be entirely satisfactory
to me. Now after the lapse Of several
years my actions which were
intended as q kindnes have been con
verified into fancied iosult. The Chief
also states that he told the men to get
ready in two days to don their summer
suits and that Sergeant Smith, soon
thereafter, stated that the Mayor
wanted the men to appear in their sum-
mer suits the next day. | know moth
ing about this, except that the men
were complaining about the heat TO such
an extent that l sent word by Sergeant
Smith, who was on duty at the time,
to have the men put on the suits the
next day II the Chief had said any
hing before, it is the first | have heard
of il. This | do know, however, that
when orders have been given by me to
change suits the Chief has invariably
and contemptuously disregarded the
orders so far as his Garb was concern
ed. His statement regarding my not
consulting him is disproved by the fact
that there have been certainly several
consultations this week regarding in.
vestigatOns into recent crimes and the
transferring of prisoners to the Indus
trial School, near Richmond. l am
free to confess, however, that | rarely
ask the Chiefs advice, for the reason
that | have never felt the need OF ii.
About Mr.. Ferguson's profanity | know
nothing, though l do know that told
Mr.. Ferguson and the other men at the
station house that | would not allow
myself to be called up, and l presume
MIR. Ferguson was but carrying out my
order so far as ringing me up was con-
cerned. have often thought that Mr..
Ferguson has borne more than his
share OF oppression. A few months
ago he arrested q man on the street and
another man followed him aad his pris-
Oner to the station house, where 10 the
presence OF the Chief the party med
ding foully abused the officer, threat
ening to cut his vitals out, and yet 10
the face of this outrage against an Off
Ger and against decency the offender
was allowed to leave FIVE dollars COL
lateral, and when Mr.. Ferguson called |
the Chiefs attention to the mans hor-
Ible conduct the only satisfaction be re-
ceived was, well. if you have any CON-
plant, make it to the commissioners"
AS has been before stated the Chiefs |
station was an exceedingly easy one,
but evidently not easy enough, for time
alter time have endesvored TO reach |
him at the station house without sue
cess, and, of course, when an officer is
not at headquarters barely four hours
10 day my orders had to be transact |
ed through others who were there. He |
would rarely ever get up to answer the
telephone and some one, of course,
would have to take the message for him;
and all this he probably considered in-
His complaints recall |
things to which have paid but little |
Attention, for oftentimes when / went |
o the station house he would frequent.
y fail to make any reply to my salua
lions, and | am quite sure that if any |
Of the men had been thus deficient in
order or politeness, he would have |
been the readiest to treasure up this
great wrong. Indeed, bis recent &C.
ions in reporting complaints to the
instead of to the Mayor
evidences his thorough contempt for
he head of the city and for rules laid
Town for his government. / read one
If these rules: "The Captain and Lieu.
eDant must carefully note and i'm
report to the Mayor
,very case OF misconduct or neglect OF
iuty on the part of the men," He has
Tot only fatty violated this rule, but he
las permitted the Lieutenant to do the
anne, as l see from the papers. have
eceIved no other Information that the
lieutenant has preferred charges
'eanst Officer knight. A most won
lerful circumstance connected with
hese matters is that the most
fficient and valuable members
# the police force have been made
he targets for abuse. The Chief