Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-10-03

had with Sergeant Smith but would
not sign his name to it.
(Here Sergeant Smith showed the
paper in question. II was an affidavit
prepared by Mr.. Greensway, a notary
public, made by Mr.. Sutherland OF the
conversation he had with Sergeant
Smith.)
Mr.. Sutherland said the paper was
all right; just as he had told Mr.. Green
away but, he said, he would not sign
1t. he said others wanted to make
more OF the matter than he did-Gib.
Simpson had gone and told Captain
| Billy Smith He said the Sergeant
came to his house today but did not see
him. Mr.. Greenaway had told him it
was not necessary for him to come
down here tonight; he did not care, ut
Captain Billy Smith and Captain Web
! ster told him 10 come Gown; the fret
man who told him to report the case
was Captain Billy Smith.
Sergt. Smith asked to be sworn. He
said Sutherland was the only man in
Alexandria he had ssked to vote.
On the day of the election be bad met
Su berland casually and he said,
'Spinks is good fellow; give him
vote" At this time Spinks came up
and he left them saying as he did so,
"give him vote"
Mr.. Price excitedly said he did not
want to get Sergt. Smith into trouble,
but II he chose to do so he could bring
witnesses to prove that he had solicited
votes.
Sergt. Smith-coolly and deliberately:
III you can get one man to say did so
will resign from The force"
Mr.. n. 8. Greenaway stated that he
had prepared the affidavit of Souther-
land who had sworn TO it on Saturday.
He took it with pencil and afterwards
had written it ont, but Mr.. Switzerland
would not sign it, although he said it
was all right.
Here the affidavit was read
Capt. Bryant said this was another
tempest 10 teapot.
Mr.. Price said he could get men to
say that Sergt. Smith had solicited votes
in the Second ward, but he did not care
TO do SO; be had no opinion of hila and
believed he would do anything. He
moved that he be reduced to the ranks.
Capt. Bryant said the board could
only dismiss men from the force; he
thought there was nothing in this case.
Mr.. Price believed the board had the
power to reduce men to the ranks.
Mr.. Miller moved to dismiss the
charges as there was no evidence TO
show that Sergt. Smith had done
wrong.
Mr.. Hill said he wished the commu.
nity to know that he intended to to his
duty In sny position he was placed.
Those making charges must prove a
mans guilt before he would dismiss
him; he would rather let four guilty
men 60 free than punish one innocent
man.
% Mr.. Mller's motion to dismiss the
charges against Sergt. Smith, all voted
aye and the board adjourned.
The followed is the affidavit that fig
ured 10 the examination:
State of Virginia, city of Alexsndris; to wit :
On this 1st day of ctOber. 1900, before
me, the subscriber, Notary Public in ana for
the city and Slate aforesaid, personally cams
7Onnie Sutherland, who being duly sworn &C
eIrding to law, deposes and says that at or
before the primary election last held in the |
city of Alexandria, while standing at or near |
the Fourth ward polls in conversation with |
Sergesnt James T. Smith, whom knew long |
before he went on the police force, and In a |
friendly way asked me to vote for Frank c. |
5pinks. who was candidate for City Ser. |
geant. Mr.. spinks coming up to whore We |
were standing he introduced him to me and |
left me with the remark, HE is a good fell !
Ow; give him vote" thought nothing of |
the remark, which was overheard by Mr.. |
Gilbert simpson, who told Capt VIM. H. |
Smith about it. He came to me about it, |
Afterwsrd Mr.. WIN. F. Webster and later |
Capt. James F. Webster came after me Ia |
reference to the remark. l have no wish nor |
iesire TO make complaint, nor did l do so,
considering the remark as made in friend
way, and il any complaint mas been ma lie
Il has been by others
Subscribed and sworn to before me this let
day Of October 1900.
NEWELL s. GREENAwAY,
Notary Public.