The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-08
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Complaint Against Policemen in
the Southeast Section.
Boys Protest Against What They
Relieve to He PcrsccutfOn-Cases
of Unnecessary severity Cited
Investigation Called For-Objec-
ton to License for POOlrOOm.

Two irate boys named F. Wheeler and
J. E. Dryer, residing at 500 NJ Street
southeast have written letter to the
Commissioners complaining OF the conduct
of policemen of the Fifth precinct toward
Them and asking, at least by implication.
whether boys in the Southeast section have
any rights that policemen are bound to re-
spect.
Within the last four years, say the boys,
the officers of the beat in the vicinity of
Fourth and NJ Streets have had eight diff
ferent cases against boys Of the neighbor-
hood All these cases, they inform the
Commissioners, were dismissed and proved
to be laughing stock in the Police Court.
Continuing their complaint, the boys say:
we are not allowed to stand on vacant
lots or corners having no buildings upon
them without officers sneaking upon us or
| lying i'll the tall grass to watch us. One
policeman threatens to arrest boys on cor
ners If he sees two or more Of them to-
| gether."
| The boys complain of certain colored
/ policeman who they declare is doing all in
his power to get name and reputation for
himself. They inform the Commissioners
| that he has been on the force about six
months and in that time they charge him
with having given the boys no peace. This
| policeman, they say, informed them that
complaint had been made against the Toys
of the neighborhood, but they called et the
Fifth precinct and were there told that no
such complaint had been made. With ref
erence to this policeman the boys further
say:
Another distinguished act of this officer
was to go recently to the home of Mr.. Tur-
ner and arrest his son because he had de-
tended himself against a young man who |
had insulted him The arrest was made a |
week after the act was committed on Mon |
day morning at O'Clock, by two police
men and a detective. The bicycle officer |
remained in front Of the house while the |
colored policeman complained of broke in |
the gate In the rear of the kitchen door. |
de then proceeded upstairs, where he en-
tered room occupied by a woman and two |
girls The bicycle officer and the detective |
urged him on.
If the boy had been murderer it could
not have been worse. The boy had been at
work at the Southern Railroad shops and
played with the boys after work How was
1t that the officer had to walt till few
hours before dawn Monday morning to
make the arrest. We sent bail-s5-to
the Fifth precinct. which was refused. The
boy was informed that he had to ride in
the Black Maria The case was dis
missed"
Inc boys request the Commissioners to
make full investigation and then to act
in justice to all concerned. -
southwick C Briggs, of 1717 Grant Street
northwest, recently sent vigorous COM
plant to the Commissioners relative to the
DAD quality of the |
mouse, ne says. is on the butt end of n
large main. The meter shows a heavy
pressure, but the gas is about two-c candle
power Our bills are enormous, from s12
10 W. o month. even in summer. when away
part OF the time. We complain. man
rushes out, fddles with the meter, says
You are o. k but the light continues as
bad as ever. Another complaint, another
man, boy and wagon. lots OF tools, great
fuss, all lights out. same poor gas. Well.
the superintendent will have the bends of
pipes blown out We never see it done.
and IL is never DONE
MI Briggs asked of the Commissioners
mat an inspector be sent to the house at
night. This was done. and the Inspector
reported that Mr.. Briggs had ample cause
Tor complaint. and that the trouble could 9
not be remedied without the laying of a
larger main. which the company was has
tening to lay. Later the Inspector called
with the superintendent of the Washing
Ton Gas Company after the pipe had been
laid and connected, and 1t was then report {
cd that the supply and quality of gas was ,
to Mr.. Briggs II
Lieut.. j. z. Heffner of the Second Pols~,
Precinct, recently sent request to the r
Commissioners not to license pool or bill I
lard tables at 1928 Eleventh Street north !
west, and enclosed a petition of residents c
of the locality makiap ha |
Upon the recommendation OF the Major | n
and Superintendent OF Police the Commits /
siohers yesterday ordered that no license y
be issued to the pool room in question v
The Inspector of Buildings recently re-
quested that the Commissioners appoInt :
OF construction for the
Manual Training School and Brney School.
Capt Lansing H. Beach. the Engineer a
Commissioner. in considering the request. !;
stated TO his associates that John p Healy, :,
who had been recently appointed by the -
Commissioners. will be assigned to super :,
intend the construction of one of these
For the other Captain Beach recommend =
I'd that L. f. Bond be transferred from his a
present position al the same compensation
20 that of superin tendent OF construction !,
Captain Beach states that the work of y
school repairs is less pressing now than at .
my other time of the year. and that there -
s quite demand for inspectors upon street
and building work in the District. which
VIII cease probably within short time
Under these circumstances Captain Beach
Ices not deem it advisable to appoint ad-
iltional men for a short period, and for
hat reason he recommends the temporary
ransfer of Mr. Bond
This recommendation the Commissioners
nave approved. Fl
The Western Union Telegraph Company =
recently requested Of the Commissioners
the privilege to string two wires on les 5
along Street from the pole on the
south side, between Twelfth and Thir- =
teenth Streets northwest. to the second
pole east of Twelfth Street, and thence o
TO the Raleigh Hotel.
Walter C. Allen, the Electrical Engi-
ner, in reporting upon the application, at
The request OF the Commissioners. rec d
that the permission be granted
rs requested. the wires to be used only a