The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-18
CAPTAIN JOHN GREEN DEAD.
WAS A FORMER CHIEF OF sAvAN-
NAH's POLICE FORCE.

He Began His Service n Member
of the Force Immediately After the
War and Succeeded the Late Gen.
Anderson as Chief IN 1SSs-Was a
Rigid Martinez i'm the Performance
of Duty-Was an officer of the Irish
Jasper Greens During the War and
nm Honorary Member of the Com
pany.
Capt. John Green, for nearly thirty
years a member of the Savannah police
force and its chief for several terms, died
last night at o'clock az St. Joseph's
Infrmary after a short illness.
Capt Green had been in failing health
for some time, but had been seriously i'll
only since last Friday. AS he was living
alone in his house on President street,
east, his friends, as soon as they discov-
cred his condition, insisted upon his re-
moval to the Infrmary, which was done
Sunday afternoon. Death was due rather
TO a general breakdown than 10 any spe-
cific cause Since the death of his wife
about a year ago Capt. Green had taken
but little interest in anything, and but
little care of himself and at his advanced
age the effects of this neglect were soon
visible. He was about rs years of age.
Capt. Green was native of South Gal
way, Ireland, but came to Savannah some
time before che war between the states.
Previous to his coming to this country he
had been a member of the mounted con-
h,,Io - In EUbi he
acquired the soldierly bearing and SPLEEN
did Workmanship which distinguished
him ever afterwards and of which he was
justly proud.
On the breaking out of the war he en-
listed with one of the companies of the
Irish Jasper Greens and did valiant serv-
ice for the Confederacy, returning to Sa-
vannah with the rank of lieutenant. Sa-
vannah avs a very disorderly city at that
time and a police force was one of the
city's chief needs. One was organized
shortly after the war with Capt. Aiken, a
Confederate soldier, In charge, and the fu-
ture chief was one of the first men en-
rolled. Capt. Aiken held the position on
ly a short time, and was succeeded by
Gen Robert H. Anderson, who thoroughly
reorganized the force.
Capt. Green's soldierly qualities were
soon recognized and he was made a SER
RSdHL early III 1000 ne SSlkSd
as ranking sergeant of the
force for a number of year and
in 1884, was elected a lieutenant of police.
Afterwards the lieutenants of police were
abolished, and the position of assistant
chief created to which he was elected.
He held this position until the death of
Gen. Anderson, when he succeeded that
able officer as commander of the force
There was much opposition 20 Capt
81 # far
many holding that he was not qualified
to fill the position, and there was con-
tinued criticism during his administration
of the office. Capt. Green was a rigid
martinez, and believed that policeman
should be soldier. He performed his
duty faithfully as he understood it, and
required his men to execute orders to the
letter. His particularly in small matters,
and his persistent adherence to the mill
tary discipline enforced by his predeces-
sor, did not tend to make him popular with
his men, but his honesty of motive and
fidelity 20 duty won him the respect OF
his superiorS, and the heads of the city
government under whom he served.
When defeated for reelection in 1895,
he lacked less than year of serving out
the full time of thirty years, which would
have entitled him to retire on a pension
of half pay. There are many who thought
been retained in office until he could have
completed this term, and Capt. Green
himself felt that he had been very I'M
Justly treated in the matter.
The deceased leaves no children and
had no relatives in Savannah. He has
brother in Bridgeport. Conn.,, whose
| daughter visited here about year ago.
This daughter was wired of the death
of her uncle last night, and the funeral
| arrangements will be deferred, awaiting
word from the Bridgeport relatives. The
deceased was in comfortable circumstan-
| ces, owning two nice houses on President
| street, east, and having some money in
bank. He was member of the Confeder-
ate Veterans Association, Camp No 1856
and an honorary member of the Irish Jas
per Greens. 1t is expected that both of
these organizations will attend the flu
neral, which will probably take place
some time tomorrow