Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-02-15

EXCITEMENT AT THE STATION
HoUsE.-Lieut. Smith through Capt.
Webster this morning preferred charges
to the Mayor againet Officers Lyles
and Wilkinson for assault and abusive
language. The Lieutenant stated that
he blew his whistle fifteen times early
this morning and when the officers re.
sponded at the station house this
morning, Lyles, after a few words,
grabbed him, the Lieutenant, by the
collar and abused him, and that Officer
Wilkinson, while not putting bis hand
on him, did use threatening language.
The case will be heard on Monday
morning. Officer LYles in an inter-
view gave the following version Of the
affair. He says when he reached the
station house Lieut.. Smith was at the
desk and said TO him: "Why didn't
you answer my whistler" Lyles re-
piled, Il did," The Lieutenant, he
says, then said "You are d ID liar,
you did not." Lyles said Don't you
call me q id liar" The Lieutenant
then got up from the desk and said
eyes, d-n you. you ale no good, and
your father was no good when he was
on the force" Lyles then, as he says,
thinking the Lieutenant would follow
his remarks with q blow, grabbed the
Lieutenant aud forced him into
chair. Lyles says that even with the
provocation received, he would not
have resented it II there had bsen no
reference to bic dead father.
Lieutenant Smith, upon beiog asked
for his version OF the affair, made the
following statement: / left the station
house this morning at FIVE minutes to
four o'clock and started or my rounds.
Upon reaching the Second ward | blew
my whistle for Messr,. Lyles and Will
kinson, who were on that beat. / got
no response, and again sounded my
whistle. No answer came aud blew
again. l Kept correct account. and
found / had blown my whistle fifteen
times. l returned to the station house
at 400 O'Clock, went upstairs, took
q seat at the desk and proceeded to
make out a list OF the street corners on
which 1 had blown my whistle for the
men. A few minutes past o'clock
Officer Lylfs came in the station house,
assembled the stairs to the room in
which 1 was seated, looked over my
shoulders and saw what | had written
down. He turned very abruptly and
said, "Do you want my place, or do
you want to take bread and meat from
my famlly?" Ireplied to the effect that
/ did not, but was in position to do
my duty and to see that others did
theirs. Were l derelict the Mayor
would suspend me. Mr.. Lyles became
very angry at this, saying I made his
father while policeman see hard
time, and he had been warned by him
of me when he fret became a police.
man. He threw of his overcoat end
laid down his stick With every indica'
ton of preparing to assault me. At
this uDcture went to the stairway
and requested Mr.. Ferguson to come
up, as l wanted him to be witness OF
Mr.. Lyles's conduct. Mr.. Wilkinson
came up stairs with Mr.. Ferguson,
when Mr.. Lyles ran at me and
caught me by the throat, choked and
forced me into a chair. / got away
from him, but he grappled with me
the second time and forced me against
wardrobe in the room. Iput my hands
behind me and told him l did not IL
tend to hit him. Messrs. Lyles and
Wilkinson subsequently went down
stairs, and later l followed and tool. p
seat in a chair near window, where /
was roundly abused by Mr.. Wilkinson,
who sized me up as being no good any
how; that never was an efficient Off.
Ger; that he could get away with me
&c. He finally grew so infuriated
that he pulled off his coat, laid his stick on
bench and made other preparations Ito get
away with me-" as he called 1t. ordered
him cut Of the station house, but he refused
TO leave. / then directed Officer Ferguson
to put him out, which no did. Later in the
morning preferred charges against the two
officers / emphsticalIy deny that l said
anything derogstory of Mr. Lyles's father.
We were ever on the best Of terms up to the
time OF his death; nor did l apply any bad
language to Officer Ly.es during the Difficult.
ty with him