The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-09
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT.
Final Action Taken i'm the John
Leroy Heller Case.

A Pension Allowed the son of De-
ceased Policeman. Though the
Former Resided With 0H Uncle
Changes in Engineer Department.
Final action was taken today in the
case Of John Leroy Heller when the Com
missipners approved IN, recommendation
of Major Richard Sylvester that a pen
sion of s. a month be granted to him pay
4 able from September o. 1899, from the
B policemeu's fund. This case has been be-
/ fore the Commissioners at intervals since
: the summer Of 1888. ID was first decided
/ at the instance Of John b. Wight then
/ Commissioner of the District, against the
payment of the pension.
/ The grounds FOR IN, decision were that
: John Heller was one Of the children Of
/ Jacob Heller. a deceased policeman. that
. no was and had been cared for by rela-
/ tive FOR several years prior 10 the death
/ of his father. The Commissioners took
/ the ground that while John Heller was
/ the son of Jacob Heller ne was 90 all in
/ tents the adopted son of the relative re-
/ feIr5G 20 and therefore not entitled TO the
/ pension
/ Recently the case was opened AT the
instance OF JONI l1t.4Fl tfti'l itf anu flA
] opinion was submitted by the Attorney
/ for the District that the law did not allow
/ the Commissioners TO discriminate be
! tween the children Of a deceased police
man. but that all must be treated alike
! This is the basis OF the action taken to-
/ day In reporting the case 20 the Com
| missioners Major Sylvester submitted the
! following statement and recommendation:
| 1t will be- observed thar thc Pension
/ Board IN this case n AIDE an award 10
! John Leroy Heller Of s. a month. which
/ was disapproved by the Commissioners
! November Is. 1893 on motion OF John r.
! Wight, who at that time. was the Com
missioner IN charge Of the Police Depart
ment.
| In view Of the opinion Of the Attorney
/ for the District OF Columbia. I have to
/ recommend that the child, John Leroy
/ Heller. De given an allowance OF s. per
! month. to date from September 25. 1899
| payable from the policemen's fund
Major Richard Sylvester has sent to the
commissioners the papers in the case Of
! Policeman c. Il. Willngham. who re-
Gently appeared before the Trial Board
Of the Police Department charged with
neglect Of duty and conduct unhecominE
| am officer The specific charge was that
/ Willingham was under the influence OF
liquor while on duty and failed 90 prop
erly patrol his beat. He was found guilty
/ by the Trial Board
Major Sylvester recC mmends that the
| officer be 1ned So. 10 be paid in I'VE
l equal monthly inS-allmgnrs- He says
/ there was much prCVCcatiOu. and the Of
fence was ChaTgeable. he thinks. TO WOrTy
! and sensitfveness- Major Sylvester states
! to the Commissioners that he desires to
Z give Willingham another trial. which the
board has allowed him to do.
Major Richard Sylvester has forwarded
! ID Fs- Commissioners a
! that Policeman J. n Walsh be promoted
/ 10 be a private Of class 2 vice Hebrew
| reduced, and that Ambrose f Brown and
/ Charles G. Barteman be appointed po-
! licemen Of class !, vice Steventon, re-
1 moved, and Graves, resigned. 3 n 10 take
! effect September .. The Commissioners
have approved the recomme ndations
/ Another recommendation has been
] handed TO the Commissioners BY Major
/ Sylvester to the effect that the badge Of
! the street railway crossing policeman be
circular with shield in the centre mark
I ed Street Railway Crossing Policemen"
I and that they be REQUIRED 20 wear a dark
] brown helmet through he winter season
| instead OF black one. y bis recommen-
! dation also the Commissioners have ap-
| proved
|
Acting upon the request Of J CoIvin,
/ Superintendent Of the Washington, Alex
| andria, and Mount Vernon Railway Ma
! jor Sylvester has recommended. and the
! Commissioners have approved the ap-
| pcintmeut Of John A. King as additional
! policeman for duty in aud about the sta
! ton Of the above-named company. They
/ have also revoked the commission Of
! Frank Mayotte, as he is 10 longer Ia the
/ employ Of the company. E.
] The Commissioners today authorized 5he
! following changes 10 the personnel Of the
! Engineer Department:
| =. q. Melbourne clerk in the Water
! Department at $1,000 per annum. is pro-
/ NOTED TO DE clerk at 81 per diem. vice
I Roach resigned.
/ c. Francis Owens. clerk in the Survey
or s once. at t2.A5 per day. is JrOmOt ed
| 10 clerk in the Water Department. at
! $1,000 per annUm. vice Melbourne pro
| NOTED, 10 take effect October =
! The Commissioners today ordered that
the west abutmcnt Of the BeuninE
! Bridge be repaired at an estimated cost
Of 800, chargeable 70 the appropriation
for construction and repair Of bridges,
1872.
The Attorney for the District has writ
| ten 10 the Commissioners informing them
Of the recent action OF the Court Of Ap-
] peaIs in the matter Of the special assess
/ meut Of property IN the proceedings for
/ the extension Of Rhode Island Avenue.
I The Attorney reports that the mandate
| from the Court Of Appeals. recitiug that
| the appeal from the order Of the Su-
/ preTne Court confirming the verdict of the
/ jury in said case had been dismissed. and
| directing the lower court To carry into
| effect the said final order Of confirmation,
/ has been duly issued and filed
! The Attorney states that the effect OF
| this action of the court Is to make the
assessment in said verdict a lien upon
/ the land assessed from the time of the
I az BE-.