Evening star., 1901-02-18
TWO OFFICERS SUSPENDED
RESULT OF TRIAL TODAY BEFORE
ALEXANDRIA, MAYOR.
Lieutenant Smith Charged Derelfc-
tfon and AssauIt-The Evidence
Heard In Court.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, February 1s.-In
the police court room at IL o'clock this
morning Mayor Simpson opened the inves-
tigation Of charges preferred by Lieut..
James Smith Of the police force against
Policeman William Lyles for assault. and
against Policeman William Wilkinson for
the use Of abusive language and threats.
Lieutenant Smith alleged that he was
assaulted by Officer Lyles at the police
station early last Friday morning. He said
he had been seized by the throat and
roughly handled by the officer because he
(the Heutenant had demonstrated with
Lyles and Wilkinson for falling to respond
to the whistle which he had blown for them
a short time prior to the trouble. He
charged that Wilkinson abused him In the
most severe terms and threatened to get
away with him.
As evidence Of the general interest In the
affair the court room was crowded with
throng of spectators eager to hear the pro-
ceedings. The investigation lasted until
after 12 o'clock, during which time several
witnesses were examined. The two ac-
cused officers were suspended for thirty
days each.
Lieutenant Smith was first placed on the
stand. and told of having blown his whistle
for the two officers, who were stationed in
the second ward. He sounded his call
about o'clock and received no response.
Several times he shifted his position, blow
ing the whistle every corner which he
passed. Finally, reaching the station house.
he again sounded his call The lieutenant
testified that Lyles came in about ten min
utes after o'clock and looked over the
formers shoulder at his desk. The lieuten-
ant said that he showed Lyles notation
of the times he had blown his whistle with
out receiving any answer. upon seeing
-ta {a6
some terrible profanity and asked the wit
ness IL he wanted to take the bread out
of the mouths Of his Uyles) family. VII
ness stated that he made pacinc reply
and that Lyles thereupon threw doWn MS
billy and seized the lieutenant by the throat
and forced him back against the wall. AT
this juncture witness called oncer fer
guson upstairs to witness the occurrence
Lieutenant Smith said that finally the lrate
assailant went downstairs.
In reference to the charge against Ofcer
Wilkinson Lieutenant Smith SAID tne
former came into the room and abused
him Finally the latter ordered Omcer
Ferguson to eject Lyles and Williamson
from the station house, which was done.
OHcer Ferxuson's Statement.
Officer Ferguson was placed on the stand.
He testified to having been called upstairs
by the lieutenant to witness the difficulty
between him and Lyles. Witness stated that
he saw Lyles grab the lieutenant and force
him to the wall. While being held by Lyles,
witness stated, the lieutenant dropped MS
hands and said he did not intend 10 slrlks
his assailant. Next the scene was changed
TO the lower room, where Wordy war was
waged by the three policemen-Ideut smltn
and Officers Lyles and Wilkinson Lyles
charged the lieutenant with having mis-
treated the father Of Lyles while he was on
the police force. The men did not appear 10
witness to be intoxicated.
Wilkinson's part in the controversy was
to charge the lieutenant with frequentlhg
places of ill-fame in times past. IN genera,
Wilkinson characterized his superior ofncer
with being mo good" When the two men
were going out of the station house, Fergu-
son stated. Lieut.. Smith remarked that ne
could whip either Lyles or WILKINSON az
though they were younger men than he.
Jypon hearing that Wilkinson turned around
and DECLARED that he could thrash Smltn.
He invited the lieutenant to go out and try
conclusions Thereupon the lieutenant or
dered Wilkinson to leave, and he refused.
Finally, as above stated. Lieut.. Smith di-
rected Officer Ferguson to eject Wilkinson,
which was done.
John Travers told OF having seen Wilkin-
son and Lyles going up the street after the
trouble Friday morning. Witness thought
the men were staggering, and Imagined
that they were drunk.
The Defense.
Officer Lyles then took the stand He
said the wind was blowing f1ercely on the
night In question, ana Lnat ne anu Ills pe1it-
ner heard and answered several whistles
at random. apparently blown by the lieu
tenant. Witness said he came to the sta
ton hot se where he saw Lieut.. Smith
The latter, witness stated. abused him
roundly, declaring that neither he nor his
father had ever been of any account
Lyles said the lieutenant's insults became
unbearable, and he committed the assault.
THAT most ignoble OF all human senti-
ments prejudice, should never be exercised
by any one in public position" said the
| mayor in concluding the case. He had al
ways endeavored to avoid 1t In the dis
charge Of his duties mayor OF the city.
He was willing to give up his official posi-
ton Immediately il any citizen could come
forward and show that an injustice had
been done him in the mayors office. This
statement elected much applause from the
spectators.
In regard to the blowing of the WHISTLE
the mayor said he had always held that
the bare sounding of a whistle. without
any corroborative evidence. was not suf-
ficient to establish the presumption of
| guilt. He held, however, that 1t was nee
essary for the subordinate officer to give
| satisfactory explanation in all such cases
| to the officer in charge.
Touching on the occasion at the police
station. the mayor said he could not permit
| the affair to pass without furnishing the
| guilty ones. He considered Lyles and Will
kinson equally guilty, and, as above stated
suspended both for thirty days.