The times., 1901-06-22

Changes Of the utmost Importance to the
Police Department were announced yes
tertlay by Major Sylvester after the Dis
trict Commissioners had approved the
promotion of Capt. Robert II. Boardman.
Chief OF the Detective Bureau. to be cap
tain and assistant superintendent of the
department and Capt. Isaac Pearson to
the position of mounted captain. in charge
of ali the outside work that has hereto
fore been allotted to the Superintendent s
principal assistant.
Assistant Superintendent Boardman will
receive an additional allowance of $500
making his annual salary s1.S99, while
Captain Pearson will be promoted from
S1,50O a year to S,7i0. The former will
still remain in charge Of the detective Of
flee and his duties will be little changed,
as he has for some time been attending
to the duties that will now fall upon him
by virtue of his new office. When the pro-
motions go into effect July l Captain
Boardman will be the next in rank to the
Chief of Police.
Captain Pearson will be relieved of his
former duties, but will be the personal
representative of the Major in his daily
inspection Of the entire department. He
will also have charge Of certain routine
matters at Police Headquarters that viii
occupy but a small portion of his time
Capt. Francis E. Cross has not been af-
fected by the changes. There stil re-
mains two vacancies in the rank Of cap
tain and when filled further step in the
reorganization of the force will have been
effected Reserving the assistant super
intendent and the mounted captain as the
personal staff Of the major. it leaves an
allowance Of one captain for each 200 men
under the reorganization.
The selection of Captain Boardman 70
fl the important position of assistant su-
perintendent is universally commended by
the members of the force and the large
number of citizens who have followed the
records of the various prominent officials.
The greatest satisfaction was expressed
on every hand and as soon as the news
Of the promotion became known through
out the city congratulations began t.
pour in upon the popular official, who was
soon deIuged with floral tributes. the first
OF which came from Mrs. Sylvester wife
of the Superintendent of Police. 1t is gen
orally believed that wiser selection for
the important position could not have
been made.
Captain Boardrnan was born in this city
over forty years ago at the corner OF
Tenth and T Streets northwest After at
tending the public schools here he spent
several months at school in the Shenan-
doah Valley. When sixteen years old he
was apprenticed TO a plate printer in the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
where he afterward became one Of the
most expert workmen in the service. He
was also a penman of great ability and
did a great amount Of clerical work at
times. He was appointed TO the police
force December S, 1856 and on June !,
1891, was promoted to be a private Of
class . October 10 of the same year he
was detailed for duty on the detective
force. where his ability and faithfulness
soon won for him a position OF prori-
nence. He was made acting sergeant in
the detective Office October /, 1888, and
several months later-December 2-he was
promoted TO the rank Of SER
geant. The following day he was made |
lieutenant inspector in charge of the de |
-ective force, vice Inspector Mattingly. re |
iuced.
Under the provision of the reorganiza- |
lion act he was given the rank Of captain |
May TO- 1901 His record in command OF
-hsat force has been moct satisfactory, and
there are but few crimes of Importance |
Of the office that have not |
been satisfactorily cleared up He is one
1f the hardest worked men in the depart
ment, and never leaves the office until |
all the days business has been entirely |
disposed Of His promptness in sending |
put descriptions OF stolen property is es
pecially noteworthy and has resulted IN |
he apprehension Of many noted criminals |
and the return OF their booty.
Captain Pearson is a native OF Vir- |
5inia and is about sixty years OF age /
Until he was fourteen years old he at |
ended the common schools Of the Dis
-rict, afterward working on the farms d /
lis father and the Eeighbors until he Wa
1f age. About this time the war broks /
1ut and Pearson enlisted, on January Il |
ss2, in Capt. y. F. SteeTs company o |
he Second District Of Columbia Volun- |
eers. Ills term Of service expired two |
years later and Mr.. Pearson enlisted in |
he New Jersey Volunteers for the dura
ion of the war. but he was never trans |
erred, being discharged on December Z. |
$50, with the rank Of sergeant.
Mr.. Pearson served with the Army 81 |
he Potomac, participating in the battles |
II South Mountain, Antietam, Fort Stov-
ms, both battles OF Winchester, and The
,EGDlll Dun nun ADLA4AAe AtAt EEiLa44ANt4
IF the war his regiment was employed
n guarding the lines Of communication |
the Uaion Army Skirmishes |
with Mosby's guerriilas were Of frequent |
and the work was severe and |
wearing, although without the glory OF |
1attle After the war Mr.. Pearson was |
Employed for some fifteen months in the
2uartermasters Department in Washing |
on after which b- ls-g3 me CsCnupft..fE
with the police force
Appointed TO the police force February
l. 1861, Mr.. Pearson served as a private
until February l. 1850. when ne was pro
noted TO the grade OF sergeant O. I
November 20. 1SS5. he was made lieutcu- /
ant, and has acted Is night inspoctu
since 1876. His duties have always bee. |
performed, and his stand
Dg in the department is high, although |
he position ne occupied, night inspector !
{ one that is generally dislilled by III i
Ien. He is none the less noted for tn
airness Of his dealings ana mis- considers
ion for the people with whom he
brought in contact. Several months az
lnder authority of the recent act REQ
yanizing The Police Der eTaItment, he w
promoted 10 the rank Of captain
Major SylVester's recommendations ::
he District Commissioners conceTnine |
he promotions and regulations are H.
1T Is desirable that police syster
5hah oe maintained that win meet IN
advanced conditions prevailing within thL
jurisdiction and, in order to ehec'
,hanges looking 90 that end, the las,
congress. acting upon the recommends
Son Of the honorable Commissioners en-
icted legislation which II is believed viii
Dc beneficial 70 the public and the de