Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-05-02
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

Commi6sioDer6 last night there were
present Messrs. Hill, Bryant and Miller.
Capt. Bryant presided.
Capt. Bryant stated rule 56. as
amended at the last meeting In refer.
ence to changing the station OF the
policemen every two months beginning
with May /, had been put into effect by
Chief Webster, but that the Mayor had
arrested the observance of the rule by
Injunction proceedings. The chair con-
tinuiDg said: "We all bow to this action
as law-abidine citizens, but the board,
of course, will answer to the petition"
Capt. Bryant then asked the secretary,
Mr.. Miller, il he had heard anything
from the boards counsel, Col. f. l..
Smith and Mr.. 8. G. Brent.
Mr.. Miller answered that he had not,
but that he had instructed them. 1t
will be remembered that at the last
meeting, the board gave the secretary
authority to employ counsel In case of
necessity
The chair then asked if there was any
unfinished business.
The secretary replied that COM
munication from Chief Webster had
been received, asking an investigation
of the matter ia which he was charged
with neglect of duty and for which he
had been publicly reprimanGed.
The chair asked the Chief by whom
be was reprimanded and from what
source the charges came.
The Chief then read the following
article from the Gszstte of March %,
under the caption of against His Pro-
test :"
"Thos. O'Brien was carried to Wash.
ingtop against bis protest and struggles
yesterday, and this morning when the
| matter was made known to the Mayor
the latter stated that he desired it dis
tipctly understood that the Mayors
Office was In no wise responsible for
| such high=handed outrage and that II
be, the Mayor, had known of 1t he
would have needed the mans protest
and that the man's rights as to proper
papers would have been respected. He
also said that O'Brien had his redress
\ against those who have unlawfully
abused him. The Mayor further says
whether papers are proper or not II col.
ored policemen come down from Wash
inston to carry white persons through
the streets OF Alexandria handcuffed he
does not propose to have prisoners sur.
rendered to them"
The Chief stated that this article, he
thought, charged him with neglect of
duty and publicly reprimanded him and
be wished the board to investigate the
matter and see who was in fault.
Sergeant Goods and Officer Ferguson
were then summoned as witnesses.
Sergeant Goods stated that on the
morning in question Officer Sherwood
had informed him that he had arrested q
man on the previous night and that the
fellow answered the disciDtion OF an
escaped convict from Washington,
notice OF which had been received ct
| the station house from the authorities
10 that city that morning, that he then
proceeded upstairs and informed the
Mayor, who had just finished the
docket. of the matter and that he (the
Mayor had said: "You had better
communicate with the Washington
authorities and let them have him."
The Sergeant further stated that he
had communicated with the Wishing
ton authorities, but had received no
| satisfactory answer from them, and
had later told the Chief what the
| Mayor had said 10 reference to the mat
ter. He then dropped the affair.
| Chief Webster was then called and
stated on the morning of March 81 he
saw Sergeant Goods at the telephone
when he entered the station house, and
later the Sergeant bad informed him
that a man answering the description
of an escaped convict from Washington
! was detained at the station house; that
the Sergeant had further stated that
the Mayor had told him to telephone
to the Washington authorities about
the man and let them have him. The
chief than said that later q negro Off.
Ger from Washington 10 full uniform
had come 10 the station house and
presented him with the following
letter:
| Washington, Asylum,
Washington, ID. O., March 81, 1901.
James F. Webster, Chief Of Police, Alexsn'
| dria, Va:
| Gear Sir-The bearer, W. W. Martin, is one
OF the detailed officers on duty at this insti-
tuition. 0'Brier made his escupe from gang
| in which Mr.. Martin was one OF the guards
| and he will be able to identify him. If the
right party, please allow Officer Martin to
bring bin to this institution. Thanking you
for your courtesy, yours truly
w. II. 6ToUTENBURGH,
| Intepdent and Warden.
Continuing the chief ssid that after
| reading the letter he had instructed Or
ficer Ferguson to telephone the matter
to the Mayor, but had learned that that
official was out Of the city. He then,
thinking that the Washington authori.
ties and the authorities in this city had
previous correspondence concerning the
matter, turned O'Brien over to the po-
liceman, but that the prisoner had Of
fered resistance and laid down on the
pavement; that he then ordered the
man to be placed in wagon and con-
veyed to the ferry wharf, but that the
boat had been missed. The man was
then brought back to the station house
and the policeman telephoned to Wash
ington for another officer. O'Brien 10
the meantime telling him (the chief
that the reason he ole red resistance was
because he did not want to be taken by
q negro. He said that the second off,
Ger from Washington was white man,
and O'Brien went with him willingly. |
The chief concluded by yine that he
did not know OF his being guilty Of ne
elect of duty until he saw it 10 the
newspaper.
Officer Ferguson testified that be was