The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-02
OFFICER PROCTOR.

An Ex-Polceman axes Issue WIN
Police Officials.
10 the Editor Of The Post.
Houston, Texas, November IL notice
In Thursdays Daily Herald OF october ~,
1901, an article purporting to be an Inter
view with Chief Of Police j. g. Black
burn 10 regard to affairs Of the police
department, and In that Interview states
that the alleged grievances Of some Of
the officers whom he had discharged had
been aired freely Ia the city council el-.
and as am the only officer be mas dis,
charged OF late. naturally infer that |
am the one he alludes 10. have reIralHea
from going Into newspaper controversy
for various reasons, but inaSmuch as the
chief Of police has deemed II necessary 10
stir the matter up again. ! 90 deem u
necessary 10 defend myself through the
In the drst place there are no alleged
grievances, but on the contrary absoiute
facts. Why was this matter brought before
the city council: Simply because Mr..
Blackburn has assumed the role OF dicta-
tor 10y refusing to recognize the leSollty
of the civil service commission also by
refusing to obey the Instructions OF the
Houston city council and Ignoring the
orders Of the higher body Of this municl-
puiity with impunit}. Ihat Is why the
matter has been so thoroughly aired oetore
the public.
why did Mr. Blackburn question the val
ldity of the city charter that creates the
police, ire and health board on September
20 1901. when / was to be tried for al
legged conduct unbecoming an oficert Just
two months prior to thar time the com
missions validity was not questioned when
he had preferred SIX charges against me
aud evidently believed he could sustain
them, but failed and with the negro de.
tcctVcs aid In trailing me for several
weeks on my beat at night lu the FifJh
ward the most evidence the chief Of police
produced against me was lot ot ne
groes who were open violators Of the law
and whom / had made enemies by cuforc-
Ing the laws OF the city. All which | stand
ready to substantiatc by reputable Gu
Why did not the chief Of police question
The validity OF the board Of commissioners
when SOME Uf-Als favorites were 10 be tried
for breach Of disCfflInef In fact the le-
gallty Of the comm ssiou was never be
fore questioned by him and realizing his
utter fixture to sustain his allegations and
like n drowning man In his last throes Of
death he grasped at anything IN sight,
finally landing on the jagged edge Of the
city charter and proclams If unconstitn-
But some excuse is better than none.
However, the public can see that 1t IS a
matter Of prejudice. II Mr.. Blackburn had
he not willing to produce 1t at trlal
court2
There is no law in the land to condemn
and sentence n man before he has had
a fair and impartial trial, but in this case
] had no trial. Nhy2 Because / did my
duty MS an officer and executed the laws
none and that ala not suit certain people
la fact, the people woulu get far better
police service If the police officers knew
they would be protected In executing the
law. but as the situation IS at present
every man connected with the police de-
partmcnt bus to protect himself, even from
the prosecution of eN-Convict thicying,
bunco stecrcrs who have been chased from
all parts Of the country and finally land
cry and when, police officer attempts
TO arrest or rid the cty OF this class Of
criminals he is threatened with prusecu-
ton, or To some cases as ] was prose
cutcd by notorious gang Of huncO men
on a charge Of malicious prosecution, be-
cause had arrested them and KEEP. them
In lai! pending investigations or certain
robheres that had taken place a few days
prior to their arrest
Where was the chief Of police while
was hHng prosecuted by these buuco
steererst Did he offer any assistance? No,
not once did he come forward TO protect
one Of his Officers who was attempting TO
ftu Inc city OF a. notorious gang Of criml-
uas WHO were daily besmearing our city
with shame
That is the reason the people do not get
proper police protection The officer real.
ICES That he will not be protected Ia his
attempt 10 suppress open violations of the
Law The police department is In de
mlorairlzed condition Where does the fault
highway robbery on the streets. house rob.
blng In broad daylight and everything else
that pertains to shame. and vet the Chronl-
sue In an Interview with certain city ofA
Gals, that the city was clear of henco MY
and the lawlcss element We're on the re.
wish to state for the benefit Of the limo.
cent and unsnspecting public that there are
sun some Of those cnriosltIes left in Hous-
ton; commonly known as 'hnuco steerers,"
aLd, according to reports of the papers
t9r several days past there seems to be
class more criminaSy inclined than the
nnnco men; who are generally down on
highway robbers
also noticed an article in the Houston
Daily Herald Of October 10 which, / pre-,
sumo, emanated from sonra tone Connected
Win the police department attempting to
whltewaSh the shameful highway robbery
32t W, T. wicker, who was robbed on
Friday night october rs. about q or Q 80
p m, on public thoroughfGre of SI4
yet the Herald tells MS In an alleged inter
view with some one that evidently Is look.
ing ior reputation or else seeking 10 pro
tect their superior officers from the con
demnauon OF an Indignant public that this
mau WICKER was unreliable and could not
DE- believed Now, as a matter OF fncf
dld the Herald's representative see Mr.
wicker or is u merely henrsay? I ppr-
sonauy, saw MI Wicker and heard his
statement In the presence OF reputable
witnesses and believe he stated absolute
iacts, He did not have the appearance
Of man that was seeking notoriety
through the press, but on the contrary, n
quiet. unassumlng farmer that had come
10 this city for the purpose of dlsposinp
% some cotton which he had earned by
unsuspectIng farmer robbed Of Mis- hard
earned money by a notorious gang of
thieves who have embedded their selves
N our city and seem 10 he q permanent
fixture. Why can't they he driven ontY is
Il possible that the officials Of this city
nave become 50 callous that they no longer
notice a violation Of the criminal statutesg
The laws Of the city and state are openlv
violated here each day with impunity, and
II Is time to act, aud II the chief of police
the criminal statutes. they can be made
clearer 70 him by calling on the writer
The city's condition Is 10 deplorhhle
state. Murder robbery and high.handed
vandalism seem to he the order OF he
day, while the peace and dignity OF our
city IS trampled in the dust
]. d. Proctor.