The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-06-12
COUNCIL MEETING.
Two Special Sessions Held Last Week.

\ special meeting of city council
was held Monday evening June 3. with
Mayor Stuckey and Alderman Boyle.
Chandler. Finn. Hurst, Purdy and
Rowland present.
The Mayor stated that the lease of
the Opera House to Messrs Pareira,
Caldwell and Solomons had not been
executed because of the fact that
there is no piano provided for the
Opera House which is regarded as a
necessary part Of the furniture and
without whichh parties refuse to ac-
cepv the contratct. After discussion
the Mayor and Clerk We're authorized
to purchase a piano to cost not more
than $500.
The petition of merchants request
ing Council to recommend County
Board of Commissioners to appoint
Mr.. S. Y. Delgar as public cotton
weigher was taken up and motion
was made that the recommendation
be made. The recommendation of Nh
j. D. White for same position, now
before council, being addressed to the
County Board could not be consider
ed. The clerk was directed to notify
Mr.. White of his position and give him
an opportunity to rectify the defect by
obtaining petition to Council so as to
be on same footing as Mr.. Delgar.
The Mayor stated that Policemen
H. II. Smith and Peter Gallagher
had been derelict in duty in prefer
ring charges against Samuel Reid
on 1st inst, and suppressing facts
which aggravated the offence of which
he was guilty. Mr.. Reid was
charged with public drunkenness and
cursing -onI the streets; when in fact
he had also armed himself with
shot gun and defed arrest and this
latter offence was not charged nor
brought out in the evidence Of the
officers, and, in consequence, Mr..
Reid had escaped with light punish
ment for a serious breach of the
public peace. Council decided to
bring the two officers before the spe-
cial meeting to be held on the 4th
inst.
A special meeting of council was
held on the evening of the 4th, inst.
with Mayor Stuckey and Aldemon
Boyle, Chandler, G. F. Epperson, ".
H. Epperson, Finn, Purdy and Hurst
present.
Mr.. J. ". McKiever was granted
permission to move residence of Mrs.
Brand from corner Harvin and Gra-
ham streets to corner of Harvln and
Mill street. using Harvin street, and
to remove two small trees that Will
be in the way.
Council refused to grant Messrs.
Pareira, Caldwell and Solomons three
year option on the lease of the Opera
House as specified in their bid. On
motion it was decided that lessess
must now take the leasel for one year
or three years at $500 per annum but
that lease of one year, with option for
two years more will not be granted.
Policemen Smith and Gallagher were
present to meet charges preferred
by Mayor Stuckey. The Mayor re-
peated charges made at special meet
ing on 3rd instant. The officers ad-
mitted their error, which they said
was done out of sympathy for an un-
fortunate young man and without in
tention to deceive. They further
stated that it is not unusual for
charges for resisting an officer to be
omitted in cases before the Mayor.
After discussion the following reso-
luton was adopted:
Resolved that Council disapproves
the conduct OF Officers Smith and Gal
lagher and censure them for it; but
being the first offense they are ex-
cused without further punishment.
Resolved further, that any future
dereliction of this nature on the part
of an officer shall be suitably punish
ed.