Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-02-18
POLICEMEN SUSPENDED.

kinson, charged With dereliction of dut,
and assauting Lieutenant Smith, came
up 10 the Police Court this morning fol
trial. The court room was crowded
and the testimony in the case, which
has caused 80 much comment In The
community, was listened to stteutively
The first witness called was Lisnten
ant Smith.
The Lieutenant'ss testimony was 10
substance as published in the Gazstte
on Friday-thst he blew bis whistle If
teen times 10 as many places in the beat
for the officers and received no response;
that be returned to the station house;
made his report; that Officer Lyles en-.
tered, looked over his shoulder, saw
the import OF what he had beea writ
| ing, became exasperated, insolent and
abusive, aud finally assaulted him. The
Lieutenant also described the scene on
the lower room where Officer Wilkin-
son insulted, abused him and wanted
to fight, and Wilkinson's ejectment by
Officer Ferguson. He again denied
that he had Extensively referred to Mr..
Lyles's father. Upon being questioned
by the Mayor whether be had ever bad
any trouble OF similar or serious ma
ture with any of the policemen during
his time as an officer of the force, the
Lieutenant replied that he had not, as
we'll as be could remember.
Policeman Ferguson was the next
witness. He stated that on Friday
morning, the 18Th inst, he heard the
Lieutenant blow his whistle 10 front Of
the police station few minutes after B
o'clock; later the Lieutenant came in
and said: II blew for Policemen Lyles
and Wilkinson and did not receive q
response. do not wish to report any
one but will have to do so in this case"
The Lieutenant then proceeded upstairs
to the office. A few minutes later Pc
licemen Lyles and Wilkinson came in.
Mr.. Lyles went upstairs and Mr.. Will
kinson remained downstairs with him;
be heard loud talking upstairs and was
later called by Lieutenant Smith.
When he reached the head of the steps,
being followed by Mr.. Wilkinson, he
saw Mr.. Lyles in the act OF taking oil
his coat, aud then Lyles went up to the
Lieutenant and grabbed him by the
throat and backed him against the wall.
Wilkinson then said: Lieutenant,
don't hit him." whereupon the Lieu
tenant dropped his hands to his sides
and said be would not. Lyles,
Wilkinson aud himself then pro
ceeded downstairs. Later Lieuteu-
ant Smith came downstairs and
sat behind the stove. An argument
then arose about the blowing OF whis.
ties, during which Lyles said to the
Lieutenant, "You never treated my
father and uncle right when they we're
on the force" The Lieutenant simply
replied "Thsl's all right" Wilkinson
then asked, "Why don't you treat us
ike you treat the other men," and as
Wilkinson and Lyles were going toward
the front door Lieutenant Smith said:'
"You are both younger men than l am,
but can whip either one OF you" I'm
mediately Wilkinson advanced upon
the Lieutenant, throwing his stick upon
the bench, and said, II can lick you If
you come out upon the pavement"
The Lieutenant then requested him to
put both men out OF the station, which
he did. Upon being questioned by the
Mayor, Mr.. Ferguson said that the
Lieutenant and Mr. Belts had trouble
during Mr.. Strauss's administration, OF
which tins Mr.. Belts was candidate
for the lieutenantcy. On that occasion
blows had been passed, but the case
was settled by Mr.. Belts, he thought,
receiving a reprimand.
Mr.. John Travers said that on Friday
morning be saw Lyles and Wilkinson
come up Cameron street some time after
6 o'clock and enter Mr.. Cox's BARRON;
later they came out, proceeded to
Mr.. Hamersley's bsrroom and en-
tered. Later both came out, Mr., Lyles
having hold of Mr.. Wilkinson's arm,
who he thought was under the in
huence Of liquor.
Mr.. Lyles testified that on the first
rou I'd on the night in question he had
answered five calls, and later when he
met the Lieutenant he said that owing
to the wind he was almost unable to
hear that officers calls, and was not
sure that he had heard them sll; on the
second round he had answered four
whistles On Mr.. Quinn's corner; at
twenty minutes to O'Clock be and
Wilkinson had proceeded to Finch's
corner, from there to Beach's corner,
thence to Henry's corner, when th y
heard the LieuIensnt's calls In front Of
The station. ss they presumed, and an
A otn ha m
son that probably the Lieutenant had
not heard their answer and they had
better 90 to the station and set matters
right. Upon arriving at the station he
told Wilkinson to remain Downstairs
and that he would 90 upstairs to see If
everyl hing was all right. Upon arriv-
ing upstairs he saw the Lieutenant at
the desk 10 the office writing and sp-
preaching looked over his shout
der, whereupon the Lieutenant asked:
"Why didn't you answer my whis-
tle?" Lyles replied. 81 did," The
Lieutenant, he asserted, then said "You
are id liar, you did not" He then
said Don't you call me id liar"
The Lieutenant then got up from the
desk and said "Yes, d--n you, you are
40 good. and your father was no good
when he was on the force" He then,
thinking the Lieutenant would follow
his remarks with blow, grabbed the
Lieutenant and forced him into chair.
The testimony Of Policeman knight
and Messrs. Chas. Bsggett and John
Dwyer had no particular bearing on
the case. Just before the Mayor had
pronounced the verdict Lieutenant
Smith interrupted the Mayor aud re-
quested that the men be reprimaaded,
when the Mayor informed him that it
was foolish request.
| MIR. Wilkinson sold that bis testi.