The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-12
iHE PROCTOR.BLACKBURN CONTROVERSY.

a. ~ ~ pleil iI nau his case we'll In hand
lie contended that the chief of police md
40 authority to discharge a police officer.
t tnaI iuch power lay alone IN the city
UVVhcl' winch body had confirmed Mr.
Proctors nomination by the mavor rs
ponce OFFICER and could only take from
MN MS badge and authority of office on
ba9sageS presented by the chief of police
before the civil service board and sus.
famed by the evidence brought out on tbe
| ltlal OF these charges, He offended the
clvll service board and said that ii was
formed for the express purposp " prevent. .
Ing the discharge Of able ana eomnetent
officials ~ the plQuc Of any man or set
OF men. That the Idea Of having the civil
service board was To have men on the list
OF hfemen police, etc. who would be no
mans slave. but would be free. indepeud-
ent men, do their duty as men aud know
thai me faithful and honest discharge Of
thelr duty, whether in accord with their
superlors or not, IL n mark OF merit and
they have nothing Ia fear from Ii. THAT
under this civil service board the men are
Tree and lndependent Of political or per
son9l differences. That without such pro
lection It would be impossible to get good
men TO MI these positions, He held that
while that portion Of the law which gave
a HE tenure Of office was unconstitutional.
YET that did not annul the remaining part
OF the law and cited authorities to sus
tain his position
ExMayor Brashear Of Brashear & Dan.
nenbamm, made strong argument for
the defense. He cited authorities without
number 10 sustain the position taken by
the defense and made his points clear
lie took up the authorities cited by Mr..
watkins and cited them in favor of the
defense.
Several exceptions were filed by each
Side and after the arguments were closed
Judge wilson, examining the authorities
cited and reading the exceptions, de-
mprrers, etc, offered In the case over.
ruled all exceptions and ordered that the
trial Of the case begin
Mr.. watkins for the plaintiff asked as
the hour was getting late and the city
council was in session and he desired to
Introduce the books which he could not
then secure that the further trial be post
poned until morning
Judge Wilson ovcrruled this motion
~
Mr.. Watkins then offered as evidence
in the case article 2l5 Of the Revised
Code OF Ordinances of the city and the
senate bill passed by the Tweuty-sixth
legislature and approved May rs. 1893
]. D. PRoCToR'S TESTIMONY.
]. D. Proctor, the plaintiff. was the
hrst witness introduced. After being
sworn ne testified that he lives In HouS
ton, has lived here nineteen years. That
he was "a years Of age when he was APP
pointed on the police force in Houston
In October, 1900 That he served on the
police force in this city from the time
OF his confirmation, October 10, 1900, undl
- d i
date he was handed note by the clerk
OF the police station This note was from
Chief OF Police Blackburn and stated that
he lProcto) was discharged from the police
vices Mere no longer needed Iberod t1s He
said that he asked Chief Blackburn for
an explanation but was given none and
the chief would give no reason for having
summarIlv dismissed him from the service
Being unable 90 get any explanation from
the chief, Proctor said he Went 70 tue
council and appealed to 1t for an investga-
ton The matter was referred to the po-
lice, IRE and health board ana this board
had a meeting The chief Of police was
notified to appear before the board but
did not appear and starcd to police OLD
GERS who were sent for him that he would
moi appear aud would nav no attention
to the summons from that board. Proctor
then appealed to the city council again
board or the police fire and health com
mlttee. the civ council ordered him rein
stated He then went to the chief of
police with the order and annipd FOL, re.
ipstatemput and aseigYuont Ia duty Tho
chief would BAY no attention to the order
OF the council ana refused 70 recognize
its authority 10 reinstate him He wrote
a letter 10 Chief Bl1ckbuIn and one to
MAYOR Woolford inciosjnr Thorn hofh ip
one enyelope and addressing In 10 Mayor
Woolford. lie then ap2ealed TO the sity
council.
TENDER 20 October Z ana october IL,
records of which the plaintf corld MT
secure until TODAY were offpreA in evidence,
as was also the bond of Mr.. Prdct ~ az
police officer. ali of which were identl-
fed bv Mr. Proctor.
MI Proctor then told his story of the
condition he was in on the Sunday It was
claimed he vgs lntoxicated as follows: 81
was nor ar ali well when I gof up that
SUNDAY morning. had been SUFFERING all
night and ala not feel that | was able 10
"a on durv notified fine police office
Shortly before : o'clock that ] was not
wen and did NOT feed thar I could go
ON dury That N posslbic | wanted to he
excused They nofidod mo to 20 To work
If possibly could ana I told them I would
try but would be little late as | had not
intended TO 90 on duty al an They said
thar would he ali right went to work
| met Mr. William Maroney on Preston
street hotwcen Milan and Louisiana
streets He asked me 10 come I'M and
take drink refused al first and he
said come in and take a cigar. I declined
again but dnaIIv went In and we took
glass Of beer or something | then went
out and walked around on my beat and
vent 70 Noss place, the MhIte Eieplano
~ iNel on d'' have son,atbin@ Vent in and
ordered some blackberry wine with ginger
I'm II. thinking ii would do me some good
! had hardly drank IL when / began to
feel curions Don't know exactly how
I fe,t hnt got dizzy went 10 the tele.
nbone and feiephoned 10 the station 10 be