The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-18
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA.
The Board Of Police Commissioners
Holds a Meeting.


Pan presiding in the absence Of Mayor
George L. Simpson. and the following
members Of the board present; Nessrs.
Bryant. Miller and LAWYER This was the
first meeting at which Mr.. LAWYER at
tended. he being elected only ct recent
meeting Of the city council. The meet
ing was a very harmonious one, and but
little business was transacted.
Chief Webster-s reSort was read, which
stated that on July Lieutenant Smith
had reported that d had found Police
man John T. Roberts asleep while on
duty, and that the mayor had suspended
the policeman for a period Of afteen days.
Commissioner Bryant stated that the
first duty OF the board was to approve or
set aside the decision of the mayor in
the case. Mayor Simpson, he stated, for
reasons satisfactory 70 himself had de-
cided not to recognize the board on these
questions and for that reason the board
had on one or two occasions set aside
the verdict Of the mayor in cases Of this
kind The mayor, he stated, from de-
Cisi--a rendered by Judge Keith had
right to suspend only pending the action
Gf the board
Commissioner Lawier stated that from
q recent converse ton with the mayor he
was of the belief that It was the latter
intention TO notify the board of his
action in this case. but that on account
Of being called away 20 Atlantic City he
had not had time to do 50. He believed
that in due time the mayor would Of
fCiaIIy notify the board OF his action in
tn matter. on these grounds Mr.. LAWYER
asked that action be deferred in the
natter until the next meeting He also
stated that he had not given the case
md yy-ffb
would do so After considering the mat
ter. it was decided to wait until the next
meeting before taking action in the case
Mr.. Paf stated that Commissioner
Bryant had spoken truly when he said
that Commissioner LAWYER would help to
maintain the dignity Of the board Com
missioner Bryant was Of the opinion that
the mayor was exceedingly IeEient with
Policeman Roberts in the case. as his
u4s an exceedingly grave offence Mr.
Pan stated that heretofore Mr.. Roberts
had proved a good policeman, as no
charges had been preferred against him
previously.
Policemen Travers and Young then ap-
peared before the board and wanted to
know If 1t was compulsory for them to
take their annual fifteen days leave Of
absence just now. as they were doing duty
at the station and had made preparations
10 get off some time during the month Of
August. The board decided that this was
q matter Of very small importance. and II
was decided that the chief Of police settle
the matter provided that it does not i'm
pair the service OF the police force. This
was unanimously agreed upon. as it Is in
accordance with section IS Of the police
rules and regulations.
Commissioner I,avvIer wanted to know
policemen from smoking while on duty.
The book of rules and regulations was
looked into and it was ascertained that
there was no rule to prohibit It, but the
chief stated that IL had heretofore been
the custom not 10 smoke while on duty.
Mr. LawIer stated that his reason Tor
bringing the-matter up was that recently,
on two occasions. he had seen a policeman
on Cameron Street smoking while on duty
1t was decided to take up the matter at
the next meeting and an amendment viii
probably be added TO the book of rules
In the meantime the police have been re-
queSted to discontinue the practice. There
WAS no opposition to smoking while OF
duty at night This rule, Of course. viii
not affect policemen who do duty at the
stationhcuse
Mr. LAWYER also called the attention Of
the board 10 the fact that many police
make it practice 10 loaf on street cor
nrrs while on duty. and he thought il
should be BROKEN up. This viii also come
up for consideration at the next meeting.
There being no other business before the
board adjournment was taken subject to
the call Of the secretary
An air of mystery surrounds the strange
actions Of the Rev" G Q. Spence, who
recently located in this city and who
claims 10 hail from BTuns0n- 5 c After
Snrnce located here which was in June.
he called on the Rev. J. a. letters. pastor
Of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church. and stated TO that preacher that
h was a regularly ordained minister Of
THAI denomination The interview result
Cd in Spence gaining the confidence OF Mr..
Jcncrs, and ne at once became a regular
attendant at that church and became ac-
quainted with many Of the members Of
the flock and gained their confidence and
esteem
ON July the following notice appeared
in the columns OF q local newspaper:
In Savannah. Ca. on July ,. 1901. Anna
Marie. wife Of Rev c. c Spence, of Alex
audria Va. Intermeut at Brunson. S c"
The fact that Spence did not go To Sa-
vannah on the occasion of the burial
caused considerable gossip among the
was further augmented on Sunday night
last when he appeared in the church with
another wife, apparently about eighteen
years Of age. and introduced her to the
members of the congregation as his new
wife.
Il was afteTward learned that on Satur-
day night during a heavy rainstorm. ct a
late hour. ne had appeared at the residence
Of Mr.. letters fer the purpose of having
the nuptisl knot tied The woman did not
eighteen years OF age, and the marriage
license showed that the wCud-be bride
was a widow from New York The min
lister regarded the whole procedure as
Ves-y strange and east a. eye Of suspicion
on the matter and after due COnsidera-
Mr. letters also called SpenCe'S attention
to the fact of re-cutgrlug wedloCk so soon
after the death Of his first. wife, and also
TO the fact that he did not go to Savannah
to attend his wife's funeral
Spence. il IS stated, undertook % explain
some time past. and that divorce proceed
ingS were pending in the courts when she
died. This did not satisfy Mr.. JefferS and
he refused to marry the couple. NOtwith-
standing the cold treatment they had re-
ceiyvd they were not 1auuted. but pro-
ceeded to the parsonage Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South and were married
By the Rev Z Y REGISTER
In the meantime the Rev Mt. letters
called a meeting of the officers Of the
church and Mr. Spence was requested To
be present at the meeting At the meeting
it was decided that Spence should sever
his connection with the church It Is re-
ported that Spence never saw his second
wife until few days ago The couple are
still in this city. Spence IS employed in
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