The Washington times., 1901-07-18
NEWS f.hum ALEXANDRIA.

| mayors office tonight, with Acting Mayor
| Pan presiding in the absence of Mayor
George l.. Simpson. and the following
| members of the board present: Messrs
| Bryant. Miller, and Lawler. This was the
| hrst meeting at which Mr.. Lawler at
| tended, he being elected only at recent
| meeting of the city council. The meet
| ing was very harmonious one, and but
| little business was transacted.
| Chief Webster's report was read. which
stated that on July Lieutenant Smith
| had reported. thai he had found Police
man John L. Roberts asleep while on
duty, and that the mayor had suspended
the policeman for a period of fifteen days.
Commissioner Bryant stated that the
first duty of the board vas to approve or
set aside, the decision of the mayor in
the case. Mayor Simpson, he stated, for
| reasons satisfactory to 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-
| cision rendered by Judge Keith, had
| right to suspend only pending the action
of the board 81
Commissioner Lawler stated that from
| I. recent conversation with the mayor he
was of the belief that it was the latters
intention to notify The board of his
| action in this case bat that on account
| of being called away 20 Atlantic City he
| had not had time to do so. He believed
| that in due time the mayor would Of
| ficially notify the board of his action in
| the matter On these grounds Mr.. Lawler
asked that action be deferred in the
matter until the next meeting. He also
l
any consideration, and within that time
would do so. After considering the mat
ter. il was decided to wait until the next
| meeting before taking action in the case.
MIR. Paf stated that Commissioner
Bryant had spoken truly when he said
that Commissioner Lawler would help to
maintain the dignity of the board. Com
missioner Bryant was of the. opinion that
the mayor was exceedingly lenient with
Policeman Roberts in the case, as his
was an exceedingly grave offence. Mr..
Paff 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 jf it was compulsory for them to
take their annual fifteen days leave of
at the station and had made preparations
to get off some time during the month of
August. The board decided that this was
matter of very small importance, and 1t
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 SO of the police
rules and regulations.
Commissioner Lawler wanted to know
IL there was any rule which prohibits
The book of rules and regulations was
looked into and 1t was ascertained that
there was no rule to prohibit 1t. but the
chief stated that it had heretofore been
the custom not to smoke while on duty.
MIR. Lawler stated that his reason for
bringing the matter up was that recently,
on two occasions. he had seen policeman
on Cameron Street smoking while on duty.
1t was decided to take up the matter at
the next meeting. and an amendment will
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 on
duty at night. This rule of course, will
not affect policemen who do duty at the
stationhOuse.
Mr.. I.awler also called the attention of
the board to the fact that many police
make it a practice to loaf on street cor
ners while on duty, and he thought ii
should be broken up. This will also come
up for consideration at the next meeting.
There being no other business before the
u.
the call of the secretary.
An air of mystery surrounds the strange
actions of the Rey." G. c. Spence, who
recently located in this city and who
claims to hail from Brunson, S. C. After
Spence located here, which was in June.
he called on the Rev. ]. A. Jeffers, pastor
of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church and stated to that preacher that
he was regularly ordained minister of
that denomination. The interview result
ed in Spence gaining the confidence of Mr..
Jefers, and he at once became regular
attendant at that church and became ac-
quainted with mny of the members of the
flock and gained their confidence and es-
TEEN.
On July 3 the following notice appeared
In the columns, of local newspaper:
''In Savannah. Ga. on July 2. 1901. Anna
Marie. wife of Rev. g. c. Spence. of Alex
andria, Va Interrient 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
members of the congregation. Surprise
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.
1t was afterward learned that on Satur-
day night during heavy rainstorm, at a
la re hour he had appeared a the residence
of Mr.. Jeifers for the purpose of having
the nuptial knot tied. The woman did not
appear 70 be more than seventeen or
eighteen years of age. and the marriage
license showed that the would-be bride
was widow from New York The min
lister regarded the whole procedure as
very. strange, and cast an eye of suspicion
on the matter, and after duly considering
the matter he decided MOTTO tie the knot
Mr.. Jeffers also called Spence's attention
to the fact of re-entering 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, funeral
Spence IL is stated, undertook to explain
that he had not lived with his wife for
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-
ceived they were net daunted, but pro-
ceeded to the parsonage of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. with the rain
pouring in torrents. and the knot was tied
by the Rev. e. v REGISTER.
In the meantime the Rev. Mr. Jeffers
called n 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 1t 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 |
Alexandria County, and is about thirty
six years of age.
The stockholders Of the Information
Building ana Loan Association held their |
annual meeting in this city TODAY and
elected the following directors for the en- |
suing year: Charles Lyman, F. II smith |
l.. Q. Smith, J. ii. Ralston, Dr. j. r. Nil, |
ler and J. T. Gibson.
A handsome sword will be presented to |
Second Lieut.. Julian Y. Williams of the |
Alexandria Light Infantry. at the armory
tomorrow evening. The sword is the gift |
be presented as a mark of their esteem
The public has been invited to be present |
and witness the presentat ton
A competitive drill was held last night |
Var fatU 1y1ln rh..t -.