Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-28
At BOARDS REQUEST,
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ~

70 srsnend an officer pending charges
against him or to file such charges against
him Equally as many, perhaps, TAKE
the view that the mayor is right, ana
that it was not his duty to watch the
police and report them. but merely to
suspend any officer against whom com
plant has been lodged Many contend
that the mayor now has all the power
necessary as head of the executive de-
partnent Of the city and Of the ponce
department, save that he should nave
voice and vote in the deliberations and
decisions Of the board.
A Variety of Rumors.
The runors current yesterday took al
most every form, from one that an effort
might be made by the Council to I'M
peach the mayor to stories OF the pros
pectiye suspension under charges OF va
rlcus officers Of the police force. From
all that can be learned rs to the prooaole
precedent in the Forthcoming investiga-
ton. it will begin with the head Of the
department and go down. That does not
mean that charges will be preferred
against every officer or necessarily
against any officer. I, will merely give
the people an opportunity to make any
complaints or file any charges they may
desire to offer against any officer NO
officer who has done his duty has any
thing to fear. The Board Of Police Com
missioners is not prosecuting nor peTse-
cutting its officers, but they merely desire
to establish whether there has or has not
been neglect Of duty or misconduct on
the part OF a policeman. OF course, II the
testimony adduced at the investigation
establishes the fact that there has been
any gross neglect Of duty or conduct un-
becoming an officer, every person against
whom there is such evidence will doubt
less be dismissed reduced, or properly
punished.
The next step in the investigation is
yet unknown. nor has a meeting of the
board been called. The regular meeting
will be held next Thursday. Whether the
commissioners will have the speclhca-
tons ready In the charges against Captain
Angle they have not announced In tact,
the members of the BOARD generally yes
terday politely declined to have anything
to say for publication. At this time there
is nothing further to say, in their view
Of the matter
Who Prepare Specifications:
An interesting question is being raised
| as to the prospective investigation 1t
is this: Who will prepare the specifica-
| tons and secure testimony to sustain
| the charges against Captain Angle-the
| Mayor or the Board? Since the Mayor
| insists that he did not bring the charges
| of his own knowledge, but at the in
stance and request of the Board, and
| that ne has no testimony bearing on
| them, it is inevitable that if the charges
are going to be pressed the Board must
| do it. That the Board will take the role
! of inquisitors there is little doubt. They
admit that for two months they have
| been secretly at work preparing for this
| investigation, and that they have mass
| of typewriter matter bearing on the
| chars IS made or to be made. 1t is ex-
pected that the newspaper reporters, the
| preachers, and others who have publicly
| criticised the police officers, any or all
| of them, will be called to testify under
| oath as to their knowledge of any neg
lect or incompetence. No witness has
been summoned yet, and none will be
until the charges have been followed by
! the specifications and date set for the
hearing of the case. or cases. Captain
| Angle is in the attitude Of an accused
person merely. He is entitled to the pre-
| sumption of innocence until proved
guilty He is still captain Of police, and
| will continue to be, unless the charges
| be sustained, and his dismissal ordered
| He will, of course, have every opportu-
/ nifty to defend himself and discredit, If
| he can, any testimony against him. Any
officer may be made the subject of
| charges. They must be proved before
he can be referred to as an ex-captain.