Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-03
MAYOR CLAIMS AUTHORITY.
he Remove. Policemen and the
Board of Police Commissioners
Restore Them to Duts-city Attor-
pcy win Give his opinion~

s,ey for the city, has been asked by the
Common Council for an opinion on
matter Involving an interesting legal
no,n,. and 1T body Will meet on the
9Th instant TO receive this opinion.
The question at issue is a friendly one
between the Mayor and the Police Com
rnissioners involving jurisdiction over the
police corps In july last the Common
Council passed an ordinance for the or
ganizasion of the police corps and Great
Ing n board of three police commissioners.
.o,nnosed of citizens not members of the
Council who are TO serve without pay
and who are given authority to control
and manage the department Dnder TINS
ordinance the present corps was orGanlz-
cd. and the commissioners understood
that the power was conferred upon theH'
,ot only 10 control the department, but
TO- discipline the individual members
thereof in the event OF any violation OF
the police rules
On the 10th of August Police Officer ).
p Stewart was tried in open court %! the
Mayor and upon the testimony OF sworn
witnesses was adjudged guilty OF cfoe.
and unnecessarily severe treatment %
n man whom he had arrested, ana was
sentenced TO suspension from outE iof
6ve DAYS. The Mayor communicated his
cotton In the case to the commissioners
witt, the suggestion that to suspend the
officer not less than five nor more thhn
ten day: would fully serve his purpose.
which was designed to discipline ana
instruct-not TO punish HIM
,Tl,e commissioners took UP the case
summoned and examined under oali
every witness that could be found having
any knowledge of the officers conduct,
and were unanimous in their conclusion
that officer Stewart had not gone ne!oiio
his duty in the premises, ana 'hal ne
should be restored TO ONCE iiiiiii
And this was done.
On the oath of August the Mayor ad-
aressed a letter to the commissioners
stating that he had become convinced
that he should not in the first instance
have referred the matter of Oftlcer Stew
art TO them .as the Constitution clearly
makes 1t my duty to take the sole re-
sponsibility in these cases, and IN future
4 will not trouble you with these mat
fers''
In their communication to the common
Council last evening the commissioners
state that after they had restored Ofhcer
Stewart GUY. llIc VI AifhN oS'-1A
iieyed him and had ignored the commits
sioners who have heretofore exercised
jurisdiction in such matters They allege
that the authority conferred upon them
nv the city ordinance is certainly IN
conflict with the authority assumed by
the Mayor. and that they cannot be re-
spousible for the discipline Of the police
force unless they have the right and
power to enforce their DEGREES Ihey
are willing to assume all responsibility
for the police force. its organization, It's
General conduct if the power to act eitec-
lively has beer or can be conferred upon
Them by the Council but in the event
that the Mayor has the power to over
ride any action they may take in the
premises then they respectfully submit
that the necessity for the police commits
sinners no longer exists, and a repeal OF
the ordinance creating the same is suS-
gested.
The Council will be guided in its action
by the opinion of the City Attorney.
FORGER NOT YET FOUND.
The young man who. representing him
self as ]. b. Worth. Jr., of ]. B. Worth
& Co, of Richmond and Petersburg, pass
ed somany forged checks in Pennsylva-
MIA. purporting to be signed by that firm
has not yet been captured nor heard
from recently. The last heard from HIM
was up in Michigan. He went about his
nefarious business Systematically and
well equipped. He had his business cards,
mis- letterpaper. his envelopes, all print
ed with the firms name. in Richmond,
and had nice rubber stamp also made
there. On his cards he had printed: j.
B. Worth, Jr., representing j. b. Worth
& Co.. Richmond and Petersburg" The
worst feature about his conduct is that
4 I No of irrn naY,t
and most worthy young man to aid him
in his forgeries.
MORE STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The Common Council last night decided
to extend the granolithic pavements on
Sycamore street but it will be some time
before the work can be done, as the
propert- holders will all have to be noti-
fed and heard from.
PERSONAL AND GENERAL.
Mr. A. G. Martin was last evening
elected "a member of the Council from
Third Ward, to succeed Mr.. T. T. Heath
resigned.
The Council decided TO increase the pay
of the registrars for this city to $3.50
per day. The registrars will begin their
work here September 18th and conclude
September 9th.
DR.. and Mrs. William Pitcher, who
spent some weeks abroad on their bridal
tour, returned home this evening.
Rev. Mr. Moore. the new pastor of the
Second Baptist church in this city. ar
rived last evening, from Crewe, to enter
on his duties. He was received and cor
daily welcomed by his people.
The Virginia Passenger and Power
Company have donated 500 to the Fire
mems relief fund here. and the generous
gift was most gratefully acknowledged.
Petersburg Lodge Of Elks is making big
preparations for the bazaar to be held in
November Every Elk is taking interest
in the matter, and with the aid of the
ladies will make the bazaar a big sue
cess.
Some forty or fifty members of the
Lambs Club. of Philadelphia, came over
from Richmond and spent the greater
part of the day here. visiting the Crater
ana other points of interest. 1t is expect
ed that all of the club will visit Peters
burg tomorrow.
About eighty veterans OF A. P. Hill
Camp will leave here tomorrow morning,
at 1880 O'Clock, IN special cars via the
electric railway. for Manchester, where
they viii join the veterans from Rich