Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-12-05
SERGEANT LAWSON
WAS SUSPENDED
The CITY COUNCIL lHEARS
The CHARGES.
Proceedings OF the Meeting
Wednesday Night.


night in regular session. after two at
tempts TO get a quorum. Councilman
Lane was sick. but came to the meet.
iug at the solicitation of those present.
The Others in attendance were Mayor
Mercer. COunoilrnen Bsrnes. Bird and
Warburton.
The meeting furnished sensations
enough to last all the next one. and
they came suddenly and with sremer-
dous force. The Law and Order League
preferred charges Of drunkenness against
Sergeant K. Z. LAWSON. He was sus.
pended unuil a committee investigates
the charges. Mr.. L. G. Tyler addressed
a communication to the Council rels-
tive to the enforcement of the local
option law. The proceedings follow in
detail
On motion Of Mr.. Barnes the resolu
ton closing Chesapeake street was r.
cinded. and the Street Committee wss
directed and empowered TO build
suitable walkway along the all on said
street
A recorded vote was called for on this
resolu ton. Mr. Bird voting in the mega
tive.
The report Of Capt. Lane, Of the
Finance Committee, on taxing social
clubs was then read and adopted.
At this point Mr.. L. c. Tyler. presi-
dent Of William and Mary College. read
the following communication which was
ordered recorded:
HoS. IoHx MERCER. MAYOR.
Dear Sir
As = citizen Of Virginia. which is en-
deare6 TO me by every memory, / think
il nv duty to inform Won and the Hon
orable Council Of the report which gen
orally prevails that the Local Option
Law is not enforced in this community.
am alss informed that certain persons
who voted the Local Option ticket at
the last election two years ago have
announced their determination 10 vote
the other way on December %, because
the law is not enforced in the City Of
Williamsburg. For long time rested
IN silence hoping that any transgrss-
sious OF the law would be detected by
the officers Of the law and reported
tor punishment But nearly two years
have passed and not one single case has
appeared in the courts Of this city al
fecting the guilt and innocence OF any
person in connection with the law.
| Wnile there can be do doubt that the
Local Option Law has greatly improv-
cd the moral atmosphere Of Williams
/ burr, and decreased drunkenness and
disorder. yet have seen enough TO sat
isfy one that the law il being violated
have seen myself drunken men on the
streets and have satisfied myself by =
personal inspection Of the United State
Revenue Commissioner books IN Rich
mond that license 20 eel liquor were is
sued 10 Charles Z. Dean on June -
1903 and 20 samuel Harris on Angus
Il, 1908. To this 10 added The genera
report that the law is being violated.
/. therefore. respectfully ask the Couu
Gil 70 take such steps 10 investigate tn
matter, and 20 take the necessary inca
sures 10 iuforce the. Local Option Law
LYON o. Tyler,
President Of William and Mary College
IL was moved by Mr.. Bird and adopt
ed that 1.-THE Commissioner Of Revenu
Be cited 10 appear before the next meet
ing. regular or called. 10 inform sal
. body as TO what be may or may no
have done IN the carrying out certain
tax ordinances passed by the Council"
Following this came the communica
ton Of the Law and Order League.
read BY Rev. Ar. Louthan, az follows:
Read by Mr.. Louthan:
Whereas the citizens Of WILLIAMSBURG
, did pass Local Option Law on April
1901. and
Whereas many persons think that ia
!, law j. a failure. owing 10 the fact tina
: il has not been properly maintained
and
Whereas II appears from responsible
testimony that the City Sergeant. who's
duty il is 10 see that the Law is not vi.
lated. was under the influence Of Iiquo
on the night OF Dec. 1, 1903. 10 such a
, eaten, ss 20 interfere with the dischars
Of his duties. Therefore be 81
RESOLVED. by the Law and Ord'
League Of Williamsburg, Va, That Il
City COupeii be requested 10 inyestiga