Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-06

ROBERT's CHAPEL, NJ. f. CHURCH (color-
ed)-Preaching at If a. m: and 1850 p, H..
MEADE CHAPEi--Sunday school at $50 p
IN. Evening service at D p. IN.
Policemen Before the Mayor.
The Mayor had Officers Lyles and
Arlington before him yesterday after
noon at 5 o'clock in the Mayors office
and communicated to them the action OF
the Police Commissioners, at the same
time giving them salutary advice as to
their conduct The following was said by
the Mayor:
Officers Lyles and Arlington: | have
summoned you before me TO put into
effect the views of the Board Of Police
Commissioners as expressed by that
board on last Tuesday evening These
views were embodied in the form of a res
olution asking the Mayor to reprimand
YOU for your actions in the Wrenn case.
1t is but just to you to state that the
Commissioners have no mower to sus-
pend or reprimand, the law under which
the board is constituted positively re-
stricting their powers to removal; nor
have the Commissioners. the power 10
designate the Mayor or anyone else 10
perform the duty Of reprlmanding or
suspending; therefore, when 60 through
the form of reprimandiug you | wander
beyond the boundaries of weIl-deiined
law; but in pursuinga course not strictly
correct, | can at least bring to your att
tention the unanimous opinion OF the
Commissioners, aud as that opinion car
ries with it all the practical force OF a
reprimand it is to be earnestly hoped
that the following resolutions will gov
ern and warn you and other members
of the police force
Alexandria, Va, August Srd, 1904.
Hon. G. l.. Simpson, City.
Honorable Sir At a meeting of the Ponce
Board held last night, the board unanimous
Iv decided that Officers Lyles and Arlington
We're guilty of gross dereliction of duty IN
not reporting to their superior officer, Lieut.
Smith the confession made TO them Dy
Wrenn that he had bought the stolen
property and would deliver the same al q
later hour 20 the station houe. Inc bo3rn
further declded that the sand ofhcers dls-
,'iaved had Judgment by failing to place
Wrenn II. der arrest after making such con
fass;on The board adopted the following
order that was presented by Mr.. Fisher
Resolved That Officers Lyles ana Arlington
H. r.primandel by the Mayor for indi'-
erection i'm the matter OF not putting Nrenn
under arrest at the time Wrenn notified them
of having bought the stolen goods, and for the
future guidance of the police force all officers
shall make proper forts Of Happenings
which might come 10 their knowledge
their superiOr officers. Respectfully.
+. L. LAwLER, Secretary to Board.
The Police Commissioners seem L
have. under the law, right to remove
for any cause they may deem necessary
| am not sure that this broad privileg'
would safely pass the scrutiny OF tina
protection which the constitution throw
about all Office holders, but settlement
of that point would probably involve al
expenditure of money, and policeman
as rule, is not pecuniarily so situate'
as to make contest even for what h
might consider his constitutional rights
Therefore, as long as a member OF thu
force remains a member r prudent re
gard for his own safety and reputa
ton should dictate to him TN
propriety and necessity of faithful.
following out the rules laid dow
for his guidance. My acquaint
ance with the force since the establish
ment Of the police justiceship has no
been as close as usual dmy knowedg
of its workings has been in measur
impaired, but | have lost none of M
interest and have kept myself reliabi
informed as to general matters. Anon
the cases which | have giyen NOR
than passing attention is tn
cose which has brought such III
pleasant consequences to you. In
case came into prominence throug
your shrewd and efficient police worl
You promptly reported suspected IA
ceuy to Chief Webster. be designate
YOU to work up the matter and WITHIN
few hours YOU had traced stol'
goods from one district to anotne
You had arrested the thief and you III
secured confession from the receiver
the goods and promise from SAID 7
ceiyer to have the goods at the statI'
house the same night. From sev'
o'clock in the morning until hye O cio'
in the afternoon you still continued u
work, though three o'clock was the TIN
of your relief. At three O'Clock Chi
Webster was relieved and Lieutena
smith placed the men on duty. II
lieutenant with one of the m,
visited Wrenn's house. YOuw were the
and did not tell him of Wrenn's conf
sion. You did not tell him that you h
searched the house. He searched
house and found nothing One oil
men searched the house and ionnd
thing. On the night OF the same .
Officers Smith aud Allen discovers
horse and wagon coming out OF wren
yard. Two men were on the way
The wagon was driven down Duke str
to Payne. out Payne TO Prince. do
Prince to a point between Payne
Fayette, where an obstrue.ing train