Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-21
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
CONDUCT OF POLICE OFFICERS TO
BE INQUIRED INTO.
Board of Commissioners to Take Action
-Firemen to Be Entertained
General Items.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, July q, 1904.
The board of police commissioners at an
adjourned meeting to be held this evening,
will make careful investigation of the
conduct of several members of the police
force in recent occurrences. The cases in
particular to be considered are those of
Lieut. James Smith, charged by William
Travers with conduct unbecoming an officer,
and Officers Lyles and Arlington, who were
accusued by Commonwealth Attorney
Brent during a recent trial in the corpora
ton court with misconduct and failure to
perform their duty. Among the witnesses
who Will be called are the commonwealth
attorney. one of the attorneys for the de-
PENDANTS in the cases of Richard Burnett
and Henry Wrenn, all the police officers
connected with the case. as well as Burnett
and Wrenn, the former having been ac-
quilted and the latter convicted of the
charge of larceny.
All the members were in attendance at
the regular monthly meeting of the board
last night and Mayor Simpson occupied
the chair. Secretary Lawler read COM
municaton from William Travers prefer
Ing charges against Lieut.. Smith for assault
and abuse. Mr. Graham moved that an
investigation be made, but 1t was found
that all the parties concerned and the wit
nesses had not been summoned. Mayor
Simpson suggested that as Mr. Travers was
in the building the board might hear his
statement and this was finally decided
upon, though Mr.. Fisher thought that the
lieutenant should be present to hear the
allegations. After telling the commission
erS of the alleged assault Mr.. Travers
stated that when he first went to the sta
ton house for a warrant he was informed
that there one there qualified to
issue it. Upon hearing this statement Mr..
Lawler inquired as to the usual procedure
in the matter of the issuance of warrants.
In his opinion some one qualified to issue
yr-lr ito CHI tt11 1yr0N NC no n a a
house. 1t was decided, upon motion of
Mr.. Lawler. to postpone the investigation
of the charges until this evening. Mr..
Lawler then called to the attention of the
board the cases of Burnett and Wrenn in
the corporation court He referred to the
criticism of Officers Lyles and Arlington,
and stated that the matter should be fully
inquired into. In his opinion If the men
were guilty they should not be allowed to
remain on the police force. 1t was the
right of the officers on the other hand. he
said, to clear up the suspicion II possible
On motion of Mr. Fisher 1t was decided to
take up these charges this evening.
Mr.. Lawler offered a resolution: which
was unanimously adopted. requiring the
chief of police to submit monthly reports to
the board of all arrests made, the names of
the officers making the arrests the result
of the succeeding trials in the police court,
together with statements of disturbances,
infractions of the laws and all nuisances,
as we'll as the action taken in each case.
The purport of this resolution will be TO
keep the commissioners accura tely Informed
not only as to the operations of the force,
hut as to the conduct of each policeman.
Mr. IaWler said he hoped It's erect would
be to eliminate from the force all Sinking
and incompetent members
Firemen's Convention.
well-attended meeting of the citizens
appointed to make arrangements for the
entertainment of the state fremen In an
nual convention here in August was held
last evening in the rooms of the Business
Mems League. The finance committee sub
mitted a favorable report. 1t was stated
that about half the necessary amount could
already be counted on.
An order was entered by Judge Barley in
the corporation court yesterday removing
the grand jury terms from July and Janu-
airy to June and December. Judgment for
the plaintiff In the sum of S422 22 was en-
tered in the case of J. +. Keenan, against
H. V. Kelly.
The state corpora ton commission has
granted charter to the Central Mutual
Telephone Company, whose principal office
is in Alexandria. The capital stock is to
be from $500 to $500 and the officers are
William NJ. Wheeler, president; B. F. A.
Myers, secretary. and A. Conner, treasurer.
The remains of Edward McGraw, whose
death occurred Tuesday at Upperville. Eau
quier county, were brought here Yesterday
and inferred in the afternoon in Bethel Gem
etery. McGraw shot himself, and II is said
that the act with suicidal intent. He
was about thirty years of age.
Funeral services over the remains OF MIS-
Mary e Craven. who died Tuesday, took
place this afternoon from Trinity NJ E.
Church. Rev J. A. letters, the pastor, Of
ficiated and the interment was made in the
old Methodist cemetery.
j. w. Davis, a resident of Fairfax county.
died yesterday at his home near Annandale.
The funeral will take place Sunday at Fair
fax Court House.
Mrs. Thomas H. Netherland and little
daughter, Miss Helen, have gone to spend
some time at Oyster Bay.
A lawn party for the benefit of Sharon
Episcopal Chapel will be held Monday even
ing at the home of Mr.. Kearney near the
chapel in Fairfax county.
The police department was notified from
Fort Hunt last night that robbery of $194
had been committed al the fort. The Sus-
pect was thought to have made his way to
Alexandria,