The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-24

nflci. tho conclusion OF the inquiry, M
vestigatlon, prosecution or wlint cvcr else
Il tho proceedings may DO properly styled.
\ Not having any Of tho testimony 1t is
impossible to state In what category yes
terday's meeting may be clnsscd In the
afltc-room outside Justice Crutchficld
Il Witness, and several we'll known law
ycrs una others dropted In and chatted
Tho Investigation gtlng on behind the
guarded door was laughngly referred
TO, and was generally ontricnted Upon as
n star chamber proceeding farce or
otherwise crltclsed seriously or l1,1tnor.
ously. X .
So far az tho reporters and the crowd
in the nnte-room knew, It might have
been n cabinet meeting discussing do.
cnration OF war, so great was tho So
crccy. All mouths were closed and pad
locked, aud tho Keys thrown away. Oc-
casionally Police officer George Pollock
came to the door, partially opened 1t and
called In stentorian tones some ofo's
name, ana generally come man, white or
colored, responded by moving rapidly t..
ward the open door, which was mlrie.
idIntely closed. The voice Of Officer Pol.
lock reverbcruted muscaly In the build-
Ing, and with tho echo usually came tho
man wanted. They nll appeared TO 10
prompt and willing witnesses, save Oftlcet
F'olkes, who was absent when first called
for, but who came In later.
Some Of the Witnesses.
After this very Interesting procedure
had been In progress for five hours and
fifteen minutes and some odd seconds.
the last witness came, out, the bourd
delibcrnted Il few moments longer ana
then the doors were opened and tho &c.
Bcupnnts Of the guarded room began dom
ming oyercoats and preparing for &C.
pnrturc. The secret hearing was over 'or
Il the day and for the week. That Is all
that Is known officially, save the Names
OF some of the witnesses which were
heard by the reporters, but as these
would not be verified by the board or its
employees, the accuracy OF tie names ar
caught by the reporters cannot be ao-
solutely guaranteed.
1t may be OF interest to know thu
names Of the witnesses or OF as many az
were caught by the reporters from MIR.
pollock's call. Two Of the \ witnesses
frankly stated after leaving the room
Just what the nature Of their Testimony
was. These were Police Justice j. j..
Crutchficd and Police Captain Shin
berger, one OF the best and most popular
men on the force, who has recently been
made Inspector OF Police. There were
fourteen or fifteen witnesses. but the
names Of at least two were missed, and
mono OF those in the ante-rOom knew
them. These two were negroes.
The names, Of the witnesses. as far as
they could be ascertaincd. were. In tho
order OF being called, as follows: Mar
shall Boyle, Police Officer c. J. ITolkes. II.
Coles Jordan. two negroes, names UNI
known: Harrison Bundy and Tom Palmer,
both negroes and commonly known as
5'"polce spotters;'' James Bahen, Jr.
Christian Bobb. j. B. Marrow and 3. II.
Lang, all three white; Thee. Weston. a
negro. said to keep a bar In Jackson
Ward Police Captain Shinberger. and Po-
lice Justice John J. Crutchfield.
The names OF some Of these witnesses
are very we'll known. Those Of others
are not universally known, certainly. and
unknown to many of those present In the
outer room. The two negroes, Bundy
and Palmer, are notorious Police Court
habltues OF unsavory reputation
+. Long-Drawn- Out Session.
The board met at 8 P. NJ. but one or
two OF the commissioners were trltlc
late Commissioners Manning, one OF the
more corpulcnt members, came In last.
putting and blowing. Officer Wiltshire
was at the outer door, opening into tho
corridor, and with orders to let IN only
those who were witnesses. After while
this vigilance was relaxed, and reporters
and lawyers and few others cameIin
and frightened the tedium OF waiting Tor
those compelled to submit to 1t. JUS
tice Crutchfeld entertained the audience
In the ante-room by his clever hits at
reporters and policemen and lawyers.
When Attorney Harry NJ. smith u.
sauntered in, the Justice sighted his le-
climate prey, and the air was bright win
sparks from these rapier wits as they.
in,
and word play. The encounter was u
draw, according to the referee, MI. Gill
bert Il. Pollock.
After Mr. AIeredit:Is encounter with
the board that gentleman came into Inc
outer room and took q seat. lie was
asked as to the action Of the poard, anu
frankly answered such questions as were
asked There was little 70 ten, iie nau
apeared as counsel for Mr.. Wyatt ana
had applied to the board for admission
TO the hearing. He was shown reso-
luton Of the board to the effect thai! the
unyarying precedent Of the board was 20
exclude attorneys at police Investigations:
IIe reminded them Of the appearance OF
MIR. II. NJ. Smith,Jr.. IN the roster case
~ ,vns told BY MIR. Welsh that Mr..
smith was merely allowed in the room
as n spectator, and was not permitted
IN examine witnesses nor to take part III
the proceeding.
Not Served With Charges.
Mr.. Meredith was asked whether he
had been served with u copy Of -, t ne
charges and specifications, and replied
IN the negative. Asked II this was not
unusual, lie said that 1t was the action
Of the board. Being asked what I further y, ,p
action, IL any, he proposed to take, no
asked what else he could do, There
was no appeal from the boards decision,
he said, and nothing to do but accept
it. MI. Wyatt he said, would remain ~
the room during the examination OF Wit
nesses. The reporter next asked MI,
Meredith what recourse or remedy was
available to him and his client. There
was none, SO far as hc knew. The power
| OF tho board was absolute.
When inquiry was made whether In the
| event of Wyatt's being found guilty OF
the unknown charges, reflecting upon
his character, he had any appeal or rem
| edy at law, Mr. Meredith said he knew
OF none, Asked II an action for libel