Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-10-04
{. A. PETERSON PA|DA GENERAL PROTEST
COUNCIL ALLOWS FOR MADE or TRADE
HIS SERVICES CHIEF OF LOCAL PUBLIC
POLICE. UTILITIES.
City
PUBLIC APPROVES ALLOWANCE

City Clerk Dan Taylor this morn
ing issued warrant drawn in favor
lot r. A. Peterson for the sum of 5000
in payment for services rendered the
City as chi } of police for nearly
|nine months. This warrant is but an
Iecho Of the once famous Peterson-C Cul-
ItentiOn OF the city council for nearly
tor months and later on was tried in
the circuit court of Jefferson county.
1t is an echo of a fight between Mayor
Fl. King White and members of the
lcity council in which f. A. Peterson
and }. F. Culpepper were made tha
jprincipals. The resolution allowing
the warrant Was passed by the city
council at its NEE ing Monday night
land by passing the resolution the coun-
lci, recognized that Mayor White gain
led partial victory over thai body.
The history of the case dates back
lover one year in its beginning and
the whole city was interested in the
case ]. F. Culpepper was the duly
}appointed chief of police at the time.
but was suspended from the Office by
the mayor on charges of cruelty to
prisoners. This charge was not slls-
itained by the city council and Mr..
Culpepper was reinstated by that
body only to be removed again by the
mayor on the grounds that he had
disqualified as chief of police by ac-
lcepting temporary position as spe-
cial deputy for Sheriff Gould. E. A.
Peterson was appointed in his stead
and without qualifying before the
council held the Office for nearly
nine months. Mr.. Culpepper notified
the mayor and council that he was
ready TO perform the duties of the
office at any time but would moi at
tempt to take the Office by force. Thus
the matter was brought to the courts.
Mr.. Peterson suing the city for the
u
the efforts of City Attorney Coleman
the suit was made to read Peterson
against Culpepper. Judge Grace in
the circuit court, after hearing the
case. decided that Mr.. Culpepper was
.entitled to the Office and the salar"
having never disqualified, and in that
opinion Judge Grace was sustained by
the supreme court.
| Then it was that nearly nine months
after the first removal of Mr. Culpep-
, per that the rightful chief of police
got pay for the full time that he had
been out of the Office and Mr. Peterson
got nothing.
Several times since have petitions
and resolutions been presented to the
city council asking that Mr.. Peterson
he Given something for acting as
eiiiof Of police for the city during the
time Of the suspension of Mr. Cul-
pepper At first the full amount of the
salary was asked, but being unable
IL collect by law Mr.. Peterson and
his friends relied upon the generosity
, of the council with the trust funds OF
the city and took what he could get
The council allowed 5000 for the serv-
ice and the warrant has been issued.
Mr.. Peterson served the city well.
aud whle the allowance of 5000 made
To him may not be technically regular,
there will be no protest by the people
against it, as most everybody feels
that he should be paid something for
ris services, as it is generally believed
that he acted in perfect good faith.
a;,d that he made the contest for the
Office On the advice of those up0h
whom he relied.