Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-11-04
Police Commissioners.

Police Commissioners.
A called meeting of the Board of Po-
lice Commissioners was held last night
for the purpose of investigating certain
structures made by Commemorative At
torhey 5. &. Brent during the recent
,-ials OF r. G. Burnett in the Corpora
yuurt. who had been indicted for pur-
chasing whisky from Joseph Horsemah
and John Whalen, knowing IT TO nave
been stolen. Mayor Paff presided and
all the commissioners except Mr.. Gra-
ham were present.
Mr.. Brent, it will be remembered,
during his argument said but one mem
her of the police force (Mr. Lyles) APP
peared as witness for the prosecution,
while Lieutenant Smith and four
others were witnesses for the defense.
lie also charged that he had not been
furnished by the officers with needed In
formation in conducting the prosecution.
When the board had been called 70
order, Mr.. Brent gave succlnct account
of his dealings With Lieutenant om"n
and certain officers after the arrest OF
WhaIen and Horseman, and reiteratea
l;s charges. He said he had requested
the lieutenant 10 iisit the neigh0orhood
Of Burnett's saloon and ask a resident to
come 10 his Office in order that the prose-
c,tion could be furnished with material
information; that the lieutenant iaiieo
70 make any report to him. and, in short,
i,e had not received the assistance from
Aha lieutenant and certain members OF
.be notice force that he had a right TO
expect Mr.. Brent said IN future ne
would see that every member performed
his duty in this respect, and lnumaleu
that he would bring such matters to the
attention of the grand jury.
Lieutenant Smith was present ana
c,ntroverted Mr.. Brents assertion, ana
questions aud crOss-questiOns followed
Glr. Brent recapitulated all the facts IN
connection with HOrseman's confession
aud reiterated that the officers had
;vnored him and appeared as witnesses
for Burnett.
The investigation took long scope,
and Chief Webster, and Officers Lyles,
Ferguson, Mayhugh. Arlington ana
Nicholson testified as did also Mr..
O'Sullivan. In some cases the evidence
of one witness was a fiat contradiction
IL that of another, while statements were
made by some officers that would have
materially aided the prosecution In the
trials before the Corporation Court. Mr.
Brent called attention to that fact as
substantiation of his charge that certain
officers had failed to furnish him with
iulormation they had in their possession;
Chief Webster in his testimony SAID
on the evening following the robbery q
telephone message had been received
from Officer Allen stating that wagon
had been seen coming from West End
about 2 o'clock the previous morning.
When he was relieved by Lieutenant
Smith. between eleven aud twelve clock
that night, the chief impaired the inior-
nation to him aud made certain sug-
restious concerning the probable where
abouls of the stolen whisky.
The lieutenant in rebu,tal said he had
n, recollection of the chief words. In
further statements made by the lieuteh'
ant he said he did not believe the whisky
was found on Burnett's premises. Latel
IN his evidence he said he was satisfied
giu,nett would have obtained the liquo
had it not been recovered as soon as /
was. During the time he was before TN
commissioners he gave many details
concerning the part he and the oihcer
vino we're with him took in recovering
the whisky and arresting Whalen anC
HOrseman. ..
Officer Arlington in hisstatement salt
he believed the whisky had been secret
ed where found by the thieves, and
VAS their intention to recover and sell II
The proceedings began at o'clocI
and continued until half.past 10.
Mayor Paf it will be remembered
had been authorized by the board to in
yestigate Mr.. Brenfs observations con
corning the conduct of certain member
Of the force in connection with the Bur
nett trial, aud in summing up the cas-
his honor said he was convinced tha
Mr.. Brents charges had been sustained
4, was apparent that he, as Common
uealth's Attorney, had not received ii
support from members of the police for'
ne had a right to expect. 1t was nj
only the lieutenant, but other mem6e
of the force who had been remiss. II
robbery referred to occurred on the x4i
OF last August, and the facts upon whic
alr. Brent's complaint were based al
tedated his induction into the Mayor
office. and the entire procedures seem
have resulted from a lack of disclphn
Had such things occurred during his II
cumbency he would uuhesitatlng'y ha'
exercised his power of suspension.
The Mayors verdict will be subject
the affirmation of a majority OF the men
bers of the Police Board and the matt
will in all probability be brought up
the regular meeting on the third We
nesday night in this month.
Woman's Auxiliary.
Let niUhtic aaociO