The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-30
Suspension of Policemen
 Upheld.
SLATER IS REPUDIATED
Not a Voice Raised Against
 Atkins Stand.
Decided Rebuke for the Men Who In- suited and Threatened the Corr respondent of the Montgom-
 cry Advertiser.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma, March 29

SeiUlds MdECh - Mayor Atkins has been sustained.
 In the suspension by Chief of Police Walters of Policemen Moseley and Davis for alleged insult and threats to the correspondent of The Montgom- cry Advertiser that official has been vindicated.
 By it's vote the city council of Sell ma has repudiated the contention of Its legal adviser. City Attorney Shafer. that under the charter of Selma only the mayor and city council have the right to suspend policemen for cause.
 After the most strenuous and at times the most turbulent session of general council of this city ever held the council tonight without dissent- ing vote, with all members but one present. sustained the contention of Mayor Atkins and Attorney l.. E. Jeff fries that the Chief of Police has the authority under the charter to sus- pend policemen by declaring Officers Moseley and Davis suspended without
 pay from March 18th to March 37th. The council stood upon principle. One opinion from specially appointed legal adviseF to Mayor Atkins declared that the Chief of Police by power dele- gated in4 him by the mayor and city council could suspend. City Attorney Snafer's opinion. five thousand words long, repeating his contention of Mon day night that only the power of sus- pension was vested under the charter to the general council and mayor. rep
 udiated the opinion of Attorney Jef- fries.
 The council voted for the future welfare and protection of the city. It voted in accordance with the wise counsel of it's chief executive, Mayor Atkins. It was the settlement of the legal dispute that arose last Monday night when after the investigation of the charges against Policemen Nose ley and Davis, City Attorney shafer and two attorneys representing the policemen told the council that the suspension of the policemen by Chief Walters was illegal. The council ac- cepted the advice of the attorneys and acting accordingly declared that Nose ley and Davis were still members of the force. That was the only conclu- sion of the council
 Mayor Atkins demurred. He chal- lenged the contention of the attorneys and sought legal advice from a dis- interested lawyer. Today he got 1t, and tonight at a meeting called by him he submitted 1t to the council with the earnest and eloquent appeal that the council, for the future welfare and dignity of the city. be guided by the opinion of Attorney Jeffries. that opin-
 
 position.
 The council, at once leaving aside the legal phase which 1t was called together to consider, undertook to again take up the merits of the case against the policemen and there was
 a motion by Mir. Agee to suspend them from March 13 to the next meeting of the council. which will be next month, but by reason of the disagree
 ment of the majority of the council
 he amended his motion and made 1t
 read suspension from March IS, to March 27, without pay"
 That was the motion that the coun- ell passed unanimously. after the most
 heated debate that ever marked council meeting in Selma.
 Policemen Guilty. Asked his reason for submitting the original motion to suspend the two po- licemen from March 1S to the next meeting of the body Councilman Agee said: Because I believe the police- men are guilty"
 The contrast between the meeting tonight and the meeting of last Mon- day night was great. Last Monday night attorneys shifted the responsi-
 bility of every accusation that has ever been made against the police on the shoulders of the Selma correspon- dent of The Advertiser, while the council looked on in silence. To- night the municipal body realized tho gravity of the legal proposition that faced 1t and every member made anil mated speeches for what he considered Justice and with the view of the fu- ture protection of the city in mind. Mayor Atkins appealed to the coun- ] ell to be guided by principle and fu-