The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-09-02
Committee Finds from Evidence that
Bentley Arrest was False and Of
hcef Continued to Punish Prisoner
After he Begged for Mercy-Also
Find Him Guilty of Using Profane
and Vulgar Language in Presence
Of Ladies Guilty Also of Other Mis-
conduct.

On recommendation of the special
6onifniftee to investigate the charges
aiTft Policeman w e. Fox pre-
feFred by S. r. Bentley, the city
council Friday night discharged Mr..
fox from the police force.
The findings of the committee
were reported as follows:
81. That the said Walton E: Fox
on August 18th. while inhumanly
treating a prisoner IN his charge.
arrested Mr.. Samuel II. Bentley for
making a remark of sympathy with
the prisoner; that Samuel R. Bent
lev Vas orderly, and had done moth
mo to Justify his arrest; that the
officer. by means of metal twisters on
+Iie prisoners arm, had so twisted
and bruised his arm that it was dis
colored, swollen and bleeding that
when the prisoner begged for mercy
the police officer paid no attention
to him. but continued to punish me
sII That Officer Fox. N the
presence Of Mrs. J. S. Clark, useS
profane and vulgar language while
on duty.
eTTI. That on another occasion
in Tho, presence of W. A. Wilkinson
Officer Fox by means of chain and
twisters on the prisoners arm, SO
wrung and twisted his arm for
ward that the prisoner had to walk
on his toes. in pain and agony
CIV. That in the presence o. O.
Camden Sommers and Mrs. Ferreil
on Main street, Officer Fox struck
prisoner whom he had under arrest
\ savage blow on the mouth, when
the prisoner was not resisting. and
when there was no excuse nor reason
for SO doing.
eeV. That Officer Fox on one oe-
easion. when a drunken prisoner
had been hauled to the foot. OF the
alley in a wagon and when ne was
hel6less from drink. caught him by
Inc feet, and dragged him backwards
out of the wagon bed, lettipg .lS
head and Shoulders fall on the bricN
pavement.
eve find Tint the evidence shows
conclusivelv that the said Walton y.
Fox is guilty of all of the forego-
inc acts. and that his misconduct,
brutal and inFuman acts. disqualItN
him from holding the Office Of po-
licen,nn. and in the Interests of de-
cenev. humanity and good govern
mont we unanimously recommend
HAT he be summarily dismissed as
noIice officer. and that he he not
further employed by the municipal
authorities of Clarksburg rs peace
or police officer.
An the members of the council
attended the session with the MAYOR
nresiding and Clerk Cole at his desE'
The minutes of the previous meet Zee,
mo were read and approved. ihe
ordinance changing the mcrry-go-
ronnd license from $50 to $40 o
week gor fraction thereof. passed rs
sooo,,d reading and became law
Chairman Hart, of the sanitation
c,1nIniftee reported that the ordl-
nances gave the committee. no power
~ abate nuisances and that for that
reoson his committee had not abntcd
the old Fordyce building on 9yca-
more street, BE SAID 1T was perfect :
IL unenF Sle and the breeder OF
MI linds cease. He was es pee,
Ss3l,, enyt,,. ~ it be torn down
~ old gaca& building was moi
., ,54o, Ear ID close to a school building.
nlhe matter wns discussed by var
,,ssn1eTnbers Of the council at CON
sidesTa5le length. after which the
Nv health officer, with the assls-
~ of the city attorney, was IN
5iPfe7 to notify +lac o-'-'oTf
Is s 5debts. that unless the build
~ * but ifi7sanifary condition at
oee The city will proceed to tear. II
The chief OF police made his hr .s
report under the ordinance recently