The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-14
Suspended From Duly by Chief For Act. VIOLENCE Is PROMISED Officers of the Law Attempt
 Intimidation. Are Angry Because the Montgomery Newspaper Printed Sensational
 Charges Against Them by
 Outside Parties.
VIOLENCE IS PROMISED
Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma March 13


 Policemen Mosely and Davis of the Selma police force were this afternoon suspended until mature investigation by the City Council of their conduct in an official capacity toward the Selma correspondent of The Montgomery Ad- vertiser.
 The suspension notice was served on Policemen Mosely and Davis this af- ternoon by Chief Walters after ascer- taining that the regular meeting of the City Council has been postponed till Wednesday night. The suspension will last until the Council authorizes the re- instatement or discharge of the police men.
 Chief of Police Walters suspended the two members of his force after hearing of an alleged insult offered the news paper correspondent by them and af- ter conferring with Mayor Atkins. Tho Chief was present at the department when Policemen Mosely and Davis of- fered the alleged insult to the corre- spondent, but waited until the matter was fully investigated before taking action.
 At the instance of the correspondent and other newspaper men, Chief Wal ters did not take definite steps in the case of Policemen Smith and Philan, who according to the correspondent, participated in the discussion between the newspaper man and police. There was a dramatic scene at police headquarters this afternoon when of- ficers of the law in the presence of Chief of Police Walters, threatened per- sonal violence to the Selma correspond ent of The Advertiser.
 Policeman Mosely declared that if another allusion was made in The Ad- vertiser to the sensational charges re- gently made by a number of persons against the police, the Selma corre- spondent would be given dirt road ticket out of town" Other policemen, Smith, Philen and Davis. dramatically notified the Selma correspondent that if anything further was said about the | charges in The Advertiser Tt wouldn't be good for the correspondent The threats of the policemen and the abuse of the newspaper correspondent took place this afternoon when the cor respondent went to the police depart ment to get the statement of Police man Smith in answer to charges made against him, which have been printed in The Advertiser as coming from per sons who made the charges. Police- man Smith abruptly informed the cor respondent that he would make no respondent not use his name in connec- ton with the charges against him. Later, policeman approached the correspondent with the warning that ''it wouldn't be good for him if their names were printed again."
 The police think they have been mal- treated by the Selma correspondent of The Advertiser by his publication of sensational charges made against them by several persons-Scharges that have been openly discussed by the city's of ficials and on the streets, and which are | ters and Mayor Atkins. The charges have been printed by other newspapers
 The charges already made against the police were to have been taken up by the City Council at it's regular monthly session tonight, but on ac- count of the absence of the majority of the councilmen the meeting was postponed until Wednesday night. Then Mayor Atkins will bring the charges to the attention of the coun- ell and will announce the result of the investigation. That much the Mayor gave out this morning.
 This afternoon Mayor Atkins heard the story of the alleged insult to the newspaper correspondent. He said:
 The police are subject to criticism and in this case where the correspond cnt had not criticised even, and was endeavoring to ascertain the opinion of the police in regard to the charges made against them, they acted most ndiscTeetly and will be held respon- sible,"
 Several city officials, including Councilman Kornegay this afternoon heard Chief Watters's announcements that he had suspended Policemen Nose ly and Davis and commended his course. His action was soon learned throughout the city and generally en- dorsed. The sentiment Is decidedly against the police.
 Representatives of each of the daily papers of this city went personally to Chief Walters and appealed to him to take immediate action. If a news paper man in the peaceful discharge of his duty Is subject to insult by police who are sworn to preserve peace. it Is the duty of the chief of police to suS- pend and make l rigid investigation" said Editor R. F.. l.. Neil of The Jour nal to Chief Walters in the presence of numerous city officials. Editor Nunne- lee of The Tines, who was first to prefer general charge of inefIiciency against the police declared to Chief Walters that the conduct of the police toward the correspondent If The Ad- vertisPr was dfsgraCeful in the eX- treme. He said further that it had be- come necessary since charges had been preferred against the police for newspaper men to arm themselves for protection against the police
 Selma City Primary.
 Tn the municipal primary held in this city today Robert C. Young was elect ed City Attorney over W. R. Schafer and Billups J. Gayle by a large ma jority; w. J. Smoke was reelected Sanitary Inspector over J. NJ. Rhodes and W. F. Claughton; w. F. Callen was re elected Tax Collector over P e. Bennett: R. H. Agee and J l.. Clay were reelected Councilmen from the Second Ward over E. V. Ullman.