The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-10
OFFICER WRIGHT
IS EX0N|E |. i
Chiefs Position Was Also sus-
tanned and Mayor Mildly
Ccnsured.
LONG SESSION OF BOARD
News Gathered From Manchcs-
ter-Olympia Clubs
Tents.

The Police Board last night cxonerated
Sergeant Wright OF any intentional wrong
in going to New York after thegallege1
fugitive Smith, yet sustained Chief
Lpscomb in HIS, attitude in reference to
the matter. The Mayor was mildly CEN
sured in Ills action In the case. as the
board felt he should have shown more
Difference to the feelings of the chief
when he sent the sergeant away on the
mission. without first consulting him..
The board held lengthy session. Chief
Lipscomb was on hand early, prepared to
go fully into the case, with Captain
George d. Wise as counsel. Sergeant
Wright was without counsel, and stated
his own case. He then raised the point
as to whether It were the proper thing
for counsel on the other side. The point
was considered by the board and that
body decided that each side could have
counsel. Sergeant Wright waived his
right, and the chief thereupon followed
suit, and said he did not wish to handicap
the sergeant in his case.
The whole matter was gone through
with The sergeant stated that he had
gone to New York by ordersof the Mayor
and the Commemorative attorney. The
question arose as to the right Of. either
OF those gentlemen to supersede the
chief in matters pertaining to the conduct
and discipline of the force. The Mayor
showed by the charter that he had full
authority in the premises to send an
officer off on such mission. The Com.
monwealth's attorney also showed that
he had the power to detail man wheii-
ever he chose to exercise that power.
These two points were well taken. but
the board thought that the chief should
at least have been consulted in the mat
a ter. - q
In the testimony 1t was shown that
the chief wished to send Officer Moore,
and that the other two officials desired
the case to be placed intthe hands Of
Officer Wright, because they felt he was
more experienced in such matters.
. Chief Then Absent.
The Mayor stated that he had RECON-
mended the sergeant as the man. in the,
absence ofEthe chief, who wasnin Alex,
andria Conmonwealth'sg Attorney Page;
said he did not wish to send any one.
on his own account, but wished the
Mayor and the chief to get together on
some one man. He advised them to do
SO, but as nothing was done on that line,
he designated the man recommended by
the Mayor, feeling that such Difference
should be shown him as the superior
officer. SS+s K. II
At various periods during the hearing
the principals to the affair professed
e toward setSCU OIIeEf#tue pei
sonal feeling. 4 IS az
Sergeant Wright said that II the board
thought he had done anything intention
ally wrong in the pursuit of his d ties he
would there and then hand i'm his resig-
nation. 3 a y s.s5 ], y Al -IoSr VII "a aS,
The chief said he felt badly.>over the
matter as he felt he had been Inundated.
and his prerogatves had been taken
from him, but that If the board did not
III rop ar1ftOlS In
his duties he. too, would resign.
The boa I'd looked upon these two state
ments philosophically, for theyfknew the
two officers in question wereSas good as
could be found anywhere
There were many spectators present
who took much interest in the proceed
ings The meeting was held in the
Mayors Once.
Boards Findings.
The report. las handed out by the
board after an executive session OF more
( than an hour. follows:
1--WE find the charges OF absence from
duty without consent OF the chief sus-
tained, yet we exonerate Sergeant A. s..
Wright from any intentional wrong or
purpose to disobey the order Of the chief,
%inasmuch as he acted upon written au-
thorIty and order OF the Mayor. And II
any wrong was committed by Wright In
0absenting himself the wrong evidently
was committed upon the superstition that
the authority OF the Mayor was superior
to the order OF the chief The authority
OF the Mayor. so far as his relat tons to
the police are confined. is defined in the
charter Nevertheless, we are OF the
opinion that the Mayor should have nd-
tyised with the chief before Issuing any
order concerning the detail OF policemen
for any specific purpose, We are further
Of the opinion that the chief acted In
accordance with police regulations in pre-
;ferring said charges and his action IN the the
matter is unanimously approved
The report was signed by Messrs. Per-
due acting chairman; Reams. Petit. Abb
bott and Ferguson.
The subject was one Of general discus
sion on the streets last night, and the ac-
tion OF the board was generally approved,
The general impression was that4it was
n matter that should never have reached
the board. and the result was pleasing
one to the friends OF all parties concerned ,
Looking for Tents.
The Olympia Club has ordered two large
new tents to be used on their annual out
ing at Ocean View this summer. The
tents are looked for this week. They
will be large enough to Accommodate the
members OF the club and their families.
sIne custom OF the CIup 10 " Spellu 4lle
entire season. at the seaside. They will
open the camp In June,
Betting on the Colts.
The ball cranks were confident enough
In the ability OF the ball team last night
to bet at odds OF eight to ten that they
would win the game from Barton Heights
at Broad Street Park this afternoon,
The public school at Oak Grove closed
on Monday for the term, Honor cards
were awarded to the following pupils of
the senior class; Julia Harris. Spencer
Rudd, Ashton Winfree, Melville Reams,
Helen Priddy. Marie Rudd. Louise Reams,
Beulah and Earle Scott, Mabel Neister,
Merrill WInfree. Ethel strupa. Louise
Robertson and Frank Powell, first honors
Phyllis snellings, Garlick Dabney. Cary
Harris, Eddie Maitland, Alice Pool and
Ernest Bagby. second honors
Personals and Briefs.
Myrtle Grove OF Druids will install off,
GERS on Friday night, gs
Revival meetings are being held every
night at Asbury Church.
Cnntain LipsCOmb WAS struck by a