Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-02
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
OPENING OF INQUIRY INTO
CHARGES AGAINST THE POLICE.
Testimony Taken by Council Com
mittee-Jury Awards Damages to
James E. Clements.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

speClAL correspondence OF lbe CtHf.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. May 2, 1906.
The hearing of evidence against the mem
bers OF the police force by the board of po-
lice commissioners having been completed,
the second stage of the investigation-the
policemen's side of the afrair-was started
last night at the meeting held in the
mayors Office at the city hall. Mayor Fred
erick J. Paff was present and presided over
the meeting. The other members of the
board. consisting OF Fora Hill, secretary
member from the first ward; Thomas A.
Fisher, member from the second ward; Au-
gust Oehlert. member from the third ward
and Edward c. Graham, member from the
fourth ward, were also present.
The meeting convened at 7:30 o'clock, and
before proceeding with the examination of
witnesses the resignation of Policeman VIII
liam III. Mayhugh was presented and ac-
cepted by the commissioners.
Chief OF Police James Webster was first
called. He stated that he was seventy-nine
years OF age and had been a member OF the
police force for more than forty years The
line of questioning followed by the mayor
and the commissioners related principally
to the methods followed by the department
In the arrest and Incarceration of prisoners
and their subsequent treatment at the sta
ton house.
The chief was also questioned as to the
record of proceedings kept at the station
house and as to the manner In which an
emergency call was answered. He said that
under the present regulations as many as
two men were always on duty at the sta
ton house except during the meal hours
and that when a call came in either one of
the men at the station responded, or if II
were not urgent and near the time for the
policeman patrolling the beat to call up
headquarters the policeman on the beat
was notified to proceed to the scene of the
disturbance.
Amount of Work Performed.
When asked as to whether or not the de-
partment was doing a proper amount of
work he replied that in his opinion it was not
and had not been doing so for the past six
or seven years. but he could not account
for the let-down in the work of the men,
Policemen Stewart Jones Charles w PeIl
and John Henderson We're called and exam
ined In the order named. The questions
asked each related to the Instructions they
had received upon first reporting for duty
as members of the force and as, to whethe
or not they had endeavored to the best of
their ability to enforce various city ordi-
nances.
Although the examination disclosed the
fact that several of the police regulations
had been violated nothing of a sensational
nature developed. In the interests of the
investigation Mayor Pan requested that
the answers to several of the questions
asked the men be not made public until the
conclusion of the examination of all the
members of the force. The board will meet
again tonight and four more men will be
cited to appear before it.
Damages for Clements
The circuit court for Alexandria county,
with Judge c. E. Nichol presiding was oc-
cupied yesterday In hearing testimony and
argument of counsel in the case of James
E. Clements against Frank Lyon, a suit for
$4,000 for alleged damages sustained by
the plaintiff in a personal encounter with
the defendant In the latter's office at the
county court house about a year ago. The
jury, OF which Resin w. Darby was fore
man, after being out about an hour. re-
turned a verdict last night of 500 damages
for the plaintiff. motion for q new trial
and arrest of judgment was made by the at
torneys for Mr. Lyon, but was overrued by
the court.
Mr.. Clements was represented by Judge J.
K. M. Norton of Alexandria and Mr.. Lyon
Moore of Fairfax and Commonwealth At
torney CrandaI Mackey of Alexandria
county.
Local Brevities.
Mr.. Henry C. Field, the father of R. Lee
Field of Alexandria. died last night at his
home, 100 South Lee street The arrange
ments for the funeral have not as yet been
completed. but it will probably take place
on Sunday.
Mrs. Margaret Kirk, widow of Harrison
Kirk, who died yesterday morning in Balti-
more, was eighty-fiye years of age and
was the mother of Harrison Kirk jr. of
Alexandria.
In the corporation court yesterday. with
Judge Louis c. Barley presiding in the
case of Armstrong against Purcell, suit
brought to recover debt for rent alleged to
be due plaintiff, verdict for the plaintiff
was rendered for $40.
During the month of April the clerk of
the corporation court recorded fifty deeds
and isued thrty-three marriage licenses.
nineteen to white and fourteen to colored
persons.