The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
OFFICER BROWN
WAS DISMISSED
Defendant Charged With Con-
duct Unbecoming Policeman
AT STATE FAIR GROUNDS
Had Difficulty With Ex-chef Tom Nc.
DonaId-Many Witnesses Testify.
Commission Meeting.
Chief Wier's Report.

The police commission dismissed Officer
D. p. Brown from the police force last
night.
The hours session of the commission
was taken up in the consideration of this
matter. The policeman on trial was
charged with conduct unbecoming an Of
ficer
The origin of the charge was in Novem-
Der at the grounds of the Alabama State
Fair association, during the progress of
the last fair The trial was called at
the last months session of the commits
sion, but was passed.
In addition to the trial of Policeman
Brown, the commission received and filed
the November report of Chief Wier which
has been published in The Age-Herald.
The petition of Officer Armstrong for
half pay for twenty days, during which
time he was i'll. was referred to the City
Council with favorable recommendation.
Present at the meeting last night were
Chairman Donahoe, Secretary Brown,
Commissioner Parker, Commissioner Mar
tin, Commissioner Phillips and Commits
sioner Jones.
The Brown Trial.
Numerous witnesses were examined dur
ing the course of the trial of officer
Brown. The defendant was represented
by Attorney L. J. Haley.
The first witness for the city was Off,
Ger Jack Mcdonald. This witness asked
to be excused on account of the fact that
he knew little of the occurrence, and be-
cause it was with his brother, ex-Chief
Tom Mcdonald, that defendant had his
difficulty. Finally, however,, Officer Nc
Donald testified that while he did not
see his brother strike the policeman, he
judged from that that he had been
knocked down. Officer Mcdonald testi-
fled that he ran up and took the pistol
that Officer Brown carried out of his
pocket. Mcdonald testified that Officer
Brown made an effort to regain his
weapon.
Chief Wer was next examined He
testified that when he arrived at the
scene of the trouble, Brown had Jack
Mcdonald in the collar, trying to get his
(Brown's) revolver. The chief ran be-
tween the two, separating them. The
chief testified that Brown complained to
him that Jack Mcdonald had held him
while Tom Mcdonald knocked him down.
He testified that Brown used profane Ian
guage,. and that he was eventually
turned over to Officer Mathewson, who
was instructed to take him away. The
chief testified that he thought at the
t,o+ I,.f,, To
fled that the officer was in citizens
clothes.
Parker and MatheWson.
Officer Parker was next examined. Said
this witness: II was returning from the
temporary Jail used at the fair grounds
and saw officer Brown in the hands of
some other officers. Brown asked me if
| was a friend of his, and when 1 an
swered that I was he asked me to give
him his pistol. | judged that he had been
drinking. 1 heard him use profanity, and
ladies passing could have heard hin"
Officer Parker testified that he then aided
Officer Mathewson in getting the man
to the temporary Jail, in which he was
subsequently confined.
Officer Mathewson testified that he met
Jack Mcdonald, and that that officer
turned over to him Browns revolver.
Mathewson hurried to the scene of the
trouble, and as he came up Chief Wier
turned Brown over to him. Mathewson
then conducted Brown from the fair
grounds, and started to put him aboard a
car Brown demanded his pistol. Mathew
son refused. Brown then refused to get on
the car A constable came I'D and took