The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-20
VACANT POLICE OFFICE.
Captain Taylor Logical Successor of
 Chief Gerald.

Chief Gerald.
 To the Editor Advertiser;
 The sad death of Captain Gerald creates a vacancy in one of the most important offices in the gift of the people of Montgomery. Some one will have to be named as his successor by Mayor Teague. He should be good, active and conservative man. He should be an administration man who fulfils at once the high standard set by our late Chief. and who would make the best officer for the good Of the peo- pie of Montgomery.
 In crowd of gentlemen last night on Dexter Avenue. the question as to who was the logical man to succeed Captain Gerald was discussed, and only one name was seriously men toned, that of Captain. Taylor This called to mind some of the things about this efficient officer that perhaps few of the people cf this city know, but which should be known by them.
 Captain Taylor has been the pupil and protege of our late Chief for twenty years. He was his right hand man. having been promoted from place to place, for faithfulness and efflcien- cy, until he has reached next to the highest post in the service. Captain Taylor was born and reared in Mont gomery, and is only forty years old. He has made policing study and bus mess His father for thitry years was, and still is in this business. Cap tain Taylor began as the bottom in 1888 as supernumerary policeman; then served as Assistant Convict Guard, regular night policeman, night patrolman, night mounted man, day mounted man, special details, day pa trollnan, special officer, day sergeant three years, Captain of Police in 1901; ,ipoa Cuntafn HaraId'a aaayarp ill., ness he has served as Acting Chief and Captain. He has been in the service about twenty years, in every position on the force from bottom to top. By training and long continued service he Is the logical mas. He is pro- gressive officer. He has taken trips. at his own expense, to iarge cities in result of which lie introduced many good things to improve the service Of this Department; such as new rules, the bicycle squad, etc. He has for years furnished. at his own expense, horse, buggy and harness to the City, which has heretofore served the purpose of a patrol wagon. During the former terms of Captains this was unhcard of This gives to the people most val uabie service. enabling him personal ly to cover the suburbs and residence portion of the City at all hours of the night and to sec that his men discharge their dutIes. It Is no un- common thing to see him all hours ot the night afoot or riding. He intro duced the idea of detailing two men every night to make an inspection of the alleys and doors in the business district, He Is perhaps the most active officer we have ever had on the force; when 0 mounted .offiver he and his partner made a record of forty two ar rests in one night which has never been equaled before or since. He per- sonally superintends the excellent ser vice at theatres. depot and other pub lie places; in case of fire his men have their orders and he personally sees them carried out He knows the con struction of all public buildings and whenever crowd is gathered in them he invariably inspects the fire escapes, gving his men their orders in case of fire. If there Is any dangerous man to be caught, or dangerous situation or responsibility to be met. he personally gets on the ground. He does ask his men to go where he would not. He is brave and courageous He personally caught the Hicks Williams counter felting gang, who We're making and passing S20 counterfeit gold certifi- cates. which were being passed all over Alabama. These men were con. victed and Captain Taylor was espe- cially complimented by the Secret Ser
 vice Agents of the United States for this work. It was largely duo to Captain Tayors personal conduct of the campaign against the gambling ele- ment which eliminated in the raid on the Merchants Hotel outfit that has resulted in suppressing 10 a very large extent, gambling in Montgomery. His recent vigorous enforcement of the Teague Sunday Ordinance Is. too fresh in the minds of the people to need com ment. He personally directs all raids He caught the quick change" Him Ham" artist Viborg badly wanted some three years ago at a circus. who was convicted and given a long term. He engineered the Russell and Driscoll incident in Mobile, by which he ddroit- ly evaded service of a writ of habeas corpus there and brought these dang erous men to Montgomery, where they were convicted and sen ienced to twen- ty years each. These men were ar rested in Mobile for misdemeanors and sent to Vinegar Bend, an insecure place, where they could escape. Cap tain Taylor secured al order from the Convict Bureau for these men to be taken from this place. They had to come through Mobile The authori' ties there tried every way to get ser vice of writs on Captain Taylor and s9hSfIH Walleft put JueSe StHtletlen outwitted them. the result of which was protection to society at large, from these desperadoes for twenty years. In addition to al his other du- ties, Captain Taylor has attended Re- corder's Court since 1901. and since Captain Gerald's inability to conduct prosecutions. Captain Taylor has per sonally discharged these duties with credit and ability. He is one of the hardest worked men in the city. He goes on duty about 1 D. m., and leaves about a. m.. every day including Sun day--about sixteen hours a day.
 These are some of the things he is doing and has done. 1t Is a custom in police departments the country over to promote By birth, training and edu
 cation he would make an ideal Chief. Through long continued service and faithfnlness in the discharge of his duties. he is justly entitled to it He is young. earnest and ectiVe. He is at once careful. conservative and con seientious. He is the man whom Chief A 4.