The Washington times., 1906-05-05
SECRET SESSIONS
TO GET RESULTS
Police Commissioners De-
fend Star Chamber Methods
ONLY WAY TO GET EVIDENCE
Alexandria Officials Conducting Inquiry
Tell Why Doors Are Closed
to the Public.
ONLY WAY TO GET EVIDENCE
WASHINGTON TIMES BUREAU,
ALEXANDRIA. VA. MAY 5.

WASHINGTON TIMES BUREAU,
ALEXANDRIA. VA. MAY 5.
Are you in favor Of conducting the
sessions of the police board behind
closed doors. and II so will you state
your reasons?" was the question put 10
the mayor and each member of the
board OF police commissioners by a re-
porter for The Times today.
Mayor PAN replied that his reason for
desiring the meetings 10 be secret was
that the commissioners could not get
evidence If they made the previous evil
dence public. In so far as public opinion
IS concerned said the mayor. Il feel
that the citizens of this city will be
perfectly satisfied with our work when
they hear the results
Commissioner Graham stated that in
his opinion the meetings should be secret
because the investigation OF the commits
sioners was being conducted along the
lines of grand jury. and if one police
man heard the evidence given by
another he would not be as ready TO ad-
nit facts.
Effect Of Testimony on Others.
The commissioners had decided to put
the youngest officers. or those that had
been on the force the shortest time. on
the stand first because they were not
up 10 snuff" as the older officers, and
they might tell some things which the
others would not. "As il was" continued
Mr. Graham" the publication in The
Times of Policeman Jones statement
that the policemen had been in Harring-
tons stable al night resulted in an the
o1lcers confessing 10 this charge"
Do you think that if the publication
mad not been made that the officers
YOU'D YOU'D = nave ave denied this charge?" Mr.
No, / cannot say that" he replied.
commissioner Hill stated that ne did
not want 10 be quoted as saying any
thing in regard to the matter. but that
he thought for the benefit OF the de-
partment the meetings should be Sc
eTet Asked why the reporters had
Deen admitted to the meeting and then
asked 10 refrain from publishing all
tne proceedings, Mr.. Hill stated that
ne dld not know; that the reporter had
better see the mayor about this.
Same as Grand Jury.
Commissioner Fisher said: Il cannot
tell you the reasons just now why the
commissioners do not want the meet
ing open. We have good reasons,
though, and when the investigation Is
over you viii see that we did right In
not opening the doors The commits
sioners made a mistake in ever opening
the doors TO the reporters. We are con-
Quoting this investigation the same as
grand jury, and It would not do to
Iet every thing that transpires in the
Commissioner Ohlert said: You can
Just say that we have our own rea-
The Times reporter visited the nnayor's
Office last night. and after interviewing,
one or two members OF the board as
the meeting was about to be called to
order. asked the mayor II he might re-
main No, no., said the mayor.
Proceedings Last Night.
he
Mayor Paff with Commissioners. Hin.
Fisher and Ohlert present After the
board had been in session about fifteen
minutes Commissioner Hill was called
away and did not return
Policeman Bettis gave a detailed ac-
count of his service on the force. He
stated that he had made a number of
arrests for the violation Of the city
ordinances in relation TO the removal
OF ashes and obstructing the sidewalks.
During his time Of service as station
Keeper be always did his duty He told
or how AFFAIRS were mana ged around
the station house and thought that the
police force was in good condition
Ponceman Young said he had always
tried to do his duty TO the best Of his
ABILITY. When questioned in regard TO a
telephone message being received at
the station house, in the early mart Of
April. about woman being cut near
Summers store Young stated that he
received the message and told the per-
sons at the other end of the telephone
that an officer would come out at once
He had to put some prisoners back in
their cells and after doing this he
called to the captain that he was going
out 70 attend to this matter Just az
he reached the ioor two gentlemen
came in on a matter Of business and
they stayed a long time. After they,
had departed he again started to 90
out to answer the call, when the teie-
phone bell rang and he answered the
phone TO find IL was Policeman Hend-
erson. VINO being on the beat in which
the woman was. he told him to 20
The man who did the cutting was
fined in the police court the next morn
ing.
Made Plenty of Arrests
Policeman Knight stated that he had
done his duty and had made a large
number Of arrests, as the court records
would show.
Policeman Gil testified that he had
been on duty at the station house for a
number of years. but that he had never
seen book kept of the lost or stolen
articles he entry was made on a slip
of paper ard put in an envelope in the
drawer in the headquarters.
Policeman Roberts was summoned TO
appear. but was not called upon to tes-
Iify last night. The session adjourned TO
meet on Monday night at 7:30 O'clock
CAPTAIN OF SLOCCM