The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-06
CHIEF TAYLOR IS SUSPENDED. Follows Blow Struck at
 Alderman. MAYORS ACTION TEMPORARY Offender Makes Apology to Victim
 of Attack. Reemer Refuses to He Moiified and Annoances intention of Push ins Matter In Court and
 Before Council.

Mayor ". M. Teague suspended Chief of Police W. H. Taylor yester- dav until an investigation of the charge that he was guilty of assault ana pat tery upon the person or Alderman Adolph Roemer immediately atter Councils meeting Monday hisnl, San he made. The Mayor stated yesteroay afternoon he did not expect to remove Chief Taylor from office for an onense which he deplored but considered not of sufficient importance to warrant the removal.
 In a statement made yesterday, Chiet Taylor said that, having learned ne had entirely mistaken what Alderman Roemer said in regard to the personaI- ty of the chief of police, he resretted the occurrence more than he couid ex- press in words.
 Alderman Roemer yesterday swore out a warrant before Justice 8. c. Spann, charging Chief Taylor with as- sault and battery. He said he intend ed to prosecute the chief for having struck him. He denied he had called, the chief of police of Montgomery common gambler. The hearing of the ease made upon the warrant before Justsa Spann is set for o'clock Thurs day afternoon. It is additional to a warrant, charging assault and battery, upon which Chief Taylor is to be tried by Recorder E. F. Baber. The case was set for yesterday, but was contin- until today
 Chief Taylor was suspended by Ma yor Teague yesterday morning. The suspension is indefinite, and will be terminated, 1t is expected. by the rem dering of judgment in the cases pend- ing against the officer. Mayor Teague said that with his present knowledge of the case, he would not remove Chief Taylor from office. He regarded the trouble as deplorable, and he expressed deep regret it had occurred. but he seemed prone to regard 1t rather as a private than an official matter, and he will probably reinstate the chief when the trial of the case by the judi ciary had been completed.
 In suspending Chief Taylor, Mayor Teague appointed Police Captain Miles Smith acting chief, and Captain Smith is now In charge of the police depart ment.
 Alderman Roemer said yesterday he not only intended to prosecute Chief Taylor before the courts. but might seek to impeach him before the Coun- ell. It had been hoped by some of the friends of both men that a reconcilia- tion could be erected. and 9satisfac- tion obtained without a resort to legal procedure, but Mir. Roemer s attitude seemed to preclude the possibility of this.
 The statement made by Chief Taylor follows:
 T desire to say I struck Mir. Roemer because understood him to say in his speech before the Council I was a com mon gambler, when the fact is that l have never in my life. at any time, gambled in any manner whatsoever. I recognize fully the right and duty of every alderman to criticise the police department. and myself as chief. when ever he deems it necessary, and 1t was not for this criticism by'Mr. Roemer in any respect, that I struck him.
 T resented merely what under stood to be the personal charge that I was common gambler. I have learn ed today was ent. ely mistaken as to what Mir. Boomer said on that point. his reference being to an officer of another city. and not to myself. and regret the occurrence more than I can express in words,
 T wish to make to Mir. Roemer, for whom I have always entertained the very highest personal regard, what ever amends lie in my power"