The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-03
ACQUITTED An
OFFICER Of
CHARGE
Board of Public Safety Ex-
onerates One Officer and
Discharges Another.

At 1880 O'Clock last night the Board
of Public Safety met in regular ses-
sion with Chairman Ingraham and
Messrs. Bliss, McGaughey, White and
Oliver present.
The board at once proceeded to the
trial of the case of Officer Frank Fer
guson charged with being under the
influence of intoxicating liquors on
the night of the 25th of December
Officer Ferguson was called and on be-
ing confronted with the charge, plead
ed guilty. The board then went into
executive session and in few min
utes recalled Officer Ferguson and
notified him that he had been dis
charged from the force in accordance
with the rules and regulations.
Officer Wales Acquitted.
The board then took up the case of
Officer George w. Wales upon the
charge of being under the influence
Of strong drink on the night of oath
CT December.
The first witness in the case was
Captain Fondebilla, who testified that
when the night force reported on the
morning of December 18th he noticed
that Office Wales was absent, and on
making inquiry of the officer in charge
of the squad was told that Wales
was not at his post when the relief
force arrived and that he could not
be found. He stated that Wales
turned up at headquarters about
seven o'clock in the morning. and
some time litter the night squad had
come in. Captain Ethridge, of the
night force, was then called and stat
ed that during the night of December
gath he had occasion to pass the beat
of Officer Wales several times and
that every time he called> him with
his whistle and the officer answered
promptly. He did not see the officer
that night and could not say whether
he was in an intoxicated condition or
not.
H. w. Kelly, an officer of the police
force. was then called and stated that
he saw Wales when he came in to
the station house the next morning
and stopped and talked with him a
few minutes and that if the officer
was under the influence of liquor he
could not tell it
Charles McElroy stated that he was
butcher and had a shop in the dis
trict that the officer was assigned to;
that he saw him on the night of De-
cember oath after twelve o'clock and
that he was not in an intoxicated con-
ditiOn at that time He stated that
the officer had been in the habit of
waking him in the morning and that
he called him On Christmas morning
as usual; that while he did not see
the officer On this particular morning
that he did not think he was under
the influence of liquor. Mr.. Noel
roy paid the officer a high compliment
and said that he was the best officer
that had been on that beat in quite
while.
M. Fflligham was then called and
stated that he had passed the box in
Officer. Wales beat about $3.50 on the
morning in question and at that time
the officer had several prisoners in
charge and did not appear to him to
be under the influence of liquor.
WALES Makes Statement.
Officer Wales was then asked by
CHAIRMAN Ingraham If he desired to
make statement. He arose and
addressed the board and stated that
he was not guilty of the charge of
being drunk, or under the influence
OF liquor, while on duty. He said
that he had warrant to serve and
was instructed not to serve it
until Z o'clock on the morning in
question; that he did not have his
watch with him that night and that
when he thought it was about seven
he went to discharge his duty and
while he was gone the relief watch
came out and passed his post; that
when he returned to his post he did
not know that the watch had passed
and remained there for some time
before he discovered that he was late,
and that he then went and reported
at the station house.
The board, after hearing the state
ment of the defendant, went into exc
cutive session, and after considerable