Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-04
MILES NOT GUILTY.
Moreover, tho Commissioners Say lie
IIns Bccn Unusually Efficient.

Tins Rccn Unusually Efficient.
The board Of police commissioners.
consisting of NJ. C. Powers NJ. g. Clark
and A. r Childs, have made their report
relative to the charges brought by Mayor
Burke against officer Christopher Miles.
and find that he is not guilty. Moreover,
It is stated In the findings of the board.
that the evidence incidentally developed
the fact that officer Miles has been UNI
usually efficient and capable in his work
at the Central Vermont railway sta
ton
The report OF the commissioners fol-
lows:
burlington, Oct 20, 1909.
Mayor J. r. Rurle. city.
Dear Sir:--A meeting Of the board was
called for Oct. 70, 1900, at tho city clerks
office to hear charges preferred by
Mayor Burke against Police Officer
christopher Miles under suspension by
the mayor. The charges were taken up
in chronological order and sixteen wit
resses were examined
Owe find that on the dates OF all
the charges Christopher Miles was a
regular police officer of the city of
burlington. that on June 15 1900 he was
Vermont railroad station. that one Will
liam w Sweeney came out of the mems
waiting room on the east side OF said
sta ton and bcckoned or nodded to Hack
man G.. NJ. Harrington, Jr.; that there
upon Harrington, without having both
lines in his hand, or at least within his
control. drove his team straight at the
walk. finally bringing it up with his
horse on the side walk just east of said
door way, that thereupon Officer Miles
! took hold Of the horse by the head.
| turned him north and to the right and
! directed him off the sidewalk at the
Same time asking Harrington what he
meant by driving on the sidewalk and
making some further remark that he
wondered how such q driver could OBJ
| tain passengers that In turning off the
the two left wheels of the hack were
brought IN the sidewalk and then Mr..
Sweeney rode off with this hickman.
We do not hnd that any abusive, pro-
fame language was here used or any
conduct unhscomng M officer. We,
therefore. find OGflcer Miles not guilty
under this allegation.
| GIVE find that at about the time OF
the arrival of the s;i5 train on the same
evening az the proceeding occurrence.
| Officer Miles was on duty at the same
station: that Hackman G. NJ. Harrington,
Jr., entered the station. and began TO
speak to officer Miles about the oc-
currence earlier In the evening. that
thereupon Officer Miles took harrington
! by the shoulder. warned him that his
place was by his team and not In tho
station. turned him to the door and d.
rected him to his place on the stand
We fail to find any profanity or vio-
lence on the part Of the officer other
than what has been described. which
we hnd to have been proper and justi-
fable. We. accordingly, ind officer
Miles not guilty under the second allega-
ton.
! GIVE find that a few nights later
| ct about one o'clock n. m, Officer Miles
came into the station whore Hackman
Harrington was sitting with several 9TH
or hackman; that. thereupon. Officer
Miles asked harrington If he had told
his father falsely that tho officer had
nisused him. which Harrington denied :;
that no further conversation between
tho officer and harrington occurred tina t
night. We find no violence, or profanity
on the part Of Officer Miles on this oc-
casion. We find, therefore. that he is
not guilty of this allegation.
W--The commissioners ind as fact,
developed incidentally by The evidence.
that Officer Miles has been unusually
efficient and capable In his work at tho
Central Vermont station. For this ef-
ficlency and cspabillty as shown we
commend him.
Respectfully submitted
NJ G. POWERS,
NJ G. CLARK,
A. T. CHIIDS