Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-16
WEDNESDAY. JUNE le. 1909.
UNJUST CRITICISM OF POLICE
OFFICERS.

An uniust attack upon Two members
=, ,ha no,ice force was made by an
attorney in the police court yes,er-
dav morning. Mr.. f. s. Robinson, ap-
parently carried away by his zeal IN
defense Of Simon and Frank Earle
voung men who were arrested on the
beach at 3 O'Clock in the morning, Tue
former for being not of good lame
and the latter for resisting an oiicer'
charged officers Pearson and Wood-
ward with making arrests WITHOUT
authority and beating Simon Eafie
into Inconsistencies without provo
cation. The attorney was trying 10
got his clients off without punishment,
therefore 1t is not particularly surpris
ing that his argument was III INC
with the story told by the young men.
On the other hand, il what he charges
Is true he should not content himseit
with telling the police justice about
IL. he should have the officers prose
cuted for felonious assault or. at least
present the matter to the board OF
nolice commissioners and have the
offenders removed from office. Con-
siseration of the facts in the case
will show why no such steps viii be
taken.
Every effort is being made by the
Ieiice department to prevent a repe-
tition of the robberies committed in
the peighborhood of West avenue and
Thirty fourth street some weeks ago
Hure,ars have appeared In this section
of the city on various occasions ana
the officers have found 1t impossible
10 discover their identity. The rob-
beers have escaped without leaving
clue behind. and when the department
has been notified there has been an
solute,v nothing upon which to work
Not one article stolen from the resi-
dences has been located. The author'-
ties OF Norfolk and Richmond have
met with the same difficulty. and in
those cities crooks. believed 10 De
the same ones who visit this city.
have operated and escaped detection
time and again.
Failing to catch the burglars by the
usual methods. Chief OF Police Rey-
nclds determined to have the section
most frequently visited watched SO
closely that thieves invading the
reighborhood either would be picked
ND before they had chance to &C.
compiish anything. or be caught in
the act OF entering or leaving a rest
dence. To perform this duty several
officers In addition 10 those on the
regular beats were assigned to spend
nights in the section. These officers
were instructed TO question closely
al suspicious characters found prowi
.ug about during the night. and 10 ar
rest anyone unable 10 give a salts
factory account Of himself.
On the morning Of the arrest q tbs
Earle brothers. about O'Clock. Oaic
ers Pearson and Woodward arreste'
on Washington avenue = nan W.T.
practically admitted that he was |
professional crook, and Who said tia
his partner. who had stolen a re
sclver and some money FROM him
was asleep with several other met
IN The bushes near the river. Actin
as any ether ofscers alive 20 thei
duty would have done. Pearson an
Woodward went IN search % the par
aer u this objectionable chat
scieF. They found two me
asleep In boat on the beach
Upon being awakened. one q
the men made . threatening demon
sizrt.on ss.inst The ofacers and thcl