The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-11-04

Ion Is divided as to the number who
Will take advantage Of the opportuni-
ty to reinlist. Although popular In
terest has waned, q group Of colored
men will keep track Of the proceed
1ngs. which will go on until next
April, when the courts year of life
will have expired. Each soldier will
be required to prove his innocence,
and to show that he knew nothing Of
those who did participate in the al
legged shooting up Of the town.
Mrs. Julia Mason Layton has retir-
ed as District Of Columbia deputy
for the order Of st. Luke and has
been succeeded by Mrs. Bessie Ander-
son. Rev. A. G. Garner, pastor Of
Plymouth Congregational Church,
was made associate deputy. Accord
Ing to the ably prepared report Of
Mrs. Layton, st. Luke has SO councils
In the District, representing a mem
bership Of about $500. In the states
the order claims total Of 10000
members, and large amount Of real
estate 1s held by them. MRS. Ander-
son announces that q campaign for
an Increase in membership here is to
be inaugurated. The headquarters
Of the order is in Richmond, Va,
where the president, Mrs. Maggie l..
Walker conducts a bank and is the
manager Of a prosperous department
store, owned by the st. Lukes.
Last Monday evening at the cor
ner Of7th street and Florida Avenue
Prof. Kelly Miller, Of Howard Univer-
sity, was placed under arrest by a
bumptuous policeman, OF the type
Major Sylvester is trying his level
best to get rid of. The circumstances
briefly stated, are these: The police
man was dragging a colored woman
across the street, apparently making
no effort to save her from bruises or
exposure. Prof. Miller, believing the
woman to be sick, and thinking he
might be Of some service to the Of
f1cer came forward and proffered his
assistance. The offer was rejected,
and the surly policeman continued to
drag the woman toward the patrol
box, Prof. Miller following and pro
and take a hand If he could help any
one who was in trouble. The officer,
whose name is Sykes, threatened to
lock Prof. Miller ND if he was still
on hand when the patrol wagon came
The educator, determined to see it out
remained, and when the wagon ar
rived Sykes stated that Prof. Miller
was under arrest. AT the 9Th Pre-
cfnct Station, the Professor left col
lateral for his appearance and depart
ed for home. Engaging as his attor-
ncY, Mr.. A. A. Birney, of the Howard
University law school, Prof. Miller
went before Major Sylvester, explain
ed the circumstances, and the case
was immedfate1y mol "Drossed:' OFFICER
Sykes was severely reprimanded,
and the language used by the police
chief was written in the records Of
clined to prosecute Sykes before the
police trial board, and the case was
dropped. The episode was almost a
twin of that in which Mr. Robert Pei
ham figured some time ago when he
was arrested for alleged interference
with an officer. Mr.. Pelham was eX-
hcHerated in the police court, after a
sensational trial in Which Senator
William Alden Smith, Of Michigan,
surprised everybody by appearing as
his council. Jack Watts, the police
man in the case, was tried before the
trial board for conduct uDbecoming
an otficcr, was convicted, fined $40,
and transferred from the electric
lights Of 14th street to an outlaying
district. Within year, such we'll
known cOlOred men as former Regis
ter j. w. Lyons, Receiver of Public
Moneys, II. " Cashin, Of Alabama,
Craig Williams Of New York, Robert
Pelham and Prof. Kelly Miller have
had trouble with bumptious police
mon, and be it said to the credit Of
the department, in each instance, the
high officials have not minced words
in condemning their unwarranted &C
tons. Major Sylvester is trying to
elevate the standard Of police officers
here and has no sympathy with touts
from Virginia and Maryland who
sneak onto the force and use their
uniforms as an excuse to vent their
anti-Negro proclivities.
Messrs. w. II. Clifford, Of the
Treasury Department, and Harry
West, Of the Capitol, have gone to
their homes in Cleveland, to assist
in the mayoralty campaign
Miss Georgia Coleman, whose help
full labors in behalf of many benevo-
lent and phjlanthropic movements
enHtlc her to high praise, passed a
splendid examination last week in
domestic science, and has been APP
pointed to a position as teacher of
cooking in the public schools. Miss