Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Quite early in the course OF the civil
war Washington began to have expert
ences In the grim realities
Soldier of deadly combat. One Of
the most pathetic OF all
AoAuVAeu. was the visit OF the mother
pleading for her SON condemned to die
for neglect OF duty. perhaps. and seeking
an audience with the President to secure
pardon. In The Star Of September D.
1851, is the earliest of the pardons an
nounced in such q case. Without Its pre-
liminary forms 1t reads as follows:
Private William Scott. Company X. Sd
Vermont Volunteers. having been found
guilty by court-martial Of sleeping on his
post while sentinel on picket guard.
has been sentenced to be shot. and the
sentence has been approved and ordered
to be executed.
''The commanding officers OF the ori-
gade, the regiment and the company of
the condemned, together with many other
officers and privates OF his regiment, have
earnestly appealed to the major general
commanding to spare the life OF the Of
fender, and the President of the United
States has expressed the wish that. as
this is the first condemnation to death
in this army for this crime. mercy may
be extended to the criminal. This fact,
viewed in connection with the inexperi-
ence of the condemned as a soldier, his
previous good conduct and general good
character and the urgent entreaties made
in his behalf, has determined the major
general to grant the pardon SO earnestly
prayed for.
This act of clemency must not be I'M
derstood as affording a precedent for any
future case. The duty Of sentinel is
OF such a nature that Its neglect by
sleeping upon or deserving his post may
endanger the safety of command, or
even Of the whole army, and all nations
affix to the offense the penalty OF death
Private William Scott. Company, X,
I'd Regiment Vermont Volunteers. will be
released from confinement and return to
duty. BY order of Maj. Gen. Mcclellan.
8. Williams, Asst. Adj Gen."
-
After having considered the question Of
the new police organization for some
time the Commissioners
Policemen named under the new act
Anno;r+.a Of Congress appointed the
nppolnIcu. members Of the force. the
names being announced in The Star OF
September 10. 1861. OF these appoint
ments. constituting the first regular po-
lice force in the District, The Star said
in the same issue:
I'VE present today the names OF the
persons who have just been designated
for trial as policemen under the late law
OF Congress, and who are required. it will
be seen, to present themselves before the
Commissioners in the aldermen's cham
Der tomorrow at noon to take the neces-
sary oath of Office. From this 1t will
be seen the force is made up OF sober.
discreet settled, reliable citizens and old
residents Of Georgetown and Washington,
tiers, carpenters. blacksmiths, plasterers.
painters, bookbinders. plumbers. tailors.
printers. etc; men Of families; democrats.
republicans. old-line wings and know
nothings; foreigners and natives. Catho.
lies and Protestants. Men who are not
shoulder hitters. rabid parjsans or pot
house politicians, but Jealous Union men,
loyal to the government and true to the
old flag, majority OF them having
served their three months in the defense
OF their homes and firesides. We cor
daily congratulate the police commission
ers upon the wisdom Of their choice: they
have certainly shown good Judgment and
been fortunate in the persons selected for
for policemen in our community. When
the department is fairly organized and
the time given for the perfect drilling and
instruction Of the members thereof. I'M
der the well qualified superintendent, ".
r. Webb, esq. we may confidently hope
to realize what we have heretofore some
times read about-a model police force. !"
=.
Evidently some Of those who are
named as policemen were taken un-
awares, being In the I'M
Appointment usual attitude Of being
n,.. sought by the Office. This
OoSAiAcu' is apparently the case in
at least one instance, as a letter printed
in The Star of September II. 1851. as an
advertisement. addressed by "A. r. Al
len, Detective" to the police commission
ers, clearly indicates:
Gentlemen: I see by the list published
in The Evening Star Of yesterdays issue
my name published as sergeant OF the
seventh precinct Fourth ward Of this
city. Never having applied for that po-
sition. nor authorized any one to present
my name as a candidate for 1t. I was
not little surprised to see the an
nouncement. No doubt the intention that
prompted the appointment. gentlemen.
was Of the kindest nature but, with the
best of wishes for your success In Or
ganizing an efficient police I find myself
obliged to decline the appointment. IT
the appointment in The Star is correct
it can hardly be expected that I should
surrender a much greater and certain
annual income and accept this office.
which would deprive me Of opportunities
of faithfully discharging my duty to
present employers, and consequently. gen.
tlemen you will excuse me from serving
in that position, and consider the place
vacant as far as am concerned"
In The Star of September Is, 1851. is
dispatch from Baltimore announcing the
arrest in LAT city
BaltimOreanS thirty-five secessionists.
49,, including some of the
A1IcSIOu' most prominent citizens
and the mayor of Baltimore himself The
dispatch reads:
''At daylight thfs morning the city was
thrown into the greatest excitement by
the announcement that the authorities
had, during the night. made a quiet and
successful swoop upon the gang Of lead
ing secessionists here and that thirty
five of them were already placed within
the walls Of Fort McHenry. At half-past
/ o'clock this morning the 4th Wisconsin
Regiment arrested Mayor Brown at his
country residence in Baltimore county,
and at about the same time arrests were
made Of Hon. Henry May, T. Perkins
Scott, Teakle Wallis Ross Wynans and
Of he EvchQnpa and South