The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-18
SAFETY BOARD
AGAIN OEFERS
HARPER CASE
CASE OF OFFICER RECENTLY
DISCHARGED FROM POLICE DE-
PASTMENT WAS REoPENED
AND DISCUSSED LAST NIGHT,
BUT ACTION is POSTPONED
UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT.

Arrii 10 dismissed from the police de-
partment, was reopened last night and
again continued ty the board Of safe
~ until Tuesday night. when a special
meeting of the hoard will be called and
all of the witnesses WAL be summoned.
including the negro whom officer
Harper is charged with shooting and
& CO. Fl. Hervey, manaser of the San
Carlos hotel, where the negro was en-
ployed.
Went into Case.
The full board was present last
night when this case was taken up
and the case was gone into pretty
thoroughly at this time, 30 far as the
board could so without the other wit
nesses, who were not present.
At the time of the former hearing
of the case when the officer was dis
missed. there were only three members.
of the board present, while last night
they were all in attendance. The case
was EXPLAINED by the chairman for
the benefit of the members who were
absent at the former trial, after
which Harper. who was present, made
statement, in which he asked for
new trial, basing his claim, as he said,
upon his past record and upon the
fayorable recommendations he had
from his former superior officers.
Upon motion of E. P. Preston, sec
ondeS by JOSEPH l. Johnson. the re-
quest was granted, the board thereby
rescirding the former action and
agreeing to again try the case.
Concerning the oafense with which
he was charged, Officer Harper made
practically the same statement as that
made at his former trial. He said he
fired at the negro to hit him, but
meant to hit him in the leg and not
in the body as he did do. He also eX-
planned again that at the time OF the
shooting he and Capt. Reed were re-
turning from q hurry call and that
there had been complaints from the
place where he first discovered the
negro about prowlers.
Captain Anderson, acting chief,
again substantlated the statements of
Harper concerning the complaints and
added that the officers had been given
very explicit and plain orders to stop
all providers in every part of the city.
He said these orders had been given
a number OF times shortly before this
affair occurred. Captain Anderson also
said that since the former trial he had
received information from a very re-
liable source that the negro shot by
| the officer early In the morning had
been drunk the night before and very
violent, So that he had to be put to
| bed. --... ,.-
The members discussed the case
freely for a considerable length of
time, finally deciding to defer further
consideration until all Of the testimony
| could be obtained.
Fireman Suspended.
| Although when the trials in the fire
| department were first called a motion
prevailed to continue all trials until
| the next meeting, Fireman VIM. Hun
ter. who was charged with reporting
to his superior officer that he was sick
and being seen later the same night
| by the superior, requested that his
| case be taken up and disposed Of
BY agreement among the members,
| the case was taken up, the fireman
pleading guilty as charged, but asking
1 that the board be as lenient as pos
sible, stating that this would not hap
| pen again. A motion was adopted to
suspend the fireman for five days, with
the understanding that If he is
| brought before the board again on a
similar charge he will be dismissed
| from the department.
Details of Meeting.
| After the minutes of the last meet
ing had been read and adopted. the
committee which Inspected the new
summer uniforms some days ago, re-
| ported that the uniforms had been
| found to be satisfa Glory and recon-
mended that they be accepted. 1t was
noted however, that the new helmets
have gray bands and edging, which
will not conform with the old ones
which have blue, and 1t was recon-
mended that the helmets be sent back
and exchanged for some with blue
edging and bands. The report was re-
| ceived, the recommendations adopted
! and the committee discharged. \
A communication from the council
notifying the board that the applica-
ton for an appropriation of $500 fol
| the rf installing 10
box at the corner of Garden and E
| streets. was read and. upon motion
the city electrician was instructed t.
proceed to install the box as early as
POSSIBLE.
Another communication from the
council was read. informing the boar
that at the last meeting of that body
the recommendation of the mayor thai
the hoard of safety be instructed t
turn over to the board of works clever
lengths Of old hose discarded by tht
ire department. had teen adopted ant
the toard Of safety was thereby IN.
structed 10 deliver the hose to tht
board of works. The communication
was filed and the instructions ordere:
carried out, the chief Of TIE fire de.
partment being directed to deliver the
hose to the charm an of the board a
works.
The application Of Chief Bicker, O
INC llIS department LOT seven Gays
leave of absence. was granted.
The applications Of the following
for positions IN the fire departmer
Icing approved by the chief of the de
rartment, were duly elected: J. Fl
Benson, Chas. B. Butler, Axle w. Low,
engreen. Thos. J. Sennott. A numbel
Of others which had not been ap,
proved, never having teen referred Il
TIE chief, were referred TO him FOL
| recon rnendations
The following applications for no.
sitions in the police department were
referred to the chief of that derarI
ment for recommer dations: II. J
Cage. J. A. Chestnut. A. H. Brewton
; n. II. hatcher. w. c. Ward and BoseY
Chestnut
The RESIGNATION of Geo. Thompson
as captain Of hose company No. Wa!
received and accepted.
; The bill of Joe Weiland for $S2.S'
; due on uniforms OF former patrolmer
who are no LONGER in the employ o.
the city, was presented for the second
time. II had already been ordered
paid, but the comptroller referred f