Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-04-15
CITY COUNCIL ACTS
IN POLICE MATTER
CHARGE THAT PRISONERS WERE
HELD "INCOMMUNICADO."
Jim Dwyer Made City Marshal and
Ten Special Policemen Appointed.
Committee of Citizens to See that
Prisoners Have Right of Counsel.

| IN Oruer 10 take steps 10 meet the
police situation, Mayor A. B. Cole
Saturday afternoon called a special
session of the city council Mr.. Cole
after calling the meeting to order
| gave as a reason what he termed the
tense situation The mayor said
| that he had been informed that six
or seven police officers had been
lodged in the county Jail. While he
has the privilege of appointing Of
ficers, to take their place, he would
like to have the opinion Of the coun-
Gil and the citizens before appointing
any officers to replace those who
were temporarily removed from duty.
Mr.. Crixell stated that he had en-
| ployed attorneys for the defense of
some of the officers in Jail and that
| the attorneys had been refused ad-
mittance to the JAIL The speaker
| further stated that Dr. Loew, Joe
CriXell's family physician, had been
refused admission when he went in
his capacity Of physician and asked
TO see the city marshal.
Mr.. CriXell moved that the mayor
or the police committee be instructed
! to appoint officers to fill the vacan-
cies left by the placing of the police
/ force in the county iail
Alderman Blackshear asked the
city attorney to advise the council
what action it should take in the
matter. Mr. Kinder said that he
could not attempt to advise the coun-
Gil what to do, but that he could give
them the law. The city attorney did
state, however, that he was not in
favor of appointing large force of
armed men or Of calling out the
militia. Mr. Kinder said that he
would oppose this as a citizen Of
Brownsville.
DR.. H. X. Loew, who was present,
was asked to relate the circum-
stances Of his visit to the county Jail
to see City Marshal Crixell.
DR. Loew said that he had been
informed by " L. Crixell that his
brother had been arrested and had
been requested by Mr. Crixell to visit
him. Upon his arrival at the jail
DR.. LOew said that he had been met
by an assistant jailer and had been
told that he would not be permitted
to see his patient. DR.. Loew said
that he then asked for the jailer and
had been told that the jailer was
not in, but that Pat Haley was The
Doctor then stated that he had asked
to have Mr.. Hpley called and that
NJ. Sanchez a jailer, had come tc
the gate and refused him admission
The Doctor says that he then asked
if Mr.. Crixell was being held in
, communicate and had received a
I reply that, while he would not use
that word" that he (the doctor)
could not see him. The doctor
; further stated that he had not been
able to even get inside the gste.
R. E. Holland, when asked for al
expression, said that he had nothing
TO say, but that he had been three
times refused admission to see the
men he was to defend
Judge Hawkins who said that ht
was present at the invitation of the
mayor, sized the situation tina
American citizens were being helC
practically incommunicado. Judgt
Hawkins said that under the law nj
man could be denied the right o
!, counsel and that any officer guilt.
Of such an act ought to be summaril!
removed from office. Judge Hawkin
said he understood there were o1l,
two men for active duty for the mex
twenty-four hours. He was informei
that there were eight or nine specia
or supernumerary officers and tha
there were three or four Of thes
employed by corporations.
Mr.. Cole said that he was Of tn
! opinion that things should be car
|. ried on quietly, and suggested tina
the council should select a commit
tee of its own choosing to take u
the matter with the sheriff and hi
deputies.
j T. A. Kinder, city attorney, sal
that Captain Fox and his men wer
good officers and that if the counc
would furnish them with list (
the men in the city with authority |
!, carry a gun, he would promise in tn
name of Captain Fox, that only al
thorized men would be permitted
carry weapons.
Mr. Cole said that was very ia
proposition but that they only ha
two men with authority TO carr