The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-07
Police Commission Re-
sends Rules to Give
Bolton a Job.
IGNORED NAMES
ON ELIGIBLE LIST
Former Detective-Sergeant Put
On as Patrolman Over Score Of
Applicants Who Had Passed
Examination-Sowell Sue
ceeds Barfoot-Way-
mack Sergeant.

After resembling the rules hereto
fore followed with the strictest OBJ
seryance and with entire disregard Of
the eighteen or twenty eligiblcs. some
or whom have been listed two years
or more. the Board of Police Commits
sioners yesterday elected L. A. Bolton
patrolman. Bolton. who was not
an applicant was dismissed ton months
ago on q charge of drunkenness and
conduct unbecoming gentleman. He
was elected by vote or to Q. Com
missioners Goodc. Boykin. Mccarthy.
Bradley ard We'll voted for him, and
Commissioners Thomas. Parker and
Gordon voted against.
Oppose Him on Principle.
The last three commissioners, who
were interviewed afterwards, said that
They voted against Bolton on principle,
because they believed his rcappoint-
ment would tend TO weaken discipline
and disrupt tho force. They voted ,or
his dismissal. when, az detective
sergeant. Belton came up for trial on
aggravated charges. and said that they
could not conscientiously vote to put
him back on the force.
Belton was dismissed by a vote OF
TO g. Commissioner Bradley voted
for the dismissal Commissioner Boy
kin was not present at the trial. lie
had no application before the board
yesterday. lie lis beyond the age
limit. is under the prescribed height.
and, therefore, could not have stood
the rigid tests which the board some
years ago adopted as an examination
for applicants Bolton was elected TO
fill the vacancy caused by the death or
Captain Bnrfoot.
Cited Jacobinl Precedent.
Those who voted for Belton yester-
day cited as a precedent Tor the action
OF the commission the occasion of
: The election OF Policeman Jacobini
who, though he failed to come up TO
the height standard, was elected be-
was, therefore, better able to serve
tho interests OF the department in
some branches of criminal work.
Belton was dismissed ten months ago
after serious charges against his Of
fetal conduct had been brought and
proved. He became violently intoxi
Gated while bringing n prisoner back
from Norfolk, and became disorder
~ that the captain II tha Old Domin
!on steamship on which he and his
prisoner We're passengers, threatened
TO put him in irons Before the trip
was ended. the officer was in the care
of his prisoner. "ho brought him safe
~ 10 Richmond
Refused to Open Doors.
Opposition to Beltons election was
strenuous. and the argument was said
10 have been long and heated Just
before the elections were gone into,
Commissioners Parker asked TO amend
a resolution by permitting the press to
enter the board room. He was de-
clared out OF order At the time. Just
before adjournment, he offered a reso-
luton that the press should be allowed
AT board meetings generally. II was
defeated, Commissioner Well, who
soon after his election to the board
offered similar resolution. voting
against Commi missioner Parker's motion.
commi ssioners Thomas and Gordon
voted with Commissioner Parker TO
admit the press
The board decided TO hold an exam
ination for other applicants to the
force on March 10, and resolution
was passed TO ask the Council to in
crease the force by twenty-five men.
Sovcii Elected Captain.
Sergeant r. Il. Sowell, OF the First
District, was unanimously elected cap
tain in the place OF Captain Barfoot.
Patrolmnn w T. Waymack of the
Third District. was elected sergeant.
Sergeant j. w. Sheppard was appoint
ed desk sergeant, in place of Sergeant
Sowell, promoted.
Sergeant Sowell is one of the best
known and most popular mon on tho
force, and his promotion pleased the
entire department. He was born on
April ., 1866, and was appointed on
the force on January z. 1892. and re-
ceived his promotion as sergeant on
December l6. 1901. being one of the
oldest sergeants in point OF service.
Waymaclt has been on the force eleven
years. He Is one of the younger men
Of the department, and has acquitted
himself notably in several cases, sew
eral times having been detailed to
special duty at headquarters
New Ordinances Urged.
The board adopted resolution ask
ing the City Council to pass an ordi-
nance requiring all vehicles to carry
both front and rear lights at night, and
to pass an ordinance prohibiting
vehicles from driving through funeral
professions.
The board also decided to establish
tho position OF itinerant traffic officers,
whose duty IL shall be to move from
point to point, and see that the traffic
laws observed. and to arrest all
yiolators. He will wear plain clothes.
Commissioners Gordon and Boykin
were appointed a committee to tLaw
up. and record suitable resolutions on
the death of Captain Barfoot.