Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-03
MASS-MEET|NC| IS
CALLED TO PROTEST
Representative Citizens Express
Indignation at Dismissal of
krengel by Police Board.
REFORM FORCES TO ASSIST
Former Alderman Bennett Is
Candidate for Boykin's Seat.
Factions Evenly Balanced.

FdCtlOnS Evenly Balanced.
Representative citizens OF Richmond
meeting to be held at John Marshall
High School next Thursday night, to
protest against tho action Of the Board
OF Police Commissioners in summarily
dismissing Detective Sergeant Fred l..
krcngel from the police force. While
the krcngcl case is not specifically
mentioned in the call. IL is known that
the former officers treatment by the
board VIII be tn" main theme Of dis
cussion
The call is signed by Rev w Russell
Bowie, d. D.; Rev. n. D. =. Maclachlan
d. D.: z. Randolph Williams. Rev. +. r
McFaden. p. d; Or. Charles Y. Car
rington. o. a. Hawkins. r. NJ Kent. Jr,
"yndham r. Meredith. Tazcwell NJ
Carrington Rev. r. Ciagett Skinner.
D. D.. Rev. W. y. Cooper. John
Stewart Bryan and Oliver ]. Sands.
TEXT OF CALL FOR
MAss-MEETINC OF PROTEST
II is as follows:
We, tho undersigned. acting as n
group OF citizens, earnestly urge that
all men and women who desire TO know
the truth In regard TO the present sit
uation Of police control in the city of
Richmond. and 10 take right action in
the light OF that truth. meet in rhc
auditorium Of the John Marshall High
School on the evening of Thursday
October 7. AZ 8 O'Clock.
We gladly recognize that wc whose
names are signed are only "A small frac-
tion Of those in Richmond who are con-
cerned IN this matter. we wish 10 as
sumo no prerogaiive Of special leader
ship, but rather that all who wish TO
see the conditions OF police control In
Richmond improved from their present
status. should meet in frank and
equal mutual conference for mutual
action. We ourselves have called this
meeting simply in order that some
raliyinE poin, might he offered for
public opinion at this rnomcn, when
sentiment in regard TO tho police aIt-
uation is most tense and vital"
DR.. Bowie said last night that others
interested were invitcd-tu -Si erf-ttIe call
and become copatrons OF the mass
meeting. The call was issued In re-
sponse TO a general demand, he said
and IL was probable that "A number OF
well-known men and women would net
as vice presidents.
REFORM AGENCIES WILL.
COOPERATE IN MOVEMENT
The Vice Commission. the Social Ser
vice Federation and the Ministerial
Union will cooperate in the movement
TO make the mass meeting truly repre-
sentative OF the sentiment Of the re-
form forces in Richmond. Each organ
ization VIII hold a meeting early in the
week and the dismissal OF Sergeant
krengcl will be u live topic mt each
session.
Many OF the leading ministers Of the
city will make the recent action OF the
Police Board the theme Of a sermon
either at the morning or evening ser
vice to-day. Several have Indicated
that they proposed TO denounce the
course OF the commissioners in no un-
certain terms. and TO cali upon the
citizens 10 join in the movement TO
protest against the dismissal OF
Krengel.
Police Commissioned ". Douglas
Gordon. who was unable 10 attend the
meeting last Thursday night because
OF his duties as theatrical critic OF
The Times Dispa tch. said last night he
would hold a conference with Commits
sioners Parker and Thomas. who voted
for krengel, within few days No
statement Will be made by any one of
these commissioners until this confer
ence Is held.
FACTIONS ARE NOW
EVENLY BALANCED
The attitude OF Commissioners
Thomas. Gordon and Parker is under
stood to be in accord. With Commits
sioner Boykin retiring, the two factions
in the board viii be evenly divided in
the event further attempts should be
made to discipline" police officers for
their testimony during the vice inves-
tigation. In the event OF n tie. Mayor
Ainslie, as chairman OF the board,
casts the deciding vote.
The resignation of Commissioner
Boykin, one OF those who voted against
Krengel, was fled with City Clerk
August yesterday. and will he acted on
at joint session of the Council next
Friday night.
Commissioner r. ~ Goode referred
inquiries regarding his resignation to
his attorney, Hiram NJ. Smith. The at
torney stated that he had not seen Mr..
Goode since the meeting Of the Council
Tuesday night, and had no knowledge
OF the prospective action of his client.
MIR. Smith added that he considered his
connection with the case ended, the
matter of the resignation being a per-
sonal consideration.
BOYKIN ISSUES
STATEMENT on RESIGNINC;
Commissioner Boykin. upon sending
his resignation to the City Clerk, gave
out tho following statement:
II have just placed my resignation
as member OF the Board of Police
Commissioners from Lee Ward in the
hands OF the City Clerk to be placed
before the Council at its next meeting.
For some time past I have had un-
der consideration ressning from the
board because OF the necessity for my
frequent absence from the city and
other business as we'll as personal rea-
sons but / have deferred this actinn