The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-06
WANT MAYOR TRIED.
BROUGHT AGAINST
COLUMBIA EXECUTIVE.
Large Crowd of Columbia Citizens
Adopt Resolutions Asking That Grif-
filth be Tried for DisOrderly Con-,
duct-PersOns Chief Speaker at
Meeting-Says Mayor Remittetl
fines.


Mayor l.. A. Griffith and that he be
tried before the city recorder and that
a special meeting of city council be
called to have public investigation of
the charges against the mayor were
unanimously adopted by over 1900
citizens % Columbia in mass meeting
tonight in the Richland county court
house. The resolutions follow:
Resolved, That the chief Of police
of this city be requested to forthwith
lodge against DR.. l.. A. Griffith a
charge of disorderly conduct and to
forthwith summon before the recorder
and place under bond for their ap-
pearance all those, whether women or
men, and regardless of their official
position, who were present at or
knew anything Of his conduct or be-
havior, on the night of Saturday, the
18th day of September. A. d. 1915, at
the house of, Lille Moore, and that
such case be given speedy hearing,
and that the attendance Of all Witness
es be compelled to the end that there,
may be thorough investigation of the.
charges"
Resolved. That a committee ap-i
pointed by the chairman be requested
to forthwith wait upon the city coun-
Gil and request that body to forthwith
call and hold a public meeting for the
purpose of investigating fully the ru-..
mors and charges against the mayor,
OF this city and to ascertain and de-
termine whether or not the position of
the head of the police department,
should be taken out of his hands and
control and reassigned by a vote of
said council to some member thereof.
And also to ascertain and determine
whether the power to pardon and re-
NIT fines, if it has been heretofore
lodged with the mayor. should be re-
voked or reassigned. And also that
the said city council ascertain wheth
er or not the police department has
failed to docket any charges against
officers Of the city for disorderly con-
duct, when such charges would have
been made against other citizens un-
der similar circumstances.
The mass meeting tonight was in
response to circulars distributed by r.
j. Persons. Before the hour for it to
begin the court house was packed and
scores stood outside unable to gain adj
mittance. d. w. Robinson was chosen
chairman after few preliminary re-
marks by Mr.. Persons. The crowd
packed the aisles of the court house
and every available space, stood on
backs Of benches and lined along the
walls.
Mr.. Persons read affidavits from
Charles Davis and l.. l.. Bonner sup
porting the alleged che rge against the
mayor. Mr.. Persons said he tried
to get meeting Of city council on this
matter, but had failed and he called
on the citizens of Columbia to take
prompt action. He stated that he was
concerned only with the official con-
duct of the officers, and the citizens
had right to discharge them if they
failed in their city.
Charges that the mayor had remit
ted $1,24S.70 in fines in 1914, and S644
in fines in 1915 were also made by Mr..
Persons. lie said that Chief of Po-
lice Richardson was a good officer and
would make good chief Of police If
rid Of the control of Mayor Griffith.
When the first resolution was in
troduced motion was made to table
it. but this was lost by mighty
volume of noes" and the resolutions
were then adopted without a dissent
ing vote.
Mr.. Persons said he had the name
or every man who was present on the
night the alleged charge took place.
and he was ready to furnish them. He
said also that he had tried to get at
where he turned he ran up against OBJ
stacles and was thwarted. He said the
citizens of Columbia could demand
that everything be brought to light.
Mr.. Persons stated that several peo-
pie wanted to give testimony, but were
afraid to do so on account Of fear Of
the police, and specially charged Capt.
of Police Irby with telling woman
VINO wanted to give testimony that "if
she opened her mouth he would run
her out of the city" Capt. Irby, who
was standing in the audience, prompt
ly said: Il deny that statement. zen
tlemen."
The meeting was rather quiet, and