, 1916-05-06

pened to be an eyewitness TO the occurrence
that occasi0ned bis discharge The Govern
ment was not an. eyewitness. L should like
to give the Council a report OF What hap
pened.
There was a great crowd gathered before
the British Vice. Consulate. The Govern
ment had refused to allow he captain OF the
vessel which had come into the harbour that
morning to lake away the labourefs, to take
as many passengers as he wanted; though on
former occasions ia st. Thomas no objection
had been made by Government ag@'Est the
same vessel taking as many passengers on
board as the captain liked.
The people who already had taken out
their passports had been to the Pollce-
master to demand back the money PAID Tor
the passports, but the P~oIlcemHster bad re-
fused to do so.
The people had now gathered at the Brit
ash Vice-ConsluIate The Pollcemaster, the
head policeman and several policemen,amon9
them Jackson, were present.
[ was there about half an hour and the
P~oiicemaster informed me, that as long as
the people had q few Delegates inside with
The British V.ce-Consul, waiting an answer,
lie would not clear the street as long rs the
Consulate was open.
| went to my house and stood on my gal
lery and Of what now happened, could not
hear much but could only see 1t, as every
one knows my house is the next house after
the British Vice-Consulate and from my gal
lery | had a view of what was gong on III
the street and under the gallery OF the BfIt-
ish Vrce"Consuiate.
The P@olicemaster had gone apparently to
Government House after | hat left him.
whom he came buck, he ordered the street to
ol-..1 -l:oI ,,nII In AGlh from tha
manner in which he spread out his arms.
jackson commenced to clear the gallery OF
the British V.ce-Consu}ate and the people
moved off except one man who renamed
standing leaning against one OF the posts.
When Jackson had cleared the gallery.
| saw him return to the man and heard
him say: Why don't you move? Did you
not hear | told you to move ?-Ihe man
thom commenced slowly to move.
At the same time [ saw the Captain of the
Gendarmery Corps come round the corner OF
the street and walk up to jackson. Ot what
took place between them [ have only jack
sons words as he has reported them to me.
The Captain said to him: DO you allow
the negroes to disobey the Police? You
should have torn the man down.
70 which Jackson answered: Captain, |
a2n not here to make disturbance, but to re-
store order.
The P%olicemaster came up and told jack
son to stop, but as these people are, he re-
peated what he had said and first stopped
when the Policemaster again ordered hum to
shut his mouth.
The Captain of the Gendarmes went to
Government House and shortly after the
Policemaster went the same way. When he
came back he called the police-sergeant and
Jackson, who was standing near the corner
at Danish School, and Jackson was discharg-
ed on the spot.
I consider this a very strange procedure.
I hear it is said, that Jackson should have
said to the people: CAN you move on, you
know | am on your side. But this Jackson
has denied to me and no elucidatlon can be
had who so informed the Pollcemoster. But
if the man has done anything wrong, why
can we not get an Investigation
Jackson is able yet TO do good work. L
proposed in the Municipal Committee to give
him the new post as policeman to be estub-
lished for the purpose of experimenting san
itary conditions, it would save the Treasury
for a pension. Six polIcemasters whom |
know personally have spoken highly about
jackson, he was never tired always ready
day and night.
He has in his long service never been sick
I'M NJ