Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-08-04
COMMISSIONERS MEET
TO HEAR CHARGES
Officer J. R. Baird Exonerated By
Mass Meeting Held in Audito-
rum Monday. Commiss-
toner's Unanimously
Concur
NONE OF SERIOUS CHARGES PROVEN

NONE OF SERIOUS CHARGES PROVEN
One of the largest crowds the
Graded School Auditorium has
yet held gathered on last Monday
evening to hear the presentation
of evidence against the town
officials in general and Chief ].
R. Baird in particular in the at
tempt to substantiate some Of
the sensational charges made by
Rev. J. W. Ham, who has been
conducting a tent revival here
for some weeks.
The first request of the Board
Of Town Commissioners that Mr..
Ham present the evidence on
which his charges that Officer
Baird was "cognizant of and in
sympathy with the gamblers Of
the community" were based,
was refused by Mr.. Ham on the
ground that he did not have evi-
dence which would stand in court.
Later, after making renewed
charges, and being again solicit
ed by the Board of Commits
sioners for evidence sustaining
such charges, Mr.. Ham agreed
to have the evidence presented
before the Board although still
refusing to appear personally.
In view of the intense excite
ment and partisanry developed
in the community over the alter
cation between the church and
the,law as exemplified in Minister
Ham and Officer Baird, police
were detailed for duty in the
Auditorium and held in readiness
o.quell any personal alterations
which might arise between over
heated disputants.
The proceedings were opened
by J. T. Chase, as Chairman of
the Board of Commissioners,
briefly stating the object of the
mass meeting of the citizenry,
and announcing that the COM
missioners were ready to hear
charges as to any violations of
law committed in Roanoke Rap
ids by any person or persons
whomsoever.
Mr.. Chase stated that charges
to be substantiated must be
presented in a manner to conform
to the rules of evidence in
ordinary judicial procedure; that
the Board could not act on un-
substantiated. hearsay evidence,
but stood ready to enforce the
law and cause warrants to be
issued against anyone transgress-
ing the laws in any particular.
R. M. James thereupon read a
list of the charges brought
against Chief of Police J. R.
Baird, and charged, as being
of his own personal knowledge,
that Mr.. Baird was delinquent in
making arrests for violation of
the automobile speed law; that
Baird had not, after complaint
had been made, effected the clos
ing of. W. Lynch's barber shop
on Sunday; and that he had seen
Chief Baird on the streets of
Roanoke Rapids when he had
whiskey in him"
j. L. Daughtry stated he had
taken drinks with Chief Baird.
On examination did not remem-
ber ever having seen Baird drunk
on duty, This witness also
stated he had seen Baird with
whiskey, in the presence of a
minor, which was denied by two
of the alleged witnesses.
H. G. Mcdonald stated he had
never taken a drink with Chief
Baird and the statement was
made by those bringing charges
that Mr.. McDonald's name had
been listed through mistake.
G. R. Jones had taken a drink
with Baird. A., ]. Thompson
had drank with Baird. Neither
had ever seen him drunk.
No evidence was brought
forward to sustain the charges
that gambling occurred in the
Club over the postoffice. Various
witnesses testified that only set
hack was played, and that
purely for amusement. After dis
cussion by adherents of both
sides, a motion to adjourn the
meeting, put by Hon. W. L.
Long at the conclusion of an
impassioned address in defense