Wednesday, 12th November 1913: Objected To Shaving Fellow Policeman, The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta Constitution,
Wednesday, 12th November 1913,
PAGE 3, COLUMN 3.
The board of police commissioners was
thrown into whispered speculation last night when Chief James L. Beavers and
Mayor Woodward, for the first time since the Beavers administration, agreed
upon any one matter of consequence.
This agreement came on a motion to deny the application of
ex-Policeman George H. Spratling for reinstatement upon the force. Spratling,
exactly one year ago, had resigned from the force under charges which had been
preferred against him before the commission by Chief Beavers.
The charges grew out of an alleged visit the ex-policeman had
made to the home of a woman, where, it was claimed by police officials, he had
met her without the knowledge of her husband. When charges were preferred
before the commission, it was stated last night, Spratling resigned to take a
position as railroad detective with a local railway.
When his application was read before
the commission Tuesday night, a strong fight was made to refuse it by Chief
Beavers Mayor Woodward agreed with the chief. The board tabled the application
because of the two-year limit imposed upon all policemen who are either
discharged from the force or who resign under charges.
Revelations of police conditions were
made last night at the meeting of the board of police commissioners when
Policemen Snead and Jamieson were arraigned on charges of conduct unbecoming an
officer, it being claimed they had failed to patrol their beats properly.
Chiefly, Officer Snead declared that he
strenuously objected to cutting the hair and shaving the whiskers of his
policeman-partner while they were on duty. Not only that, but he protested
against the use of the implements of a negro barber shop in said performances.
Snead was a tonsorial artist before
joining the force. He stated before the commissioners that Jamieson had
requested him at numerous times to take him into a negro barber shop on their
beat in West End and give him a shave and haircut.
Snead also testified that on many
occasions Policeman Jamieson had invaded a negro pressing club to which he had
access and had cooked his breakfast therein when the mornings were so cold and
chilly that a warmed-over meal was comforting. Then, he likewise told of alleged
instances where he had remained with Jamieson while Jamieson slept on wintry
nights within the cozy confines of a West End business establishment.
Police Sergeant Luck declared that one
bicycle officer of his rank was forced to patrol the residential section alone,
and that it was impossible to be able to ascertain at all times whether or not
certain men were asleep on their beats.
The board
dismissed the charges against Jamieson, but Chief Beavers was ordered to
reprimand Snead for his conduct.
DEMOCRATS
LOSE OUT
AT WESLEY
MEMORIAL
The annual election of officers at the
Wesley Memorial Sunday school class was held last night in the clubroom at the
Wesley Memorial church. The choice of three parties was given on the printed
ballots. Democrats, it seems, are falling into disrepute, for there was not a
single vote cast for a democratic nominee. The socialists and bull moosers had
it all their own way. The following officers were elected:
President, R.
J. Pearson, socialist; vice president, W. A. Thomas, bull moose; secretary, H.
Sandiford, bull moose; treasurer, B. S. Sherman, bull moose; press reporter,
Vernon Frank, socialist; librarian, Wilbur Tablor, socialist; teacher, J. T.
Rowe, socialist; assistant teacher, H. H. Harris, socialist.
Reporters Examine Policemen.
The board of police commissioners at the regular meeting last
night appointed Britt Craig, of the Constitution; Claude Nealy, of the
Georgian, and Bert Clark, of The Journal, as the board to examine applicants
for entrance to the Atlanta police department.
PAGE 11, COLUMN 4
CASE
OF JIM CONELY
MAY COME UP TODAY
Jim Conely, the negro factory sweeper
whose testimony was largely responsible for the conviction of Leo M. Frank, on
the charge of having murdered Mary Phagan, will probably be arraigned for
sentence in the criminal branch of the superior court today. On account of
court business, the negro was not brought from the Tower on Tuesday, Solicitor
General Dorsey explaining that the criminal docket was too heavy during the day
to admit Conleys case.