Wednesday, 12th November 1913: Objected To Shaving Fellow Policeman, The Atlanta Constitution

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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.