, 1873-08-03
Decision of Mayor Medill in
tie Sheridan-W Washburn
I1nbroglio.
The Former Roproved, and the
Latter Roprimanded,
an Ablo Review OF tho Law and
the Facts.
6hcrllan Growls, md Threatens to
Appeal TO the Council.

clair. Only Commissioner Sheridan Was proB-
pns. Aftor soycrnl applications for sn1oon H.
censoa had beon passed. upon, the Mayors socro-
tary cn1ne into tho room n1ll hnndou fornlldnbo
tuoking document to tho rreadont snying, ut tho
snno me that 1t was from Ills Honor tho Mayor.
Tho President looked at tho Bllporacriptton Oh
tho envelope, turned it over, and seemed to at
tempt to ascertain its weight. Sheridan looked
ut him and suggested that tho envelope be
oponotl, nni tho communication read. Tho
prosllont said ho Ind an idoa wlat 1t was about,
but III tho abBcnco Of Commissioner Wright did
not like to satisfy Marks curiosity. Ho according
" cclted up tho package in hiB drawer aud keptit
there until Commissioner Wright came In. which
was about d quarter Of Q o'clock. When the rep
reBentatiro of tho North Side WAS seated, tho
document was taken out Of tho drawer, and a
glance ut it showing that it was tho Mayors do
cisiou in tho sherilan-W Washbum controversy,
motion to place it Oil lilo was agreed to. Com
missioner Sheridan desired to hear it rend, and
tho Secretary complied. The decision is as fol-
lows:
10 tic BOARD Of Police Con.mfasiontrs:
Marlt Sheridan, Foco Commissioner, " AEr. Elmer
Nasburn, Superintendent Of Police, III which tho for
rrefcrH charges aganBt tho lattor nu tho
caso very complex and rcousar, uu difficult Of satts
facory solution brief sateont Of IL as presented
before mo Will Shows
ou ths q2d uit. roccivcd communication from
Commissioner Sheridan. dAtod July 49, 1879 charging
sups. washburn with conduct towards hint In the pres
gcptema,l and rcc!ting t,o alleged oensiyu wOrtla
auu gestusca On tho Bamo day received con,nuni-
"protcstiny ugainst any suspension Of tho supcrin
tcndeut, they believed that an OF
te M na e gcns
aa!o tho .sresueetfui language by tho supor'ntena-
,fo,ra ,f,oru ri
esry 10 GO into MI investigation Of tho affair to
Accordingly AGO din " cited the rolieo com,nssioners md
Superintendent 70 appear at tho Mayors office at p
NJ Of .hs 2S. ' TO- tsaif IN n h9 t case s1ney
connected With lha affair wAa 1iad Abio counsel 1cB-
tos,ed and crosA.qucstionca ;ho rrincipaH, he Com
a.anesb nho wero present during the bitter recrm!-
a.tos md v"pora!ve retorts which passed between
the Commissioner md Superintendent The i9s hGst
wga 80 grsat Is almost to y, ohlitsrate tho tio
IT @ ETY. we osp sp Il ir n t9 Who S @ara nuS o1 lS
10 relate than tltsjoinied fragments Of It, Taking
the Whole ev!de'sce together, mn Impressed VIII thn
tile motives of tho Superintendent on tho part OF tho
Commissioner werothu chicf causes Of tho subsequent
not prepared 6oeve ta ttno Commissioner w,llfuy
purrole Of breeding ;ouist with ths Super
To- 10 / believe that the Superintendent aot
aside Tho irregular suspension OF IatrolMnn Iralhur
for The pllrose of in.ng tho Commissioner or pro-
voking quarrel With ht's. And yet u IL difficult to
couee!ys why the Commissioner wlo with !,s several m
law and rifles oytrnsn Tho police force, undertook to
suspend ratronsl III lorsol. ignoring thu supcriu-
rxi wts Wsrs ma or
against the oltcer copIaiue Of, ~ tile lnW plainly re"
qnirca.
mia fnnctions ,1as'rre ala rolicen;n s,tepcndea IN
manner ut variance with tho law Hnd rules, had ho
1orepoao his 'sa rsht TO ignore Sueh a,,spensicn,
afternoon, the Bubsequent dsgrnccfHl scenes woNld
have been avos.lcl. regret tis coree was not pur-
rights, it i, sometimes best not strictly 10 assprt
them On t.s ,'" aga!nst superior officer.
hars s' hp Inrrst between at tue a. ooe sa
ant; but a. no ct the investigation. claimed =; ,'
In s,1sreMtllng o1irer Treor heforo written chnrgca
uner oath wfe lcrrud "Eainst The officer, and that
rertntrrient, " nuly him iii writing Or nle writ
ten notice Of to act with tho Secretary OF tie Board
tsr s Ills sai on Tue art Of tho h. e1
suspension ot police oicer. Tic law, to my nppro-
ho st Il aa ssSaa tho charter
Chap 10, Sec o provides, IN relation to complaints
with view 10 tho trial and Suspension or removal
from olco Of any officer or policeman Of the police
@ On Da ~ w" ssfer Fl sfS H. Tue
mud competency affecting tho acts, conduct, Or
o,iihsons Of such officer Or locoan or for violation h
Of or misconduct as defined and described by tho
rules and regulations Of the Hoard"
Tho act of Fob. II, 1865, Sec. 10, further amending
polite force saii 10 renewed thcrofso,, ezcopt upon
teren chArgcs preferred ngaiat linn to tho poard Of
s pd @ a1r ~ 9o;y s +; M sla s1nso snso pes @ e. e.
nasr Of po'co sla1 have power to suspend any mem
ierof tho roilcs Department Of tho city, pcndng tho
Under this section thu whole Doard cond not s,,s-
pcud officer until written charges FIRST prefer.
ons act Of 1869 rcquires citizen 10 reduce lie
charges to writing and vurify them BY oath, before
The board as authority to ores tho asleaslon Of W
officer Ut the police force. That section IL atlll III full
Tho act Of March TO- 1869, which farther n,ucn,l.
ths Hoard Il pol:e. for n1y sols:on Of tns puict
Or paroin,an uron ths regular rolco iorse, upon
.<..ts lts own kso%lsaEo or npon, H., 11fut" III
81 tue ote ~ ha @ ueaf ey .ero' '
u tho act provides that during tim pending
charges against any police oiheer or ratrolnan noi
The police force, tho Hnnrl Of Police my member
said luarl niay suspend from duty a.y hs:h officer
patronnn until such clahrgea GAIA be examined by TN
Hoard Of Police" WIat charges hero referred to
h!4frsty thoEo which may uo preferred by the snper
tcintn, in writing, prescribed in Becton oi III
s 81 asGg Or ho earges nTeerfed aso y eze
ac, Of 1861 ln neither Gaze can policeman 10 ats
pended md his star taken from him IN verbal con,
iul Ito law authorizing tho uonyd, member of It, t.
s,lSEena m officer except upon Thy written and sworl
Superintendent or Acting superintendent. Al al
te,l1,t to suspend policeman, " Commissioner Q
the hoard Ut fCo'nissonrra, wlrro no written chnrge
rrnerrc1, IL III Of t.eir power and there
fore. null mud yoid. Whatever authority tlo lIoars
any member posseaseH, Il derived fron tho law. Al
forge nr cfleel.
It must be obvious that It would he mn ckcccdIng1
dangerous power to yest In 4 ningle me1i
fsn~ rff5tf I