The Ottawa free trader., 1878-02-23

The report OF the committee appointed by the
city council to investigate the police wa,
presented on last Tuesday evening at special
meeting of that body. As was TO he expected
after the testimony was heard, the committee
completely cXoneratcd the police, reporting that
they had no cause for belief in their general
'unfaithfulness, negligence or inetlicicncy." The
report covers all the charges made by the triligM
and other testimony let in going beyond the prn
ted charges, ''n order" rs the committee say
''that they might il possible ascertain the truth
Of the charge of general inetiicicncy and incom-
potency. But having carefully examined all the
evidence offered, we are unable to find where our
police force have been unfathful, or negligent,
or generally inefficient in the discharge Of their
sworn duty" They add:
gThe number of our police force to cover a city
of this size, is simply absurd, and is not to be
compared with any city in the state with the
same population and territory. Still We think
the number Of arrests in proportion to the force
will compare with any town in the country.
ave give their report below for the past mum.
ciple year, and leave the matter with yOu-a ma.
iority of you having heard all the testimony-to
take such action in the premises rs you may
deem proper
CITY MARsHAL's REPORT.
NO. Oh uTTtels Uldtt D.. lbD
No. tramps taken charge of and shipped off,. 200
No. sent to the pcnltentiary y................. .
No. sent to the reform school ol.............. |
No turned over to Canadian authorities. ..
Amount of fines collected and deposited with
city treasurer. ........ ...........,...... va
The report of the committee includes testimo
ny taken in the "Wilson case" Wilson, 1t will
be remembered, was arrested as u yagrant and
then taken by Rordan to Joliet rs an escaped
convict Riordan believed on the start that he
was a convict and intended to have him photo.
graphed for identification; but meantime Nat.
finger and the aior had found out by the fellow ;
confession that he was one, and were anxious to
yet him away. The prisoner had 4 watch and
other property which he said he would give them
if they got him back to Joliet. But Riordan
wouldn't give him up, thus beating these wor.
thies out Of the reward and the watch, etc Ne,
cay said, when he found out that Rordan had
found them out that 'all was up and "Nattinger
will be as mad Is he'll when he finds this OUT And,
sure enough, Nat was 'mad as hcl'-hc's still
so; and this seems to be the secret OF his lunacy
on the subject of police.
As to Mats. attempts at ovCrhauling Us on the
subject we have only to say that readers Of the
FREE TRADER know that W hen we have thought
II necessary to stir up the police, We have
not hestatcd to do so, and we tlattcr ourselves
that it onit takes one dose from the FRgE IRA.
DER, when II Is Necessary, to remedy the evil--lt
did so when last We fclt rallcd upon to ask for
reform. The present fun is f55lisI'ucss complete
and undehled, and is but II thin-tcry tlin--at-
tempt on the part of Ed. to make little capi,al
out Of or to take revenge for the failure Of Il
scheme in which his nose had no business, against
innocent parties whOl We believe are trying to
do their whole duty