National Republican., 1882-12-28
rIIIs LOOKS LIKE BUSINESS.

Investigation OF the Charges Against the
Detectives TO be Commenced To-day by
Commissioner West.
1t was stated in yesterdays REPUBLICAN
that the committee of citizens who have been
SO diligently at work investigating the
charges made against the members of the de-
tcctivc force by the two monte men, OLealy
and Murphy, had about reached that point
when definite action would be taken and the
truth or falsity of the accusations which have
been made against nearly every member of
the force be shown. That this statement was
justified may be seen from the following let
ter which was sent by the chairman of the
citizens committee TO the commissioners yes
tcrday.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. &C. 1sS2-BoARD OF Cow.
M1SsioNERs, DISTRICT OF CoLuMBGA--Gtnhemen In
response TO your letter of December 49, 1882, in
closing an extract from the minutes of the board,
] am directed by the citizens committee to express
TO you their sincere thanks, not only for the cour
tesy exhibited to them, but especially for the CRATE
fu assurance that the board Of commissioners will
deal promptly with the subject of the misconduct
OF the detective force. | am furherlinstTucted to
furnish TO you the accompanying memorandum
No. which think will be found to ocontain very
full information. with the names of all necessary
witnesses to establish as gross case OF criminal
misconduct in Office by the detectives as can well
be conceived of. Very respectfully,
u.
Chairman Citizens Committee
Memorandum No. !" which accompanied
the above letter, submits the outlines of a
case against some of the detectives, and
gives the names of tho witnesses who can be
relied upon to prove the charge.
The commissioners held an extended ses-
sion in the afternoon upon the subject of the
letter and the case submitted with il, and
their conference resulted i'll the issuing of the
following orders:
ORDERED, Thnt Commissioner West be directed
20 make Investigation of the matters submitted TO
the board this day by John W. Thompson, chair
man of the citizens committee relating to the ac-
tion ofcertain members of the detective force.
Ordered, That when accusations against men,
hers Of tho metropolitan police of the District of
Columbia are made TO the commissioners, which
in their judgment shall require investigation pre-
)minary to the preterring of charges and hear:
jng of the officer accused, commissioner shall
be designated TO conduct such investigation, sub
pUnas attested in the name of the president of
the board shall be issued to compel before the
commissioner so designated the attendance of
Witnesses, and such witnesses shall be examined
by him in pursuance of the powers conferred by
section 1872 of the revised statutes of heDistrict of
Columbia.
Commissioner West, it will be seen, has by
these orders been granted full powers of in
vcstigation in this matter, which are about
equal to those possessed by grand jury, and
1t is his determination to probe this affair to
The very bottom. SubpGnas were sent out
last night to the persons named in Mr..
Thompson's memorandum, and Others to at
tend at the Office of the commissioners this
afternoon at o'clock, at which time the in
vestigation will commence.