The daily gazette., 1883-03-09

The Chief of Police Denies All Charge
and Inuendoes aud the Mayor Report
to His Uificial Organ Answers TO tIl'
| .''iazette,S, CatechisiM.
In justice to Chief Hawkins and his mel
present at the ball IN German Hall on Mon
| day night committee has been appointed
| by both the Library Association and thu
Sengerbund to wait upon Mayor Wales thi:
evening and vindicate the officers, who Wert
sent for to quel disturbance. The mana.
gers of the hall assert that neither the
Library Association nor the S@ngerbund
| had anything at all 70 do with the ball, and
regret the affair should have been made
public. Two Germans present at the ball
on Monday state that when the police ar
rived the bar was closed, but the ball con.
morning. The Chief OF Police and two
officers declare that the ball was ended when
they arrived on the scene.
Officer Tucker denies that he refused tc
arrest man as requested The managers
of the ball did not wish any arrests made
as 1t might reflect upon them. Two promL
nent Germans, however, state that one dis
orderly character was taken to the Hall and
released after he had paid fine, the object
being to prevent any account of the affair
getting into the paper.
It is remarkable how quickly the mouths
of those who witness irregularities on the
part Of police become closed just as soon as
the papers take hold of the matter to expose
For three days there were dozens OF men
who were continually talking Of what they
had seen and what had been done, but now
they hardly acknowledge that they are
aware of the existence of police force,
The general excuse offered is: "Well, he's
friend of mine, and don't want to give
him away" Moral eowardice and weak
backbones prevent the contamination of
many needed reforms. Mayor Wales, how
ever, has so far recognized the suggestions
and charges OF the GAZETTE and EOery Egosa
ing as to make an explanation and denial
to reporter of his official organ alone,
which appears to-day as follows:
Mayor Wales stated to a reporter of the
Morning NeacS last evening that he had
questioned Chief of Police Hawkins in re-
ference to the charges of drunkenness
brought against him and that the latter
denied them in toto. The Chief stated to
him that he did not go down to the German
Hall on Monday night until he was sent for
and that when he went down he closed up the
place. In regard to the Bayard Legion ball
the Chief denied positively that he was in
toxicated at that time aud that he compelled
officers to release prisoners whom they had
arrested. He stated that he was about to
arrest man when Colonel William B. Nor
ton und others asked to have him let go, as
the managers of the ball did not want any
disgrace cast upon the ball by having men
arrested. The Mayor pronounces the story
of the tearing up of the warrant for George
Graham by the Chief Of Police sheer fabri-
cation, as the warrant is still in existence
and in force.
The Mayors only complaint Of the Chief
is his reticence and failure to report to him
the derelictiens of the officers at various
times.
Mayor Wales says that there was no op
position to Mr.. Sova's appointment as ser
geant by Chief Hawlxins or any one else
He determined when elected TO appoint hi
force from all the different elements of thu
party, and that he was very glad to appoint
Mr.. Sova upon the recommendations he re
ceived. He also states that Mr.. Sova wal
not picked upon while on the force, and
that he had known for some time that Sova
was derelict In his duty In regard to report
ing his men for inattention to duty.
The Mayor further stated that If any per-
son or persons had. any charges to
make against the Chief of Police or any
member Of the force he desired that they
would present them to him in proper shape,
so that he might act upon them as he had
in the case ofeyery man dismissed.