Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-06
aside his book and the clerk read the fol.
lowing
RESOLUTIONS:

lice, to authorize said committee to enter
upcn trial Of any officer Of this city with
outproper charges and specifications against
I the officer having been first presented to
Council and properly referred; therefore,
beIt
RsSOlrsd, That the Committee on Police
be and are hereby directed to proceed in
the investigation Of definite charges refer
red to them alone, and they are forbidden
| TO incur expense in any other investigation,
the same being unauthorized, it being the
opinion of the Council that every officer is
entitled to have notice Of charges against
them before he can be put upon trial,
and that any other course is
simply persecution, and that
there have been no definite charges preferred
ss yet against any officer except Officer
Jsmes Burns. If the committee are satis-
he'd that 06ieer Burns has resigned from
the police force. they are hereby instructed
to report that fact 70 Council and close any
further proceedings under the reference OF
the Mayors communication to them, their
duties having been performed.
The DISCUSSION.
The C, air-You have heard the resolu.
ton. What is the pleasure of Council2
Mr.. Pickett move its adoption.
Mr.. Gruse-Mr. President, that resolu-
ton is offered in good faith, and hope ii
will be adopted in the interest Of every city
! ofhciaL The Committee on Police has in.
vestigsted the definite charges referred to
it Anything further would be unfair and
unCbaritsble.
Mr.. Jssgar-I ask that the Mayors com
munication and the resolution OF Council
be read.
They were accordingly read BY the Clerk,
as heretofore published.
The Chair-Thst is the resolution under
which the committee has been acting.
Mr.. Picket-From that resolution | infer
that chsrges we're presented against Officer
Burns, but there DO not seem to be any such
charges sgaiBst say o:her officer. notice
that rule 46 says
Rule 46.-Chsrg=s against any officer
Ct the CRY shsll BE- preferred in writing aud
verified by affidavit, and having been read,
shall be laid on the table or referred to
committee of investigation without de-
bate
II these charges have not been presented
II NAlLALE au0 ECh0 UCAOEC SOuhS4Al NA0lu
that q committee is not warranted in taking
sIy account Of them.
The Chsir-I call your attention to sec
ton ofthe ordinance in relation to Mayor,
page $50 Of the printed ordinance book
Mr. Piekett-That is the same thing ex-
aetly. 1t reads:
"Sec 6.-The Mayor shall supervise the
conduct Of all the officers of the city, exam.
Inc the grounds of all reasonable complaints
made against any Of them and cause all
their violations Of duty to De promptly pun-
ishsd and reported to Council"
Now, Mr.. President, in view of that
fact, the murderer with blood on MS hands
is confronted every time with his accusers,
and the murderer, even when openly &C.
cused, is given
FAIR HEARING
II tie Mayor is acting in good faith; if he
is net acting as psrsecutor, why does be
not submit his charges in proper form and
allow this body to aet2 II the officials Of
this city are to be arraigued upon such Aim'
sy pretexts, almost any man can go to law
less houses, and there have statements
trumped up which Eill warrant him in cast
ing q stain upon any one Bat, if you
bring him before this body g. d with lips upon
the Bible, compel him 10 swear, the charges
will fade away. We should investigate
when we have charges TO investigate, but
this nonsensicsl persecution OF reputable
men ought to stop.
The Chair-Auy other remarks?
Mr.. Hildreth-Hssn't this matter already
been decided? Is this the same Dodge that
was attempted during the Eccles' trial?
Mr.. Picket-It is no dodge.
Mr.. Hlldreth-Is anybody atrsld2 Why
this codge? ! should think Mr.. Porter
Smith should
WELCOME THIS INVESTIGATION.
II is time this nonsensicsl kick should stop.
What reason is there for it2
Mr.. Gruse-I would say that We have the
best Cf reasons.
Mr.. Hsrrell-I am now forty years old,
bUt never before in my life have | heard
OF man being placed on trial in such q
manner. Are we to take the ins and outs
u mans character since childhood, with
ur suy formal charges? How would our
4,r-by Chairman like to be arrsigned be-
fore an investigating committee IN this man
nor without any definite charges, aud have
all RE crookedness brought out By all sorts
cr TeCple? Can he give me one instance
uh..e. in q Court of Justice, man Is sr-
raig ned, witnesses brought in and testimony
allen without his being
CHARGED WITH A CRINE2
Uul-ss here be s specific charge, this Coan-
cll bas r. O right to rake this town over aae
II u,--r- kak.N-a @ IN
yes gazing committee. The charges are
alwsys fret read, yet you, Mr.. Chair n>u,
you'd 1ule that the Mayor is supreme, aud
Gcss not have to bring sfidsvlEs, and that
this sort Of thing must go on.
The Chsir-I so rule.
Nj Picket-Do understand you to rule
hat tie Mayor does not have to make his
charges in proper form aud verified under
cath?
The Chair read rule 46 and stated that
that vas the point, the Mayor being already
under oath.
Mr.. Picket-Can g man go about vile
fouses, and bring stories to Council IN a
miscellaneous manner, without making ah-
Cayits2
The Chsir-I rule that, in the case Of the
Msyoz, sworn statements sre not necessary.
The Mayor can either take the matter to
| Police Court, or can report 1t to Council
| The discussion so far hiss been rather an
srrsignment of the set OF Council in retef-
r;pg the matter 10 the committee. The
question is, rather. has Council the righ! 10
instruct the committee after the oct OF refer
sDce2
Mr.. PIcket-It the Mayor should try 10
bring charges against a man without their
being in proper form would endeavor to
have him
TvPEACuED AND REMOVED
from his high position.
Mr.. Harrell-I think the Mayor has no
right to make sny other than q speei6s
charge. If he Will be specific | su willing
20 20 in for sn investigation. First bring
ycur charges. and then get your evidence.