Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-23
ANOTHER CHARGE
Against Chief of Police Porter
Smith,
Preferred by Chief Dye, OfWashingtOn, D
Cit is Laid on the Table
by the Second
Branch.

The alarm which called the department
to the Hess drug store fire also pretty well
cleared the Council chambers Of members
and spectators, and it was not until 8
o'clock that President Sweeney called the
Second Branch to order. At roll call the
following members responded: Mesrs
Butts, Caldwell, Clator, Crawford, ]. B.,
Crawford, Robt., Delbrugge, Gilleland,
Gruse, Harrell, Healy, Hildreth. Jones,
Miller, Mccoy, Mckinley, Peterson,
Pickett, Scott, Sohraoe, Stanley, Tracy,
YocSler, Weir and Mr.. President-25.
After the reading of the minutes the
regular business OF the evening was taken
co.
CITY CLERK's REPORT
The regular financial statement OF Clerk
Bowers, oeing up to December lsts,
showed balances to the credit OF the vsri-
GUS funds as follows: Board of Public
Works, 81 555.35; Fire Department ST..
$50 So; Health Department, $547 30; Mar
kets. 81 .OS4 80; Police $685. 60; City Pris-
on 1896 O6; Scales, SPA s6; Real Estate,
1857 so; Cemeteries, 1896 80; Salaries,
S6sz 95, Contingent Expenses, 1855 81;
Con promise Loan, 81 59s Is; Loan OF
LII, S. OOe; City Water Board, Sl3,-
644 l3; City Gas Works, Sl2, 1923 "a; STATE
Appropriation, St083.S0; total unexpend
ed money, $82,776 Sc.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
scales-Reported bills sggregatiDg SS4.
O6, which were reported paid
Real E,tste-Reportsd bills sggregating
$3.50 81, which were ordered paid. The
committee ,fered resolution that the
City Solicitor be instructed to draft an or
dinance providing that ell stationery Tor
the use of the city be purchased by con.
tract that proper person be designated
as the custodian Of ssid stationery, and that
no bills for stationery contracted By mem
Der of Council, officers or employees of the
city be paid unless said purchase be su-
thorized by proper committee. Reported
back, with instructions to report recon-
mendipg the appointment Of q Committee
on Supplies.
FurnishiDg-Reported bills sggregating
$5,2S620, as follows: Charles b. Miller.
repairing roof, Zone half bilD $l4249; 6.
Mendel & Co., carpets, lenoleum, mats,
&c ,S437 O9: J. q. Ball locks and keys,
% As; F. ". Bowers. assistance in filing
records, SIS; Ewing Bros, cuspidors and
gas fxtGres S95; Frew 4 Bertschy, furni-
Ture, $47; E W. Dunswsy and F, W
Bowers, Office desk, $25; W. 7. Burt Il
Co, wire railing &c, $l6359; J. F. Bar.
mes & Co, cuspidors, $32 80; B. F. Csld.
we'll, 1895 so; j. Harrington, carpets,
ESl22.20, A Sweeney & Son, iron work,
! Sll7; b F. Cald we'll. tin work. $3.50; l..
Busby, locks &C., S37 o.; Klevis, Kraft
& Co., carpenter work., S2,23s.39; Trim
nile & Lutz, plumbing, 1916 95; D. C.
Kerner, painting, $369.65; C. P. Hsnil'
ton, comm ssoTs, 1926.
The bills we're ordered paid out of the
Stsre appropriation as far as it would 60,
and thea out of the contingent fund.
COMMUNICATIONS.
The following was read
To the Hon Mayor and CouacH-
GENTLENEy:-l hereby tender my resig.
nation as member OF the Board Of Trus,
tees of the Gas Works, and most sincerely
request that your honorable body accept
the came. AUGUST ROLF.
The resignation was unanimously &C.
oepted, on motion OF Mr. Hildreth,
Tne following was read;
To the Honorable Council 9fMe City Of
Wheeling:
GENTLeNES:-The United States author.
tiles at Washington, D. @, have seen fit 10
criricise yoaT Chief of Police. Coming ss
it does from the Administ alton which ia
in political harmony with this Council, l
trust that it will receive that respect to
which it is entitled, and submit the COM
mupication for yoar consideration.
JACOB W. GRUBB,
Mayor.
Appended TO this was the following:
DsPT OF METROPOLITAN POLICE,
OFFICE OF MAJOR AND SUPT.
No. 202 Four-snd s.aslf st. N. W, I
l. WASHINGTON, D c., Dec. 20, 'S5.
The Mayor, Wheeling:
DEAR SIR-0ne Elsemau was recently
wanted here on o serious charge. The
Oaiet OF Police of your city, as we'll as the
Chiefs of several other cities, was informed
of the fact Your Chief, in harmony with
the custom 10 vogue between Police
Departments throughout the country, cour-
tioIsly arrested tie party wanted, and
asked whether there was reward offered
for his apprehension. He was informed
there was not. This statement is only pre-
urinary TO what desire to invite your
particular Gttsntion-the release of the
criminal by your Chief Not only did he
do this, but am told gave the criminal
card, shielding him from further arrest in
your city, and wrote 10 the Chief of Police
of StenbeDvIlle. Ohio, suggesting that ss
no reward ives offered fcr me apprehension
OF the criminal he would use his own pleas.
ure about re.Arresting him. Luckily we
have the criminal, but the rule your Chief
sesns to have adopted would nat have
secured bip.
1t is not for me to question the propriety
OF any rule at your locality. shall, how.
ever, be under many obligations il yau will
intoIm nee whether this rule has the sane
ton of the authorities, and whether We
nRy expect IL 10 DC enforced In the future.
IL has seemed to me that as criminals
do not cnn6ne their depredstions 10 one
locality police departments GU bt to serve
The general public in common hY aiding to
bring criminals to justice wherever the
crime may have been committed.
Il ia not my purpose here TO question
the motives Of your worthy Chief 1t is the
syttem that I am inquiring about.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
WILLIAM Me- DSF.
Major and jup't of Police.
Chief of Police Smith was invited to
make statement regarding his scrion in
ths matter, which request be complied !
with, stating that it had not ben loag |
since he made en- eryeat Upon telegram |
from the Marsbsi of Sieubenville, for
which he vas subjected to severe criticism
By one Of the city papers A reporter on
that paper had even endtaVored to induce
TIE man arrested 10 begin an action 70;
damages agsiOs; him and hiS Londhmen,
aud since that tise ne hsd been very care
fuI nor to expose his bondsmen to any