The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-31
AFTER MORRISON'S SCALP.
The State officers in Star-Chamber
Session Order an Investigation.
Character of the Charges Made Against the
CommiSsioner-What Mr.. Morrison
Has to Say About Them

Inc State officers composing the Metropolitan
Police Board were in secret session several hours
yesterday, examining witnesses in relation to
the charges aga inst Commissioner Morrison
Nothing more is known about their proceedings
than the little that the officers were disposed to
tell after adjournment. Mr.. Morrison was not
present and knew nothing about the meeting
until he was requested by Secretary Myers,
whom he happened to meet on the
street early in the afternoon, to come
down to the State building. When he
called at the room where the board was in ses-
sion he was informed that we would be f1rn-
nished sometime during the afternoon, with
copy of the charges that had been filed against
him, and was told that the investigation would
begin this morning at 8 o'clock The Honorable
Sim Coy and Tom Carney were conspicuous
about the place of meeting, and appeared to be
giving important assistance to the board in their
work.
Deputy Auditor Bingham, who is repre-
senting State Auditor Rice, informed
Journal reporter that the session
was held for the purpose of making
preliminary Investigation of the charges against
Mr. Morrison. with Wow of determining
whether or not there was sufficient cause for
formal inquiry into the case 1--WE have no
desire" he said, ito enter upon an unwarranted
investigation which may injure the character of
the gentleman against whom the accusations are
made, and we want to know if there y any
testimony affirming the charges before proceed
ing to give them formal consideration"
What has been the character of tho testi-
mony"
st has been rather damaging In fact the
testimony has been worse than the charges, and
we have decided that the matter is sufficiently
grave to warrant an investigation. This will
begin tomorrow morning at o'clock, AID it will
be conducted either publicly or secretly, as Mr.
Morrison may desire. He has been notified, and
has been furnished with copy of the charges"
Secretary Myers after the adjournment of the
meeting, was asked if the investigation would
extend to Commissioner Cottrells conduct.
THE investigation will extend to Mr. Cottrells
conduct was the answer; but" he added,
there are no charges filed against Mr. Cottrell."
In conversation with a journal reporter last
night Mr. Morrison said that he had not received
any copy of the charges, but had been informed
by one of the men who filed them that they
alleged that on June 10 he had gone out with a
Serenadng party headed by Dell Gro the cele-
brated musician, Mr.. Ernest Kitz, and number
OF other gentlemen; that they were out later
than ii o'clock, and among other places they
visit Junes restaurant, where drinks set
out to them. Mr Morrison does not deny that
he was with the serenading party or that he
drink with them at the places they visited, but
says he is not aware that this is any violation of
law or that his conduct in any way encouraged
the violation of law. He says that he knows of
no statute in Indiana that prohibits a man from
drinking, and believes that he was guilty of no
offense. He regards the whole proceeding as a
pretext for removing HIM from the board be-
cause, with Commissioner Murphy, he has in
sisted on the strict enforcement of the law The
testimony against him has been worked up by
the saloon element, which is interested in his
removal from the board and the charges
against him, were fled by James Thompson, a
saloon keeper and Simon Schmaiholtz, cigar
dealer. Il have done nothing wrong" Mr.. Nor
,rison said, ''and the pesons who filed these
charges against me can prove nothing. There is
some kind of testimony against which man can
make no defense. but If | am given fair hear
ing [ can prove that have visited dsrepu-
table places and have not been intoxicated as
has been reported by my enemies"
The places visited by the serenading party were
private residences, and although at two or three
places drinks were set out, there was nothing
boisterous or unseemly in the conduct of any
one.