Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-30
The POLICE COMMITTEE.
A Preliminary Meeting Held Last
Night.
Plans For thorough Investigation Mapped
0ut---The Hearing to Commence
Tomorrow Night

A. fifteen minutes OF elgnt CLOCK last
evening Messrs. Myles, chairman, and Nc
Gregor, George B. Caldwell, List, Jaeger,
Stanley and Wier, of the Committee on
Police, assembled in the chamber of the
First Branch Of Council. There we're pres
ent, in addition, Mr.. Gslligan, committee
clerk, Captain Smith, Officer Burns, Mayor
Grub, Ceuncilmen Alfred Caldwell, Winger-
ter, Kenney and Gillsland, and q number
of newspaper men.
When the committee had been called 10
order, Chairman Myles stated the object Of
the meeting, and after some little discus
sion, the charges preferred by the Mayor
and the resolutions of Council ordering the
investigation Of the police force were Or
dtred read.
The resolution as a~doptedby Council was
accordingly read by the clerk, and immedi-
ately thereafter a portion of the communi-
cation from the Mayor, as follows;
THE MAYORS LETTER.
II again call your attention to the shame
full manner in which the police department
is being managed. Five days ago Officer
James Burns was publicly charged with
drunkenness and blackmail, and of intimi-
dating women Of the town for the purposes OF
prostitution. have examined these COM
plants, and / believe many, if not all, OF
these charges can be roven, and further
believe Chief Smith ,ws him to be guilty
of such conduct as should prompt hisimme-
date dismissal. l ask this honorable body
to take such action as will lead to an inyes-
t~igation, not only Of Officer Burns, but of the
whole police department. 1submit charges
as published.
"Very respectfully
JACOB W.. GRUBB,
Mayor"
This was followed by the reading OF the
communication from Officer Burns, like
wise submitted to Council and by it referred
to the Committee on Police.
When the reading Of these documents had
been concluded the clerk inquired if the
committee desired him to read the charges
against Officer Burns as published in the
Intslligencer.
Mr.. Caldwell said he saw no use in that;
the members Of the committee had all read
the papers.
The clerk then read a summary Of the
alleged misdemeanors and crimes commit.
led by Officer Burns, printed by the Intelli-
gencer, as follows:
H CHARGES.
l. Habitual and aggravated intoxication.
2. FrequentiDg and lettering in houses Of
i'll fame, in violation of Section Is Of the
Ordinance concerning 0ffenses.
3. Using his official position to extort
money, beer and other favors from women
of the town.
4. Ineficiency, neglect of duty and con.
duct in general unbecoming an officer.
Mr.. Myles-The committee has heard the
charges; what do you
PROPOSE TO Do2
Mr.. McGregor-Are veto investigate Mr..
Burns irst2
Another member-The resolution Of
Council reads, the whole force"
At the request of Mr.. List, the clerk read
the thirteenth section of the ordinance
against o~ffenses, as follows:
Sec. Is. 1t shall be unlawful for any
person to keep any house Of ill,fame or
bawdy house, or house of resort for prosti
tuition, or keep or harbor persons therein for
the purpose of prostitution, and it shall fur.
Tier be unlawful for any person to be found
~IouDgiDg or lettering in any houses ofill
tame or bawdy house; or in any house re-
puted to be a house Of ill+fame or bawdy
house, but the person charged with or ar
rested for being found lounging or lettering
in any house so reputed, shall be discharged
if he or she shall show and establish in de-
tense, that the house is hot in fact a house
ofilLfame or bswdy house"
Mr.. Myles-I suppose the committee de,
sires