Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-03
NO TEsTlMONY
Taken at Last Evenings sss sion of
the Police Committee.
The Time Spent ia Debating the Point as
to Whether or Not the Inquiry
Should Go embedded
in the Affirmative.

The fourth session of the Police Commit
tee, and the second Of the investigation,
drew to the chamber of the First Branch OF
Council, last evening, q tremendous out
pouring of gentlemen sctuated BY q desire
to zee and hear what was to transpire. At
hslt.past seven the spcce reserved in the
room for spectators was densely crowded,
while the adjacent corridor and the room
occupied by the Police Department held
many small groups of people unable to OBJ
tain &C accommodations within the main room.
Inside tie railing in the First Branch
chamber we're seated
A NUMBER OF PROMINENT CITIZENS,
Councilmen and others, to whom courtesy
had been shown. As on the previous even
ing, the greatest interest was msnifested in
the proceedings the appetite of the public
having apparently been whetted by the pub
lished accounts Of the session Of the night
before. S~tencgrapher 7. NJ. Garvin and the
reporters occupied their seats before any of
the committee appeared in the chamber,
but in a few minutes Messrs. Caldwell and
Jaeger came into the room, followed at in
teryals by Clerk GaIigSn, Mayor Grubb,
Chairman Myles and other members Of the
committee.
When the roll of the committee had been
called, Chairman Myles said that when the
committee had adjourned on Thursday
evening it had under investigation the
charges against Officer Burns. He had
seen by one Of the morning papers the
REGISTER that
THE OFFICER HAD RESIGNED.
He desired to know whether or not the
statement was correct. He asked for Chief
of Police Smith, but Lieutenant Junkins
answered that the Chief was not present.
Officer Junkins was asked by the Chairman
fthe statement that Burns had resigned
was correct, to which Mr.. Junkins responded
that he knew nothing whatever OF the mat
ter.
Mr.. McGregor-I move We proceed with
the examination of Officer Burns, as We
have no official knowledge of his resigns
ton.
Mr.. List second the motion.
The motion was not pat by the Char
who instead enquired for Committee Officer
Crocksrd.
MIR. Crockard was near by, aud on his
appearance was asked if he had served any
summons during the day. He said he had
not; that none had been issued by the
Clerk.
SHARP PASSAGE
relative to the summoniug and resummon
ing ofwitnesses occurred between the Mayor
aud Clerk Gsliigsn, in the course of which
the Clerk asked if the Mayor desired to In
vesiigate a dead man; that Officer Burns
va dead TO sill intents end purposes, Some
one said the committee had no official
knowledge of the resignation, to which the
Clerk responded that he had seen the name
Of Officer Burns signed to his resignation,
and ssked if that was sufficient evidence.
The Chair find there is nothing before
this committee, and | rule that the charges
against Officer Burns have been disposed OF,
and that the affidavit submitted last night
is not definite; it must first be presented to
Council. l decide that there is no business
before Us.
Mr.. McGregor-I appeal rom tie deci-
sion Of the chair.
The Chsir-Gentlemen, you have heard
the appeal. As many as
Mr.. Shanley-Mr. Chairman, before we
vote D this matter l desire the papers
read. l want to know whether there are
ANY OTHER CHARGES
against Chief Smith or any Of his officers.
The Mayor-There are other charges. /
charge that the police department has been
shamefully managed.
MIR. Caldwell here addressed the Chair.
BE held that the section OF the ordinance
(Sec. 6 of the ordinance in relation to May
or) requiring the Mayor to report dereilc
ton of duty on the part Of any officer of the
CITY government gave him discretion as to
how the charges should be made, and also
that the reports of investigating committees
did not have to be as defined as a court rec
ord, and that the charge need not be drawn
with all the esrefulness Of an indictment
Rule 46 required that charges against al
official be sworn to, but of course that re
lated to persons other than sworn officers
of the city. He appealed to the com
mittee not to 60 into this matter with any
other motive save
AN HOMES DESIRE
to obey the wishes of Council. He though
members should have no fear, and should
shirk no duty. They should GEEK nothing
neither should they attempt to eyaae any
thing. That, he thongb., was the propc
q to go at the ustter. The charge Of ths
Mayor that the police department was beiU!
run in q shameful manner vas q genera
allegation. Coun"il had reteFced tn
charge to the committee with fall power t,
investigate, send for persons and papers
and report. He saw no way Of getting owe
that. He had no desire to go any turtle
into the matter than he was obliged to, bu
he wanted to do his full duty.
The Chair said that in the article pub
lished by the ~Intelligencer and espoused b
the Mayor the charges against Officer Burn
had been four in number, and
WERE PLAINLY SPECIFIED,
But no such charges had been made agsins
any other officer Of the city.
Mr.. McGreyor said his idea was that th
committee should investigate the police de
partnent, and see if there were any jus
grounds for charges.
The Chair said whenever there should b
specific charges preferred against any mem
Der of the city government, he would b
willing to fully and fairly investigate il
and would do his duty as freely as an
other member, but he would not sit Their
ard be dictated to by the Mayor, the presl
or any one else.
The question on the appeal was then put
and the chair
WAS NOT SUSTAINED.
YeaS-Messrs. Weir and Happy No
Messrs. McGregor, List, Stanley, Jsege
and Caldwell.
Mr.. List now move that this commi
tee adjourn to meet tomorrow night, an
that the Clerk be directed to summon wit
nesses for that day.
Mr.. Happy moved to amend by making
it Monday.
The amendment gas accented by MI