St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-28


member Of the police force. I would also
state that for myself have grave doubts
considering the kind of testimony whether
a case was made out against you, and some
members of the committee who agreed to the
recommendation were of the opinion that the
evidence was largely of doubtful character,
and their action was not entirely based on
the evidence given.
think betray no confidence in stating to
you these facts Having asked the committee
to investigate with me all the current rumors
in regard to improper conduct OF members
of the police force and having spent
several days with them and given these mat
| tiers full and mature consideration, do not
| feel as though I could consistently wholly
| ignore their recommendation and regret your
| determination not to resign.
Allow me to say that your relations to me
| have been Of pleasant and satisfactory
| nature, and 1 shall deeply regret being called
| upon to sever these relations, if they be
| severed. Yours truly,
GEORGE A. Pill sBURY, Mayor.
| To this letter Stevens sent singular
reply and, with an adroitness worthy OF a
| better cause, comes to the relief OF his
honor with a resignation to take effect on
Dec. 81, or at the end of the current year.
1t may be said of Ed. whatever else is said,
that he is no fool and is shrewd to the back
| bone. His letter is as follows:
| ED RESIGNS AS A FAVOR.
Minneapolis, Nov. 27.-Hon. George A.
| Pillsbury, Mayor-Respected Sir: Your let
| ter in reference to mine of the 25th inst. was
received to-day, and, although, in Difference
! to the police commission associated with your
self in the late investigation, your express
| sions were il some respects guarded, it was.
| in the main, what 1 had right to expect, and
| what fully expected to receive from a man
| with whom have so long been so intimately
| connected in an official capacity, and who, on
| all occasions before and since the investiga-
| ton, has treated me with so much gentle
| manly courtesy. And inasmuch as you have
| at no time said aught against my integrity,
| but at all times expressed the view that was
| innocent, at least of any intentional wron g.
| doing, couple this fact with the guarded
| statement made by you, and accept your let
| ter as an expression of your individual YER
dict-that of mot guilty.
| Unwilling in any way to be party toward
| embarrassing any man-eSpecially one who
| has so kindly treated me-unwilling, as stated,
| to resign under fre-I realize the fact that
pressure has been brought to bear upon you
which you should not be called upon to en-
| dure and that it is not best that should not
remain; I cannot, with any degree of self
respect, now that can honorably retire, con-
| tinue in my present position longer than the
needs of the service shall require and my
| record as an official demand, and having been
placed in position where | may honorably
| do so, and where due respect for my man
| hood suggests it, hereby tender my resigna-
| ton as police clerk, to take effect Dec. 81
| 1885. would name earlier date but for
| the fact that for several months past, during
| the remodeling of the city hall, everything at
| police headquarters has been in such con-
dtion as to compel the putting off until q
| more convenient season of all matters not
| requiring immediate attention, and in conse-
| quence the work of the police clerk
| is sadly behind; 1t would be un-
c~s,. a1l-
| work neglected by me, nor could he well do
| it without neglecting current work, and Chief
| West desires that should bring all matters
up to date before leaving the service. While
| so engaged, however, to the end that / may
| do my work well and in no way be further
compromised, ask that be relieved of all
outside duties not of clerical nature and
not properly devolving upon police clerk.
1t is not proper in a communication Of this
kind that should anmadvert upon the acts
Of any man, and hence [ withhold for little
time longer my opinion of the animus of the
late investigation. l would, however, do
violence to my feelings were I to fail to take
this occasion to publicly apologize to Aid.
Cooley for the wrong done him years ago,
when, in public newspaper under my con-
troll, intimated that he had "gone wrong"
and because of which I expected his opposi-
ton throughout the investigation and so con-
tinued to the end. He has, however, risen above
petty spite and by the manly course taken
(which he could not have taken had rightly
reported him) has demonstrated to me that l
judged him wrongly, and l most cheerfully
retract all statements made derogatory to his
character, and declare my conviction that
they were unfounded in fact
In like manner wish to bear testimony to
the honesty of Aid. Clough, whom 1 barely
knew when this investigation commenced,
and with whom never had any controversy,
unpleasant or otherwise. Biased he may
have been at the start, but he has seemed
willing to weigh the testimony in the light of
a sworn jurynan. and as far as he has rem
dered verdict been governed by the evil
dence produced, and not by popular clamor,
or the statements expected to have been
made by ''intimidated witnesses" who failed
to respond
AS to the other members Of the committee
I do no not propose at this time to express
any opinion, for or against. Presumably
they have acted in accordance with their con-
sciences; so be it until the reverse is shown,
if ever.
Inasmuch as have been on trial, not only
before the commission, but before the bar Of
public opinion-the evidence being presented
through the press and garbled to an extent I
would not have dreamed of, even to that of
making witness after witness appear to swear
to the direct reverse of what the stenogra-
piers report showed was sworn to- shall in
vite Indictment in the district court under
such circumstances that no witness need be
INUNDATED and none care refuse 10 take the
stand.
You well know, Mr.. Mayor, that I might
have resigned before the investigation COM
menced; that demanded not only that the
charges should be inquired into, but that the
reporters should be admitted and the public
allowed to know the facts, supposing the
facts would be presented as sworn to and
that no attempt would be made to suppress
testimony because it spoiled the sensational
part; that all through the investigation 1 in
sisted all facts should come and made no OBJ
lection even to hearsay testimony four times
removed from the witness; that / in no
respect compromised any other officer or
smirched any mans character; that my de-
tense was fair, square and manly in all
respects, and that after the investigation I
calmly awaited the result without in any way
seeking to influence you.
Having, in your mature Judgment. ac-
quilted me of the charges made and left me
free to act as an honest man should under
such circumstances, resign. as aforesaid,
and, in the language of Col. King, in an adj
dress to the Minnesota legislature, when,
some years ago, he had been grossly ma
igned, will return to that position of moth
ingness'' from which was called.
Thanking you for the assurance that my
relations to yourself s'have been of pleas
ant and satisfactory nature believing that
in the future as well as the past 1 shall have
your confidence, l. too, deeply regret the
severing of these relations. Respectfully,
ED A. STEVENS, Police Clerk.
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
Mayor Pilsbury accepted the resignation,
and the term of the present incumbent
will expire with the year. The public will