The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-01
POLICE BOARD TROUBLES.
What the State officers and Commits
siOners Have To Say About Them.
Mr.. Cottrell Says That Either Lang or the
Board Must Go-The Facts About
Wednesdays Meeting.

The statement in the Journal of yesterday to
the effect that the State officers were canvassing
the question of removing the entire Board of
Police Commissioners, was general topic of
conversation on the streets and about the hotel
Hobbies during the day, and the almost unani-
nous expression was one of severe criticism
upon the conduct of the State board. Commits
sioner Cottrell had stated positively that meet
ing had been held at one of the State Offices
during Wednesday, at which the mat
ter had been discussed and Auditor
Rice as emphatically denied that
there had been any such meeting Journal
reporter called upon Mr. John W. Murphy, presi-
dent of the police board. during the afternoon.
and asked him what light he could throw upon
the subject ''None," said Mr.. Murphy; II have
attended no meeting of the State officers"
When informed however, that the reporter had
been told by Mr.. Cottrell that meeting
had been held during the afternoon
previous, at which he tCottrell) had been pres
emit, Mr.. Murphy admitted having received an
intimation that meeting of some kind was to
be held, at which his presence was earnestly de-
sired but he had not attended. II don't know
just what the State officers propose to do" said
he in concluding the interview. 81 shall not
resign from the board I have been
urged by great many good citizens,
for whose opinions and preferences 1 entertain
the greatest respect. to retain any connection
with the board and partly, at least, in defer
ence to their advice / shall remain Of course,
if the State officers want me off the board they
can remoya uoen
The reporter next called at the Office of John
]. Cooper. Treasurer of State. 'Tell me some
thing about the meeting held yesterday at which
the police board matter was d. ,sed?" asked
the reporter.
'There was no such meeting" Mr.. Cooper re-
piled fatty.
mo meeting at alp
'.No.n
IT understand that it was not formal meeting
of the State officers but you. Secretary Myers
Auditor Rice, Sim Coy, Pat McNelis-"
"McNes was not there"
"Then there was meeting at which the others
were PRESENT.
"Well, there was an informal conference
yes.n
WAS Sim Coy therep
Secretary Myers''
Auditor RiceF
s'Yesn
Really, you must excuse me from answering
that question
No" =
'.He was not sent forg0
mo-
'sYou are sure of thatq"
"Oh, if he was invited by any Of the other
State officers don't know it."
las a matter of fact Mr.. Cooper didn't you
invite him yourself?' Mr. Cooper remained
silent for few moments, and, after reflection,
declined to answer the reporters question. Mr..
Murphy was invited to be present, and by Mr..
Cooper.-Rep.
"Where was the meeting held!"
SIN Auditor Rices office"
"Mr. Rice was PRESENT.
Eyes. He was there"
The reporter then went to Auditor Rice, whom
he found in his office 'Tell me about that in
formal meeting that was held here yesterday
afternoon to discuss police board affairs" began
the reporter.
'There was no such meeting"
But Mr.. Cooper just told me that there was,
and that it was held in your Office"
IF there was do not know it. I was not
present at any such meeting Coy was here
during the day, believe. He is here every day
for that matter to make some suggestion about
the regulation of police matters, but was not
present at any meeting of any kind during the
day"
When Secretary of State Myers was asked by
the reporter what he knew about the truthful
ness of the statement that all the commissioners
will soon be removed, he declared quite as ve-
hemently as Auditor Rice, that he knew nothing
about it.
II don't know, he said, "anything more than
I've seen about it in the Journal Where do you
get all these repOrts!"
1.-THE information, as shown in an interview,
came from Mr.. Cottrel," replied the reporter.
"Well. did Cot:rell really say that"
"He did"
swell, don't see any reason continued the
Secretary, why he should talk in that way.
don't know anything about the State officers
having agreed on such thing. Mr.. Rice says
he don't. / had talk with Mr.. Cooper this
morning. and he said that he knew nothing
about it."
'Why, then, do you suppose Mr.. Cottrell
would make such Statements"
II don't know. It's certainly very strange"
Commissioner Cottrell stated to the reporter,
last night, that there was another meeting,
or informal conference" at one of the State
Offices yesterday, at which the matter was again
talked of, but final agreement was reached.
According to Mr.. Cottrell, the real object
of the State officers is to get Superintendent
Lang off of the force, and the commissioners are
either to be forced into making the removal or
will be compelled to give way to board that
will. Another meeting is to be held this morn
ing, to which Mr. Murphy has been invited, and
as he has been given to understand that matters
concerning the administration of the board are
to be discussed, he is expected 70 be present
Mr.. Cottrell is the authority for this state
ment, that at this meeting Mr.. Murphy will be
asked to vote for the removal of Lang, be
given to understand that his resignation would
be acceptable to the State officers. Then, in
case of his failure to retire peacefully, the en-
tire board will be removed and supplanted by a
new one
Mr. Cottrell seems to hold the whip hand in
the fight at present, and is very stiff in his de-
mands When asked by the reporter last night,
looked to the retention of Superintendent Lang,
he replied, with great positiveness mo, sir;
Lang has got to go. The successor of Captain
Lang has already been picked" said he, land
will shortly be appointed" 1t is altogether
probable that in case this meeting is held there
viii be very entertaining conference between