The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-24
HIS lNEFFICIENCY
DESoUxcED BY SMITHS FRIENDS.
Tn. Burn. Case AvaGiDE Public wrath. and
the Ls,haruio Chief cOmiag in for the
Larger share o, the rDdisnatiOu'
some Pablo Expressions

some Pablo EPTesnahs'
The case OF officer Burns, and the Lax
way in which City Sergeant Smith has
conducted himself in regard to it, in fact
his lack Of capacity and decision OF char
ucter in general, continue to be the lead
inc themes Of conversation about town.
Said a well known attorney yesterday:
"Portar Smith'g lack Of sense and back.
hone would be Imaginable matter II 1t
we're not for tho fact that his untitness for
the position might cause seri DUB results 70
the community. Suppose an emergency
should arise where We needed the police
force for the protection OF the public
peace, and needed it promptly;. do you
suppose the present torcs, headed as II Is
by au incompetent Chief, would be worth
u snap? Who can tell when the men are
IN duty and when they ne drunk and IN
some inproPerresort? What reason mas
A man to behave himself il he can con-
tinue on the force while misbehaving
himself? Why should man remain
sober when he eau get his s65 month
and be drunk half the time2"
THE DAMSiEG FACTs.
The nero recital Of the bare facts in
Burns'scaseis strong condemnation Of City
Sergeant Smiths course. A member Of
his force was accused OF hebitual intoxica-
ton ,irequchting houses OF III fame and ex-
torting money by means Of his official posi-
lion. The accused officer vas not sns-
pended. He was allowed to continue to
exercise the functions Of policeman:
From respect for the representations oil
his friends that he must do something,
tho Chiet visited several places where
Burns has conducted himself 10 manner
TO demand his dismissal, and received as.
sufances that the charges against Burma
are true. Sill Burns continues an active
member OF the force. The Mayor
formally calls the attention OF Council TO
the charges, and accuses the Chief OF
shameful lack OF efficiency. Even the sub
ordinate officer himself ignores his gu.
perior officer, whose duty il is to inyesti-
gate charges against any member OF his
force, and demands OF Council an inyestl-
CATION. The preliminary steps are taken
toward such an investigation; still Burns
remains on duty az a policeman. Such a
case is probably without a precedent any
where. That the Chief OF Police, after
coming into possession Of evidence OF his
subordiuates guilt, should allow that sub
ordinate to remain on the force, not only
astonishes those who appreciate the sltna-
ton. 1t disgusts them. Many Of Smiths
former staunch supporters now warmly
denounce him.
MASY uYSTIFIPn
People cannot understand the conduct
OF Capt. Smith. The hypothesis becomes
daily more generally accepted that tor
some reason the Chief does not dare dis
miss Burns. So far as the public knows
he has not even labored with Burns as he
did with Steve johnson. whom he coaxed
to resign to relieve him Of the embarrass-
ment OF the situation. II he has tried 10
persuade Burns to gracefully Tess up and
step down, nobody knows it.
Said leading Democrat yesterday,
speaking OF Smith: THE man must be
crazy. / hear that he says nobody can
'buiidoze' him into displaCing man.
Great heavens! is the man so lost to
shame, 80 void OF self respect that his
plain duty has to be shown him, and then
| ne CAlIb Tue euUIb W luAAG ~ pam buAl-
dozingp"
Another gentleman whom the Chief has
taken into his confidence more or less,
says: "The talk Smith INDUCES in III a
semi.coufdential way makes me sick.
He does not seem to appreciate the gray
ity OF his own and Burns's position. His
sole regret seems TO be that the thing has
become public. You remember when
Steve johnson was given away he rebuked
Mira. Mueller for telling on him. think
he would haul all the witnesses in this
case over the Goals II he dared"
BuRNs's REASONING.
A gentleman said last night: II think 1
understand Burns. That card Of his gives
the cue to his idea in behaving as he does.
He says former administrations have
been as bad. lie might also have said
that other officers were worse. OF course
that doesn't help him any, but il he holds
on and compels q general investigation Of
the whole force, his disgrace will be shared
by at least three or four others, and they
will all have TO go. l think 1t is better
for the public and great deal worse for
Smith and his men that things 'have as.
sumed the shape they have"
People who know OK. Chief Bennetthave
been laughing at the comparison Burns
sought to institute between Smiths force
and Benefits. No two men could DO
more different than the present Chief and
his predecessor. Had one OF Benefits
men been publicly accused Of gross mis-
conduct, Bennett would have satisfied
himself within half an hour OF the truth
Of the charges, and his manner OF address.
ing the accused when satisfied OF his guilt
would have been something like this:
"Here, take OF those buttons! Give
me that badge! I've got no more use for
a man like you"
Benefits men stood in such awe OF
him that ifone OF them had been caught
at such diversions as Burns INDUCED in, he
would have sent Ia his badge and left
town, or at least kept out d the Chiefs
sight. The awe In the present ioIce seems
to DO oil the other way.
NEW NAIL MACHINES.