The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-26
A LONG DELAYED DECISION.
The Commissioners Finally Resolve to
Remove superintendent Lang.
He Is Acquitted, However, Of the Charges Of
Improper Conduct-Sergeant 0Donnell
Temporarily Promoted to the Position.

The certainty that the Police commissioner
would reach a decision as to the removal or re-
tention Of Superintendent Lang yesterday after
noon caused something of a nervous suspense
among those who have taken a deep interest in
the affair for or against the officer. But as the
day passed the general supposition was to the
effect that before night a new superintendent
would be in command. 1t was just a week from
the time the board heard the first testi-
mony on the charges preferred by
Cottrell, Haley, Dietz and Bernhamer.
On that day Colonel Downing said he wanted
the investigation to be as rapid as possible, as
he had business out OF the city that required his
attention. When the last bit of evidence was
in the opinion prevailed that in about an hours
session the following day a conclusion would be
reached, but the Commissioners found the sold
ton further away than they expected. As they
sifted the testimony this and that thought oc-
Cured, and then, too, there was a necessity for
legal advice, which was never absent. Finally,
the Schurmann-Lang conversation appeared. and
the Commissioner were divided as to whether
that had been brought out It occurred to them
that this ought to have been considered, and the
agreement was reached to recall Superintendent
Lang. They had legal advice to that effect. and
on Tuesday afternoon they completed the record
of testimony on this point. Before this no vote
one way or the other had been taken. nor. it is
stated, did anyone of the Commissioners know
how his colleagues would finally stand in regard
to removal or retention. Wednesday afternoon
the first conversation took place on this phase of
the case. When they adjourned they knew
what the result would be, and yesterdays meet
ing was more for the purpose Of putting the
conclusions in formal shape. They did not let
their attorneys get away from them even then,
but at last the decisive action was taken in the
following statement, which is to be part Of the
record:
H DECISION OF TIL COMMISSIONERS.
SIN the matter of charges preferred against
John s. Lang, superintendent of the Metropol-
March Is. 1856, the board having heard and con-
sidered the testimony in a public trial, find as
follows:
GAS to the charge preferred by Thomas Cot
trell, charging that the said John 8. Lang did,
on the - day of -. 1885, in the night time,
visit the house of one Flo Ballard, a person of
bad repute, and that he permitted to be carried
or in his presence a disreputable exhibition
known as the can-can ct said house, we find ~
that that he aino did visit j.. said av;a. house ao at
bdAN tLnlCs wv IL CNiAOAN "
not disclosed that any such exhibition known as
the 'can-can' took place in his presence, that
his action in visiting said house was a violation
of the rules of this board. but as said matter
was brought to the attention OF the board as
then constituted, and no action was had there
on, the board as now constituted decline to take
any action on this charge.
'As to the charge preferred by E.. Dietz, fled
on the 18th day of March, 1886, charging said
Lang with improperly and unlawfully interfer-
ing with an aSSemblaO0 of ISraellteS IN REICH
veins Hall. in the city Of Indianapolis. on the
18th day of july, 1885, we find that the same is
not sustained by the evidence.
las to the charge filed by Dennis Haley, on
the 18th day Of March, 1886, charging Lang with
improperly interfering with the prosecution of
Patrolman Meek, for the shooting of one Walsh,
we find the same not sustained by the evidence.
A to the charges preferred by William +. A.
Bernhamer, filed on the 18th day of March,
1886, charging, among other things, that said
Lang is incompetent, and that by reason of said
.incompetency the discipline of the police force
has become impaired and said force demoralized,
we find said charges thus far sustained, that TO
a certain extent said force has become democrat
lied, and as a result thereof said Lang has lost
that control over said force which it Is necessary
the superintendent thereof should have in order
to preserve its efficiency; and, therefore, it is
ordered by this board that the said John A.
Lang be and he is hereby removed from the su-
perintendency of the Metropolitan police force
of the city of Indianapolis.
"J; v. MURPHY, Pres.
fM. A. DOWNING"
The Commissioner voted unanimously on the
above until the came to the last clause of the
last paragraph, when Mr.. Schurmann announced
that he could not vote for the removal of Super
intendent Lang, as he believed the extent of the
generalization in the force did not Justify a dis
missal. 1t was his determination, though, had
Colonel Downing or Mr.. Murphy voted with
him, thus retaining Lang, to resign. He could
not remain on the board with Lang as superin-
tendent, but he wanted to deal with him justly
on the record of that investigation.
Afterwards Mr.. Schurmann explained his po-
sition to a Journal reporter. II DID not think"
he said, while I voted for the finding as to dis
satisfaction existing in the force to a certain ex-
tent, which was a fact, that Lang was so far re-
s~ponsible for it that l could vote for his dis
missal. It is true that | would have preferred to
have some other man superintendent, for Capt.
Lang did not. l think, fulfill all the required es-
sentials for the best and most effective manage
adverse character in ones work that will crop
out. Even in the aggregate these may not be
sufficient to warrant any direct charge of failure
of responsibility, yet they are enough to disturb
harmonious understanding. This is, l believe,
the way l regarded Mr.. Lang. 1t was on this
ground alone that l voted for bis res
i~gnation, believing that some man better
qualified for the control of the men should have
the place; but when Captain Lang saw fit to dis
regard the request of the board, and rest bis
case on a public investigation, I determined to
act conscientiously and justly towards him.
Hence, ! do not think that facts brought out in
support of the charge of general incompetency
are sufficient to require his removal l look at
the matter only in a judicial way, throwing aside
all personal preference and feeling. 1 do not
want to be understood as questioning the just
ness of my colleagues decision. This is the
only instance where a disagreement has come be-
tween us. and this arose only from a slight differ
ence of opinion as to the extent of the dissension
in the force and how far Captain Lang is respon-
sibls fo- it."
SELECTION OF LANG's SUCCESSOR.
1t is probable that one of the formidable OBJ
stacles to an earlier removal of the Superintend-
emit has been the question as to who should be
his successor. 1t is no secret that the Commits
sioners have considered the qualifications of sew
eral men. ''But," one of them said last night,