Evening star., 1886-11-26

ARNOLD AND KELLY - MAJOR WALKER
CHARGES THAT THERE WAS CONSPIRACY
AGAINST HIS ADMINISTRATION.
the case OF Lieut.. Arnold, as announced in
Wednesday, STAR. dismissing that officer and
Private Edelin,, reducing Sergeant Diggins TO
the ranks for three months, and suspending
Lieut.. Kelly for three months and accepting
Major W Walker's resignation, was the subject of
discussion everywhere Wednesday night and
yesterday. The Commissioners orders went
into effect Wednesday evening, when Capt.
Austin assumed command OF the police depart
ment temporarily. Sergeant .3rosnan succeeded
Lieut.. Kelly in command OF the 9th precinct
temporarily and Sergeant Boyle took charge of
Lieut.. Arnolds precinct.
IN FAVOR OF ARNOLD AND KELLY.
The friends of Lieutcnants Arnold and X ely
are very active and emphatic, expressing great
Indignation at the action of the Commissioners.
In the case OF Lieutenant Kelly a subscription
was started TO make up to him the three
months pay of which the Commissioners order
deprivcs him. In Lieutenant Arnolds case the
following petition was set in circul alton among
business men In his precinct, and soon many
signatures were obtained:
"The undersigned merchants, property hold
erS and citizens of the District OF Columbia. de-
sire To enter their most earnest protest against
the decision OF the Commissioners ot the Dis
tIlct OF columbia In the case OF Major and SUI
Walker against Lieutenant Richard Arnold iH
charge of the first precinct. We deem ii unjust
ana rejection upon an efficient officer. We
respectfully and earnestly desire the renstate-
ment OF Lieutenant Arnold
MAJOR WALKER MAKES FURTHER CHARGES.
Major Walker made public. Wednesday even
ing, u long letter he had written to the Commits
sioners in which he says that "the investigation
has not brought to the surface the true history of
the case in all its bearings, and that other per-
ed wifi IN n i'm IN
attempt 70 break up the discipline and govern
! ment of the police force in the District Of Col
umbia and 10 reflect dishonor and discrett
upon yourselves" In this letter Major Walker
charges Mr.. James 4. McDevitt Il member OF
the former detective force of this city, with an
attempt to wreck the present police admins
tration by means ot system OF espionage,
threats anonymous letters DC, which mas fin
| ally eliminated in the present scandal, and as
serts that in this work he was aided
and abetted by Lieutenant Arnold. He
gives at length three anonymous let
desst from his efforts TO rout out gambling
houses. and is assured that soon as Congress
met he would be deprived oi his Office and made
TO return to his avocaton OF notary pubic.
lie Insists that these letters are in Mr.. McDev-
Its hand dwriting. He says that the statements
show McDeviit to have been frequent visitor
ut Lieutenant Arnnid's room, ana as holding
very intimate relations with him, and that he
and Lieutenant Kelly are fast friends. In con-
Guiding his letter, Ma jor Walker says: ".As TO
The propriety of nay asking the lieutenants to
make friends with members, to the end that
nteucu ponce legislation might be had, ii has al
ways been a practice in the department, and
my request was no departure from CUSTOM
M'DEvITT AND ARNOLD DENY.
MIR. McDevftt, when asked about the state
ments made by the major denounced them as
false, and denied that he had written the
anonymous letters referred to by the major.
Lieut. Arnolds counsel prepared a statement,
ip which lie made Il general denial OF ailega-
lions against him in the majors letter and thai
there WAS any improper or undue intimacy be-
tween him and McDevItt.
THE FINDINGS OFFICIALLY PROMULGATED.
Acting Cnief OF Police Austin to-day issued
general order No. 217, promulgating the find
ings OF theEommiSsioneTs in the case of Lieut.
Arnold.
CONGRESSIONAL WRATH MEAsURABLY AP-
PEASED BY WALKERS RETIREMENr.
Among members OF Congress the ''police scan
dal,' as it is generally called, seems to have
lost mucn OF its interest since the decision of
the Commissioners was announced. Prior to
that decision there was general Indignation eX-
pressed against the Chief of police. and rnenn-
befs OF Congress though deciining be Quoted,
threatened that Unless the commissioners gave
satisfactory verdict a congressional invesliga-
non would toi!pw. Now, the retirement of
Major Walker seems 10 have appeased congress-
ionai wrath, and members OF The House, to say
nothing OF The Senate, are apparently wiling TO
let the matter drop.
REPRESENTATIVE LIE FEvRE, OF OHIO,
tn conversation with a STAR reporter Today,
remarked that there appeared be general
dissatisfaction with the action of the Commits
sioners, but he did not think Congress would
take up tue Su ject. MOT at this session. at
least he SAID, because there will not be time
enough ior anything but the appropriation
bills and such questions oi vital pubic Interest
as demand attention. The next Congress, he
suggested, might take hold OF the question
should public dissatisfaction here manifest
ITSELF to degree that would require congress
siOnal Intervention.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON, OF WEST VIRGINIA
did not anticipate congressional action. If
there was anything in the system OF local gov
ernment, he said, requiring congressional ac-
tion, it would be for the District committee to
bring it out. The appropriations committee, of
which he Is a member, said Mr.. Wilson, is pro-
hibited by law from originating any legislation.
ARKANSAS SARCASM.
Representative Dunn, of Arkansas in q sar-
castle tone, remarked that the Commissioners,
in their decision, convicted complainant. de-
iendant and witnesses, but he did not believe,
that Congress would interpose its power He
did not seem to think that there was anything
in the case calling for congressional interven-
tion. .
REPRESENTATIVE WILKINS OF OHIO
while inclined TO ridicule the finding of the
Commissioners, did not any Reason why
Congress should endeavOr to straighten out
that muddle.
PUBLIC OPINION.
Public criticism diSsecfs the finding of the
Commissioners very closely. In a group of per-
sons ia front Of the District buildings to-day the
police scandal was the subject OF controversy,
One gentleman remarked that the Com ission-
erS in their verdict, condemn Lieut.. Arnold for
speaking OF public man or member of Con-
gress as u visitor To a house of questionable re-
pute. but" remarked the speaker, "thOugh it
was shown in the evidence that Lieut.. Vernon
at the notable meeting OF police lieutenants
had laug hingiy described a southern Senator as
wandering tnrOugh a peach orchard at Colonial
Beach in search Of II 7th street 'kyar (car),
nothing III the nature of reproach or repriinand
was visited upon him. This citizen argued
inf
ers were seeking only tor evidence 10 condemn
Arnold.
Mr. Il. S. Davis, speaking of the scandal to-
day, said that pubic opinion was SO worked up-
on the subject Oi the controversy that whether
the allegations were true false the public
would not have been satisfied with anything
else than the course taken by the Commission-
not possess The requisite administrative ability
TO govern such a police force. The chief should |
be gentleman by instinct and education aud /
the force ought TO have the confidence OF the
community. When this confidence does not |
exist the citizens feel restive. Arnold has been /
one of the best Of officers, and is evidently an |
injured man."
Mr.. S. L. Thomas said the findings were incon.
sistent, and the trial put him some what in |
mind of decision made by u justice of the |
peace years ago. Alter the testimony was
taken he decided that the defendant was not |
against the latter. Arnold is put on trial as q /
witness and convicted.
MIR. A. M. Ciapp regarded the findings as in-
consistent with the testimony. One or the
other Of the two principals 10 the controversy
was guilty aud the Commissioners should have
a member OF the force is entitled to a trial. But
one here had trial. The sen tpnce he.