New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-25
AN ASTOUNDING VERDICT.
THE WASHINGTON POLICE SCANDAL
NAyor WALKER AND LIEUTENANT ARNOLD pis"'''"-
OTHER OFFICERS PUNISHED
rpv TELEGRAPH 10 The TRIBUNE

TELEGRAPH 10 The IHlbDSE1
w.eu,Narox Nov. 24.-Ths District Commission
ar, to-day demanded the resignation OF Chief OF rooo
w.,I.r. dismissed Lieutenant Arnold and Private
.as,n suspenaed Lieutenant Kelley without pay for
threc months. and reduced Sergeant Diggins to the
r.nk, tor the sam. period. The verdict 90 to Major
Walker and Lieutenant Arnold was foreshsdowed In
Tux TR,nuNE some days ago and was expected oy
manv persons who had watched the matter carefully,
but ths decision as to Lieutenant Kelley and Sergeant
Digging caused the utmost surprise aud indignation.
The no called reasoning by which the Commissioners
reached their conclusions exctss general dersea They
ssv that the statement that Major Walker had sug-
.s.,eA the esponage OF Congrossmen with view to
controlling their votes was false, and yet they demand
hs resignation; they admit that the charges against
Lieutenant Arnold not sustained, and yet they
prder his dismissal they censure and noe Lieutenant
Kalev because he told the truth under OATH although
he had tried TO smooth matters over and prevent pub
be scada before he was called to the witness stard
xhey punish Sergeant Diggins because he received
Information from his superior and confded IL to one
n M. own eubordinates and they dismiss that sub
.,anate be,ause he disclosed the information. In
substance the Commissioners says
7, "a untrue that Major Walker made, or confem-
plated making, any such order or suggesnon as was
kttr;huted TO him by Lieutenant Arnold, ana therc Is
no lust basis whatsoever tor doubt OF MAYOR
Walkers entire integrity OF purpose ana sincerity Vi
statement This Is established by the greatly pre-
ponderating weight of evidence, whether numbers OF
8-interestedness Of witnesses be considered, and IN
fact leaving the testimony OF Lieutenant Afao'
which Is not in ell res ects consistent WIFI ,
-h;ch both his written and verbal stat
,nsns IN the soners anc which from his stans
NJ An accused person. confessedy guilty OF an nous
soetion must be regarded cum grano sais-tho coh-
trsrv new rests almost solely upon the assertions OF
lieutenant Kelley, who has likewise seriously
himself IN contradictory statements ootn 9rn' anu
written. under circumstances which required MN 10
tai the truth Major Walkers suggestion TO the Lieu
tenant had reference solely TO such personal iiienoy
communication with members OF Congress as po IN Mn,
III propesed to have and his fatal error was aiing
a ace that the police officials could iegitimaiey COM
mend themselves TO the favorable attention OF 'nc
Commissioners and of Congress by no otner means en
fhs intelligent and faithful discharge OF their every
day duties.
Second-It follows from the above that Lieutenant
Arnold did not msrepresent the superintendent 10
TO gssVs. Eaen and he turn to Others
and so through the folly or malice OF some, ana the
discriminating appetite for sensations o. o'heIs
scandal been blown from gram OF TACT to dimen,
sions which inversely proportioned 10 It's acta,
gravity. The prncipa participants, though not an
appearing the testimony, are well kno%n 10 n oo
macontentants and discharged employees OF the DIS
fxiet Service who have seized upon the opportunity
10 themse yes and have eagerly and assduous-
" propagacd the scandal TO the four winds oil heaven
through the medium OF the press
Third Whether the action OF Lieutenant Arnold IN
communicating to his sergeant false rendition ol
Tie raks OF the superintendent OF Ponce was ID itS
esrnoe malicious or not and whether not 1t is pos
uble 10 take 40 lenient view OF the matter as 10
suppose that he had honestly misunderstood the pur
port OF these remarks swearng to what ne believed 10
b the truth in bis testimony notwithstanding US
martial inconsistency and entire Incompatlblty win
previous statements not sworn tol' ne at 'est
convcted OF communicating the imputaton against his
superior officer Of making suggestion when ms own
prolonged experience in police affairs must have taught
kin could result only In disaster and Disgrace
Furthermore II appears ndispr tably in the evidence
ana is not denied that Lieutenant Arnold, In CONVEX
s.tlon with the other heutenants. made an assertion
infam
against a prominent thoue b unnamed official OF the
Government IL may be- that the evidence OF Lieu
tenant KELLEY although seriously tainted by false
statements the Commissioners 10 whom his rer resen
tstons as TO should not have needed the sanction
OF an OATH Il sincere in part IN that he mstransIaeu
the purport OF the Superintendent. remarks. Upon
no other theory can he and Arnold De acquitted of
dolbei false swearing and unfortunately tne some
What superior experience intelligence OF these
bear against the more favorable snpposltlon lhis
ouestiop the Commissioners will not undertake TO
decide their final action being controlled by the facts
a whole. and not by any special aspect o' ONO Vi
more
Any man who will analyze this statement with care
will tnd that it tends strongly to confirm the
testimony of Leutenants Arnold, Kelley and 6essford,
10 the effect that Major Walker did desire anc suggest
that members OF the police force should take cog
nizance OF the raltes OF Senators and representatives
with view to infU encing their action on matters
relating to the District OF Columbia. Other conhrma-
ton is found In q remarkable statement furnished ny
Major Walker to-day TO the District Commissioners,
BY which he attempts to show that the scanda 10 'he
of conspiracy between Lieutenant Arboiu an"
axDeectve McDevtt 10 cast discredi' on his admins
trstion of the Police Department The concluding
sentences of Major Walkers log statement are rather
significant. He .
As to the propriety Of my asking the Leutenants
10 make friends with the Members TO the end that
needed police legislation might be had II has always
been practice in the department. and my request was
NO departure from custom. as Will DO shown by
Exhibit b."
Now ninety nine persons in every hundred in Wash
ington believe that instructions or euggesons were
given to the police eutenants to observe and report
On the private conduct OF Congressman with view to
securing their favorable action IN matters OF leglsa,
tion and Major Walker declares that he has concealed
nothing from the District Commissioners and he
invites the most thorough investigation. Ii is the
universal belief that the action OF the Commissioners
today must result thorough and searching inquiry
by Congress- because is evident that much remains
lidoen which in the interest of decent government
should be laid bare. Justice 70 the District Commits
sioners the selves demands such inquiry because
they are under a heavy cloud.