The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-08
TO TIGHTEN THE REINS.
THE MAYORS NOTE OF WARNING
TO THE POLICE.

Mayor schwarz Tells Why He Dis
missed officer Neidliuger From the
Force-He Proposes to Hold the Po-
lice to a Strict Account for Their
Conduct-A Rumor That Chief Green
is After the Scslps OF the Men Who
Did Not Sign the Prendible Card.
There Is considerable gossip in connection
with the Neidlinger case, that the chief of
police Is after the scalps 'of the policemen
who declined to sign certificate which
Officer Prendible circulated among the force
commendatory of Chief Green, AID had
published III the MORNING NEWS near the
close of the term OF the last city council
Fhe rumor is to the effect that out Of
eight members of the police force who
refused to sign, six have been dropped from
the force, and Mr. Neidlinger was one Of
the six. and that while back two other
members of the force, in a personal alter
cation, who went so far as to draw their
weapons, got off with only the nominal fine
of $50.
MAYOR SCHWARZ TALKS.
A MORNING NEWS reporter saw Mayor
Schwarz about the matter yesterday. The
mayor said that he was sick of the whole
case, and did not want TO have any more
to say about it, but when asked If he mad
any explanation to offer as to the difference
in the grades of punishment he had inflicted
he said thai in the first instance he had not
then determined to hold the force to such
strict account, but there were complaints
by the press and the people of lack of dis
cipline, and he made up his mind to be
severe. He so notified the chief OF police,
and the mayor said that there IS no doubt
that the fact was communicated to the
members Of the force.
ONLY PART OF THE CASE PRESENTED.
When the chief brought the Neidlinger
case to his attention the mayor said that
Neidlinger's abusive language to Lightbody
was on Sunday, and attracted a crowd
about the barracks, which had TO be moved
on by the police. That fact, and the fact
that Neldlinger plead guilty, led him to
exercise his discretionary power, and dis
miss him from the force.
The mayor said that the origin of the
difficulty was no. brought TO his attention
by the chief, nor did the chief inform him
that Neidlinger's wife had been to see the
chief to complain of Ligutbody's conduct.
In asking a continuance Neidinger said to
the mayor that he wanted time to get his
wife as a witness and the mayor said that
he then asked Neidllnger if his wife was in
the sally port and heard the quarrel, and
when he replied in the negative, the mayor
tod him that the testimony of Mrs Nsid-
linger was not relevant to the charge pre-
ferred against him.
WILLING TO PUT NEIbLiNGER BACK.
Subsequently the Mayor said, when the
facts bearing ON the or gin of Neidlinger's
abuse OF a brother officer came out. that
having once given his decision he did not
feel justifiable in reversing it. He. however,
Informed Mr.. Mcdonnell that he had no per-
sonal feeling in the matter, and believing
that the penalty he had inflicted would
serve as a lesson he would be willing to put
Neidllnger back on the force when vacancy
should occur Since then u vacancy has
occurred by the death of Officer Thomas
Morgan. and when Nedlinger's term of
suspension expires he Will go back on the
force, and the successor appointed to Neid-
hnger, the mayor said he Win retain.
Referring 70 the rumor that the chief of
police is trying TO weed out of
tie force all those who declined to
Sign the certificate last winter,
tie mayor said that he had no knowledge of
IL. tie had never seen the certificate, and
did not know what members of the police
turce had signed, nor what policemen had
refused to sign 1t. If the chief is practic-
ing that sort Of favoritisn, the mayor said,
be has not acquainted him with his feelings
In ths matter.
LOOKS TO THE CHIEF FOR FACTS.
The mayor pursuing the subject, said
that he must look to the chief of police for
all reports COZ cen ming the force He goes
To the police headquarters every morning
and invariably asks the chief for ch in
forma ion about tho force, etc, and neces-
sarilv depends on him to impart such mat
tiers 10 him as comes within the SCOPE of his
official supervision over the department,
and has been guided by the facts as pre-
scented to him y the chief, as he was in the
Neidlinger case. There have not been a
great many changes in the force, the
mayor said, since his incumbeacy of the
Office OF mayor, and as far as he is
cerned, hone OF them were made because of
failure to sign the Green certificate.
The mayor declined to express any opin-
ion with reference to the action of the city
council in reversing ms decision in the
Neidlinger case beyond sayiGg that it
somewhat angered him at the time, and he
had heard so much about it that he wanted
to dismiss the subject from his mind alto
gether.