Evening journal., 1889-11-07
SWIGGETTS SWAG.
COMPELLED TO DIsGoReE HALF or
HIS SANDWICH DOODLE.

City Solicitor Turner Has Nothing 20 DO
with the Morality of the Case, but
Gives DogmatIc Opinions From a
Legal Standpoint.
The Police committee of the City
Council held meeting last evening to
adopt a report on the investigation Of
the charges made against Chief Of Police
w. Y. Swiggett. Chairman Sawdon pre-.
sided and Messrs. Farra, Baugh, White.
Shea and Mccall, and City Solicitor
Turner were present.
The discussion was earnest. The mat
ter was looked at from all sides. City
Solicitor Turner did most Of the talking.
giving opinions and answering questions
put to him by the members Of tho com.
mittee Mr.. Turner stated that he was
acting in a fair and impartial manner to
all concerned. If any contract expressed
or implied existed. between Mr.. Swir-
gett and Mr.. Pyle, for return of a part
Of the money paid TO the latter, It would
be fraud against the city, and either
could be prosecuted without trouble. Tie
actual cost of meals to the city was
10 cents This Mr.. Pyle re-
ceived The fact that something
was paid back by Mr.. Pyle had nothing
to do with that part Of the matter. Mr..
Turner said he had nothing to do with
the morality Of the matter He was
talking from legal standpoint. The
chief Of police was much burdened with
it. The ,hief did not know of the exist.
ence Of the law, and consequently was
not aware Of the questionable character
Of the transactions. Mr.. Turner re-
marked that he would not have the
opprobium over himself for 81 ,000
Mr. McBall said he was in converse
zion with the chief of police this week.
The chief said he had not known of the
low aud thought that 10 cents YVES the
amount allowed by law Mr.. Mccall
considered the action OF the chief wrong
and believed that the actual cost of the
meals was n cents.
Mr. Shea and Mr.. White wanted TO
know il the chief could not be made to
pay back the money to the city, or be
prosecuted for obtaining money under
false pretenses. Mr.. Turner did not
think it could be done. The absence of
any contract would not warrant it. Be
sides there was no such charge against
the chief.
Mr.. Sawdon aud Mr. Shea had conf
Dental conversation and then Mr. Shea
moved that the chief be allowed one half
of his bill. The motion was put and car
ried. While a written report for submis-
sion to the council was being prepared the
matter was again discussed.
The question of collecting half Of the
amount paid to the chief for the previous
months of his term was brought up and
discussed. Mr.. Turner said that the in
tention of the law was to prevent the
payments for meals being any source of
profit to the chief Of police. If the meals
could be obtained for "a cents the city
should have the benefit of it, Mr. Sawdon
called attention to the fact that good
sandwiches could be produced any where
for FIVE cents
President Farra then offered the fol-
lowing report, which was adopted:
ITO the Councils
your committee, TO whom was re-
ferred the attached bill, would report
that they have Investigated the matter
OF feeding prisoners, and from the facts
which have come to their knowledge they
are convinced that the actual cost Of each
meal has been n cents. They therefore
would report in favor OF reducing the bill
to that amount and thas an order be
drawn in favor Of William Y. Swiggett
for S31. so"
President Farra asked Mr.. Turner If
he had heard the opinions of any other
lawyers expressed in the matter of actual
cost. Mr.. Turner replied that he had
not and even if he did, he would pay no
attention to them, for he was in the habit
Of doing his own thinking. What other
lawyers thought would not change his
opinion. Mr. Turner suggested that it
would be well to pass an ordinance gov
erning the matter OF feeding the prison
ers. Mr.. Farra asked whether the char
ter would not cover the matter and Mr..
Turner said it would il properly enforced.
Mr.. Turner said that he had heard in
timations that Mr. Swiggett was going
to pay hr. Pyle back the money he had
received from him. This phase of the
matter was informally discussed, after
which the committee adjourned.
There may be a fight in Council this
evening over the report, but it win pro
badly be adopted It is likely that an or
dinanoe changing the method Of feeding
the prisoners viii soon be introduced in
Council.