Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-10-30
THIRD EDITION.


j
Harrington last evening iof the purpose
oil Investigating the charges brought
against Chief Of Police William Y. Salg- (,
gett at The meeting o. City Council ON
Ihursday evening.
Mr.. Sawdon pres.ied, end Messrs.
White, bsugh, Shea aud Mccall, mem
bers OF the Police Committee, were pres
ent. The following were also at the
meeting: Judge Ball, City Auditor
John M. Newell, Chief swiggett, Special
officer Weldon, Couneilmen Roberts,
Chambers, Lawson and Perkins.
In introducing the subject Mayor Har-
rihRton spoke OF the good reputation of
the chiei and his usefulness in this city.
When be was elected Mayor he asked
Major swiggett to become Chief of
Police. He did not solicit the office, but
lie sought him.
Continuing, the Mayor said, In sub
stance: ~ could not imagine any greater
calamity IL his public services were con-
denned on account of his following
custom. l imagine the effect OF such
condemnation on tie criminal classes.
Every houge OF ill-repute and all the
gamblers would be laughin-. | will
show you that this custom has been going
on for years. desire free open, session,
and think eau show that Major Swig-
gett has been aciing sincerely all through
This matter. hope you will not injure
MS reputation by report condemning
him. Major swiggett will tell YOU an
open, straight story. He will make a
statement and is willing to abide by the
report.
the prisoners at 10 cents a meal, Mr..
Pyle undertook the contract at that price
He regarded the contract at Is cents as
actual cost.
AS had been the custom for years, and
knowing that the chief had the emolu-
ment and Der eft of that Is cent?, Mr..
Pyle voluntarily and unsolicited handed
him an abatement when the bills were
paid. Chief Swiggett made the fame
sihdavit other chiefs have made before
him aud he followed my instructions.
Mr.. Pyle, inttead Of coming here, could
have refused to do so. But Mr.. PYLE
said to me, 81 want a full aud open In
xejtigaiion
Councilman Lawson, who opposed the
motion to pay tue feed bill, being called
upon, said he had nothing further TO say
than what he hal already stated. He had
no dosire to incriminate the chief, but he
thought the city was paying too much
for feeding prisoners. He asked Mr..
fyle what he was getting, and he very
frankly told him. He had 1t also from
Mr.. Quinn that the city WAS paying too
much, He thought the bills we've very
1eessive He understood from Mr. Pyle
lat he paid the chief back half thu
money he received.
Being questioned, Mr.. Lawson said
that he had offered resolution to asc' r.
TAIN the number of prisoners led and the
number OF meals served, which wa5 re-
terred to the Police Committee, but he
felt no ways sggrieved that the commit
tee took no action On the resolut OH. lie
did say, in conversation with Mr. Cotton,
that in getting at this affair he had to go
through the buzzard to get at the turkey.
He understood that when tho chief paid
q bill Of over $50 he got one half back as
Arebate.
Mr.. Baugh in defence of the Police
Committees action on Mr.. Lawson's
resolution, said that the committee had
examined into the matter about which
Mr.. Lawson had asked and they were
ready to report. The report would have
made THIRTEEN pages Of legal cap, aud
the committee did not Nave the authority
TO have It repaired at a cost OF SO OF 81.
Chairman Sawdon then called upoI
Isaac G. Pyle, of the Clayton House, who
was sworn. Mr.. Pyle testified in sub
stance: "Mr. swisgett came 10 see nj,
after his Installation ind asked me II
would furnish the meals tor the prisoners
told him | would do so. II gave mi
to understand that the price would b
IS cents per meal. He said lie wantet
better 70 d furnished than the prisoner
had been receiving. No bill OF fare VIZ
agreed upon, but he tod me to furuis
Sc good food as l could for Is cents. il
The absence OF any understanding O
consideration anything he received woul
be voluntary. / continued to furnish a
gf,I k.nr, I
were one or two complaints lest summer
the major sendiug word that some CT th
meat was rot Who'll, some"
ibid you give money to Chief SwL
gett at his solicitation" asked Mayo
Harrington.
"Ho, Sit; on the contrary he has show
yeluctance on accepting any thing re
Piled MIR. Pyle.
"What was your agreement"
ITO furnish as good food rs | cCul
for 10 cents"
Mr.. Pyle said that he recognized III
position of chief OF police and It's emoll
m.nts. He taid the mtals were rot r.
1use matter from the tables ard repcatt
again that there was no pcrc utaEe pla
agreed upon " men the chief paid NJ
Pyle what he pleased. Mr., Pyle won
not cay what he returnrd the chiif ear
month, but this 6um varied as Il
Rmonnt of the bill varied Mr.. liza
Sington said 1t was generally about on
hall.
Chief Sw'ggett when sworn said
"When was appointed chief OF Il
police and came into office | sought NJ
Lopez and asked him to give me what i
stfuctions he could aud this he kind
consented to do. lIG gave me iustru
tions upon the feed OF the prisone,
commitment, registration OF dogs, alto
fines, how aud when paid, etc. lie 81
he allowed Is cents per meal Tor prscl
ers ard two meas pr Gay. | went
Mr.. Pyle and he said he would furnish q
food. said that wanted good foo
ard Is cents was aPreei Upon as the pr
per meal kept trace OF the matter al
made compliant twice that the food W
not good.
"T took especial note of Mr.. Lorer's
strucllons. / kept record OF the I'm
and other things so that all my recor
should be Investigated, 70 show trl
20 keep correct record during my &
month in oilice gone OF the tags On dc
had been lest and the owners want
them duplicated. II had been the c.
tom to charge ten cents for the medal q
the money belonged to the chief k'
this In my books and askcd the city au
tor to credit this money received for
plicates, as 1t belonged to tho city, but
said as it had not been The custom to
10 he would conEnt the city solicitor.
.H..E