The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-13
sUmMlRnr DISMISSED.
The Council Passes on Chief
MiteheII's Official Acts.
He Fails 60 Appear AID Answer tbs
Charge Of MaIfeasance "A
Unanfmous Vote.

n O'CLOCK JNzf eTe1frx eli the cOr.Ecli-
men except James McConbs were behind
their tables The city attorney and city
surveyor were also In their places and Act
Ing Chief Of Police willard eat In the
chair that had heretofore bean occupied
By chief Mitchell The last named wss
NOT present. Mr. Mitchell was called 10 Ia
3 CORA on Thursday a witness before the
grsad jury. He returned TO Seattle Thars-
daF night, but had 70 return 20 Tacoma
yesterday morning, zs be had not yet feen
called upon 10 give his evidence. and had
been excused BIZ the Jury. Yesterday
afternoon Mayor Moran received . dis
patch from the prosecuting attorney ss
fAcons TO the effect that Mr. NiscAeli WAS
therefore could not be In seattle &C nisst Is
attend hi8 investigation. Mayor Moran 81
once telegrApheks 20 Judge Allyn. saving
that the people Of Seattle Esntcd Chief
Mitchell here tonight, xud asking hss
honor TO excuse him In reply % this
Judge Allyn selegraphesi that Dc had CT
cEsed Dir. Mitchell. sfsa Mr.. Mitchell also
sent word that he weald be home on the
night train or boat
CURIOUS egowp FaEsgxT.
The crowd that packet the council cham
Der was not aware Of this fact, and By tE.eir
restlessness evsnced their curiosity 20
know why the council did not proceed
with the examination Of Chief Mitchell,
and why he was not present 70 defend
himself.
Councilman MocemDs arrived smmecg-
Ateiy after roii call ard the council pro
ceeded To transact the regular rnntsna bssss-
ness, q fzll report OF which viii be found
subjoined.
WAITING Pon THE CHIEF
AT haif-pasrs O'Clock the order Of bust
ness had been gone through. and the ceua
ell took q recess to await the arrival OF Mr..
Mitchell. The boat on when he was &c
come did not arrive until after 10 O'Clock,
and the crowd SAT patiently throagh 4
informally discussed the situation,
Al 10 minutes past 10 O'Clock Chief
Mitchell mai Jailed 20 sffow ilp. and mes.
seuger who hal been sent 20 meet him q,
the boat informed the mayor that he had
gone home and wouid net come 10 the
meeting. Mayor Moran therenpon called
the meeting TO order, A little routine
business was transacted and then Mayor
Moran handed q communication 20 the
clerk. which read as follows.
MAYORS orFfer. CRY OF sEArTax.,
sEATTi.E, W, T.. Aprfi II. isss.
6eatIemen: have the honor 10 Inform yon
that on the 10th inst / suspended J. e.
Mitchell, chief OF police, from duty aud
notified hin to appear before you this
evening and skow cause why he should
not be removed from office for malfeas-
anee | also appointed Capt willard
In charge Of the police department.
pending further action by you. justify
myself In this action by the knowledge
have OF the said Mltcheirs total disregard
of the enforcement Of the ordinances OF
the city or the instructions of the common
council 10 suppress gambling, which has
run rampant Ia this city. Respectfully.
B0BT. MORAN. Msyo-.
BEGINNING THE INVESTIGATION.
Mayor Moran then usade the explanation
given above for Mr.. aifeheIl's absence.
Mr., Mitchell has since come into town
said be, land told oar messenger who met
him NJ the boat that he Was too tired to
come here aud that he was going straight
home"
statement by saying that C3ief Mitchell
had told the messenger he didn't feel very
well and would go home the council could
do what II pleased
Mayor Moran-What Is your pleasure In
this matter. gentlemen
COUNCILMAN jobes-I move that we
proceed with the examination
Councilman Aiez--I would like 10 have
the city attorney give us bis opinion on the
status Of Affairs u the examination il not
continued ts- night OF i continued In the
absence OF Mr.. Mitchell.
cifs Attorney-It Is not necessary that
Mr.. Mitchell shonld be present, or thar
formal charges should be preferred. This
hearing could be adjourned from day 20
day should the ooancil see On.
MITCHELL. AFFAIRS ny COUNSEL.
Here Mr.. Littell stepped forward. and
said he appeared for Mr.. Ehen smith. who
was Mr.. MiteheIl's attorney. he urged
that Mr.. Mitchell should DC given chance
70 appear and defend himself. aud that his
attorney should be gwen q copy Of the
formal charges, 20 that the defence could
be prepared.
Councilman Burns asked n the hearing
might not be held IN the morning.
Mr.. tttteli said this would only be show.
ing Mr Mitchell proper consideration.
DcRIE SPEAKS PLAINLY.
Councilman nurie-I intend speaking
my mted plainly. and do IS when say
that Mr.. Mitchell does not deserve very
much consideration at the hands of
this council He has treated this
council with She greatest contempt.
aud iteonies with bad grace from him 20 ask
any favor. His remarks as given ia public
print have been abusive concerning the
city government. and tonight ne treated
us with utter contempt when he refused to
GENE here after We bad waited for him
aud given hfrl. gFatuit uely, a chance 10
defend himself
Mr., Idfiell-I don't know what the hon
ofable councilman means when he refers
toMr Mitchell treating thss council with
contempt
Councilman nurie-~i thought I made
myself perfectly clear: bat win explain
again II the gentleman wishes.
Then followed an account Of how SIR.
Mitchell had spoken hard words Of the
mayor and council. and failed 10 appear
Ut the meeting
Councilman G'RrfeG---I came here from
sick bed aud against the advice OF nay
physicians. | ann a. sick as Mr.. Mitchell
y anu think that the examination shenid
be proceeded with
Councilman Reitze--i can't be here 10
Inofrow, and favor going ahead With this
Investigation.
The motion 10 go ahesd with the invest
gallon was unanimously carried.
Mr.. purie moved that Ms. Iitiell he
allowed within the bar TO defend Mr..
Mitchell.
Mir. Littcll said isa was simply acting for
Mr.: Elem smith he Lad seen no charges
aud was Enpfepared 80 proceed. He would
therefore decline 10 act.
= Summary PROPOSAL
Councilman Niex asked the city attorney
IL under the reading Of the charter il
would ne; be hes. 20 remove Mr.. Mitchell
sumfsartly. so that be could nos come
back at the couucil with tbs plea thst a
Mayor Moran said that this examination
WAS only given ~ a matter ~ courtesy %
Mr.. Mitchell. lie had seen CT not 90 avail
himself OF Il. tat that the examination
would go ahead Ia show fhe causes that
led 90 charges being preferred against him.
The investigation was then commenced,
Ne. Mitchell being entirely unrepFcserted.
THE FtRsT WITNESS.
Policeman VIM. NJ. Joues was the first
witness called. lie testified as follows. -
am & policeman and have eeea ON the
force during ali the administration. There
has heen more OF less grumhltng all the
Time. bas Il has eesn worse the past six
months. have heard thar all kinds OF
games have been running Rad have heard
gamblers talk ef losing and winning
money. have never bad any Instructions
10 seek out gamblers. About eight o. 20
days before last Christmas. Chfef Mitchell
said he was eofnS so shut al the games
down after the holiaaSs. He didn't ! have
heard Of men being rebSei In games. sad
told Captains briggs and willard shoag II.
aud they said that probably the men had
Been drunk. Capt RFiggs said he wouldn't
live ia A town where gambling wasn't car
rted oa, When Shcria tockgsnc made his
rails said II would he better Tor the police
a. 90 the work. The chief didn't thsnk 81.
wanted 70 arrest gam hisrs. but eouiSnag
do - oeesuse Of the chief. I knew ~
gambling games. and would have raiaet
thsEn bad she chief SLOWED gse. Il would
hAVe been easy 20 have rstded the sags-
bling Tanes a. any time. Chief Mitchell
Knew there " IS gambling TIE policemen
depenaed on the chief ias orders"
Nsyor-waSn't Il understood among the
!erce that the council naeAet Mr.. Mitchell
up ia everything
Yes. sir