Evening journal., 1889-10-25
DAMAGING ALLEGATIONS.
THE CHARGES AGAINST CHIEF OF
POLICE SWiGGETT.

What Isaac G. Pyle Told a Councilman.
The Police Committee of CITY Council
to Hold an Investigation Of the Mat
ter Next Week.
For some months past the Police Com
mittee of City Council and certain mem
bers have hooked with suspicion upon the
large bills for feeding prisoners sent in
bv Chief of Police William Y. Swiggett.
Two or three months ago bills
came IN for over $50 month and
cause considerable comment. The price
per meal, Is cents, was found TO be the
same as that paid for several years past,
but the number of prisoners appeared
excessive. On investigation It was right.
But the matter having been brought up,
the price paid was quietly investigated
II was found that John J. Dougherty,
Hutch Mcconnell and James L. Hawkins,
in their terms as chief Of police had
charged the same price, 10 cents, and
some members Of the Police Committee
asserted that it was the price fixed by
law. The section of the city charter,
read in Council last evening
and printed in another column
Sisproves that, and shows that the legal
price is the actual cost to the chief Of
lDolise. Previous toithe adoption of the
I new charter the rate was fixed at 10 cents
a meal. This rate was abolished.
! Old members Of Council have been
| fully aware that it looked as il all
chiefs Of police were making good
thing out the prisoners meals, but the
chiefs always made affidavit to the cost
and it had not been investi-
gated Chief Of Police Swiggett wonld
say nothing this morning in regard to
the grave charges made against him by
Mr.. Lawson at last nights meeting Of
Council He said Mr.. Lawson had never
said word TO him about the manage
ment of the police department.
Isaac @. Pyle, proprietor Of the Clayton
House, who has'supplied the meals at the
police station under Mr.. Swiggett, said
that he always received the full check
which Mr.. Swiggett received from the
made any demand on him for money
on tbSs account. Mr.. pyle sail
that Mr.. Swiggett fed the prisoners bet
ter than any Of his predecessors. Mr.,
Pyle did not furnish meals during the
term OF John j. Dougherty, but his pred
ecessors used to send basket for 90 OF
80 cents worth of scraps. Mr.
Pyle furnishes to Mr.. Swiggett
for the use of the prisoners, thick sand
wiches of good bread cut from the origi
nal ioaves, buttered with good butter
and with good meat between the slices
One of these sandwiches, which are abou
four or FIVE inches thick. comprises
meal, and the alleged price is 10 cents.
Ex-Chief James l. Hawkins said thi
morning that he used to charge what i
cost him per meal 10 cents. He OBJ
! tanned the meals at various places
The new charter went into effee
during Mr.. Hawkinss term and it
alleged that. he charged Council at frs
] 90 and 20 cents per meal. making sffidavi
to the cost. Council refused to pay an
Z he settled on 10 cents, which amount hs
been kept
: john j. iDougherty obtained meal
during his term by or through his wife
who charged him 15 cents. 1t is sal
that Mr.. Dougherty eventually obtaine
(. the money.
s Now, it is alleged that Isaac G. Pyl
J, himself told member of City Counc
e that Mr. Swiggett gave him the chec
g for the months meals, and he, (Mr. PylI
e would take half of the amour
. of the check from his safe and give it {
| Mr. CWlIAtlt. II buls ls bIuts lue pile
|, paid is virtually ~ cents meal, an
I the chief of police pocket
V the remaining u cents The lei
e ter of the law may be observed
0 by Mr. Pyle, charging 10 cents each fC
d his sandwiches, but the spirit is no
e The u cents may be a per centage pal
], by Mr.. Pyle for the privilege of havin
l. the meals obtained from him, Mr.. Ply
l. says there is no contract, and the chit
!. Of police can go elsewhere when /
> chooses
n The Police Committee Of Council wi
thoroughly, investigate the matter.
meeting of the committee will be heldo
Monday evening next, and Isaac @. Pyl
e Chief Swiggett, Councilman Lawson an
d others have been summoned before Il
Il | couar,, itfaa