The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-05
CITY MARSHAL OR Chief
The Council Again Wrestles With
the Question of Which is
the Boss.
BY Vote the Aldermen Once More
Say That Cronin Shall
Rule.
Both Officers Prefer Charges Against Each
Other aid Both are Vim
Dictated.

1t is we'll known fact that affairs in the
police department are not running as
smoothly as they should, and never have
since the Office of chief of police was
created. That official and the city marshal
rarely speak MS they pass by, and the police
force of the city is at a loss to know whom
to look upon as their chief. The mayor
desires that the chief of police shall rule
and command, and the city council by de-
cisive vote has upon two occasions declare
that the city marshal shall be the controll-
ing power, as has been the rule in previous
administrations. Each with such power at
his back goes about his own buslness, neither
consulting the other on matters connected
with the duties of the office, and US a result
that efficiency expected of the dice de-
partment has not yet been obtained, though
it would be if the question of just who is at
the head of the department could be de-
cided
special meeting of the city council was
held last night, ostensibly for hearing
charges against the chief and marshal! pre-
ferred by each other, it being thought that
the result of the investigation would virtu-
ally decide the question of authority. But
the result totally failed of its purpose.
The charges were heard and explained by
the accused gentlemen to the satisfaction
of the aldermen, who considered them too
trivial to be entertained.
The session was stormy one. Mayor
Bradford was deeply Interested and very
DESTROYS of having the trouble adjusted in
manner that would please him. but his
plans fell far short of being satisfactory to
the mayors plan was defeated by
vote of seven to five. notwith-
standing his appeals to the aldermen to
stand by him in his efforts to adjust police
affairs. The mayors idea of settling the
trouble was one that would relesate the city
aha(f IN at anti
man Steele put it. Hewanted an ordinance
passed that would take out of Marshal Gro
Minis hands any possible connection with
police. affairs, though the eInoiuments of the
office would still accrue to him
The meeting opened with reading the
charges preferred by Marshal Cronin
against Chief Beary. The latter was
charged with having appropriated on two
occasions the fines of prisoners which had
been RENTED and of causing the marshars
signature to be placed to one receipt show
ing the money had been paid. The
amounts were 1885, in each case.
In defense, the chief of police said he still
had the money in his possession ready to
turn over to the people when they called
for it.
The charges preferred by Beary against
Cronin were promptly met by the marshal
in every instance. One was that the mar
shall charged for board of prisoners that had
never been behind the ba S. Hesai . in this
respect he only followed the footsteps of
previous administrations and collected or
was allowed 50 cents for days board for
each prisoner registered on the docket.
Nowhere in the ordinances are to be found
anything regulating this point. In further
defense of the marshal, Aldermen Steele
and Connolly showed that the city govern
ment was responsible for this system of
assessing costs to prisoners.
Another was that the city marshal helped
to compound felony. This referred to a
county case, involving a highly respected
young man who holds a responsible posi-
with the boys" unconsciously got
into a little scrape. The man
was placed under arrest, and Marshal
Cronin went to County Attorney Nolan for
advice in the matter. The affair was fully
explained. The young man picked wo-
when he was accused of having it he imme-
diately recalled the affair ami gave the
stone up. The county attorney decided
there was nothing in it, and ordered the
mans release, and told thu marshal he
would be responsible for any odium that
county affair anyhow, and the marshal
stood indicated.
Another charge was that the marshal I'M
lawfully collected a dog tax of 25 cents for
each dog registered. This charge was also
quashed as the revised ordinances allow
the marshal that commission. The other
charges were of a lesser character, and each
was successfully explained away and the
marshal vindicated, and on motion the
charges against both were laid on the table.
The mayor then announced that he was
very DESTROYS of having the trouble in the
police department settled once for all and
forever. This constant clashing was hurry
ing him to an early grave and it was con-
slant menace to his peace of mind. He had
an ordinance prepared that would effect
ipt Sin %hoNx
define the duties of the chief of police and
of the marshal, and he hoped the council
would pass it and thereby aid him in calm.
ing the storm, for he guaranteed them that
If they would, the wrangle between the
heads of the police force would be at ar
end.
And this was just the conclusion some OF
The aid .rmen reached after the ordinance
was read. There uld be no call for fur
ther conflict of authority between the mar
the city marshal by the charter. as to his
relation with the police, would be taken
away and the chief of police would have
full sway of the force and of the city Jail.
In fact the only thing left for the marshal
to do would be to drive around in his buggy
and attend to all the nuisance complaints:
but he would still draw the emouments of
the office. The ordinance started off this
way: That the police department shall
consist of the mayor as chief executive; a
cnieI OF ponce, sergeant, two or more de-
tectlves and as many police as the
mayor should recommend No mention
was made of the city marshal as a member
of the police department, though Alderman
Connolly pointed out that the act of the
legislature in creating the Helena charter,
made express provision for a city marshal
and defines some of his duties. Alderman
Connolly further pointed out that the
marshal could not be ignored as he would
have recourse.to the courts under provisions
of the law laid down by the city charter
Mayor Bradford endeavo.ed to explain
that it was not the intention to deprive the
marshal OF any rights. but to fix matters up
SO that there would be one. and not tive
heads to the police department..
This brought Alderman Lissner to his
feet. He said the city got along very vel
heretofore without chief of police anC
could do SO again. and he promised that h,
would vote for any measure to abolish that
Office: but would never vote to deprive tn,
marshal, who had been confirmed by tn.
council, of the duties and Responsibilities
and emoluments of the office to which h,
was appointed.
Alderman Connolly charged that the po-
lice force was inefficient; in TACT. has grown
to be a family affair, and these thing
should not be, and the quicker some fxe,
head is on the police department the better
it will be for everybody.
Aldermen Steele, Wilmer and Thompso,
SPOKE in the same vein. and Aldermen
Theme and Gallagher were heartily il
accord with the mayors purpose, and finall
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