The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-31
THE EVIDENCE OUT.
Fayban Appears to Accuse
Sheahan of Stealing.
CHIEF MONROE QUESTIONED.
The Police Investigation Fairly Begins
-Shcahan's Biunt DeniaI-Mon-
roe IL Ratified.


prisoners
The most damaging testimony against Captain
Sheahan was given by Officer Fayban, who has
becn detailed 20 clerical work Mt police head
quarters II is his duty 70 book all prisoners
and take care OF all money and property they
may have II was this clerk who preferred the
charges Of theft and, as Captain Sheahan has de-
MED all the allegations made by him. the COM
ml1sioners have TO decide that one or the other
has perjured himself
The commissioners did not 60 thoroughly into
any Of the charges, except that OF theft.
At this session. The charges against Jailcrs l.
W. Evans and Ben Stretch, Of neglect OF duty in
allowing Prisoner John Connors 70 escape Janu-
AIRY II, were not taken up fully.
Tho lobby of the hall OF the house OF delegates
was crowded with spectators By 80 o'clock. but
the commissioners were not all In their seats I'M
III nearly o'clock. Captain Sheahan and Ben
stretch occupied seats ON each side OF
their counsel, 3. II. Piles, and Evans sat
behind his attorneys, John Wiley aud w. T.
Scott Chief Monroe sat with the commission
cvsin an arm chair, Under the presidents desk,
which was occupied by Mayor White. Corpora
tipn Counsel Orange Jacobs and City Attorney
J. II. Lyon acted as counsel to the commission
err. Everyone, even the commissioners them
seiyes wore an interested look and seemed to
expect something sensational to be exploded.
Just az the board was called to order Judge
Richard Osborn aud Sheriff Wooicry entered
the ball IL was generally supposed that they
good character during the sixteen years OF his
residence In Seattle.
When the meeting was called TO order Deputy
Clerk Drown read the following specific charges
against Captain sheahan, signed by Chief Mon
roe:
z have the honor to report that on the 10Th
day Of January, 1891, suspended Captain of the
Police Henry Sheahan for the three 90 reasons
hereinafter set forth.
'first--For neglect of duty in properly confn-
41xx< I<tx ftar ss4sr tell Nfr
cumstanccs
sssaid John Connors was arrested In the morn
ing Of January Is, 1891, at 2:45 a. m, by Officer
Joseph Topping, member OF the police de-
partment OF said city. upon the charge of as
sanlting an officer with deadly weapon; said
Connors was Immediately brought TO the police
headquarters Of said city; Hcury shcahsn, here
inAbove referred to- was at the time OF said ar
rest captain OF the watch, and had charge of the
police headquarters OF said city, aud as such
captain In charge was responsible for the secure
confinement OF all persons arrested during said
watch. After said coDnors had been examined
- TO his name, occupation. etc, aud after he had
cell IN the city Jail, in the basement OF said police
headquarters, and on the 18th day of January,
1891, be made his escape from custody by ieay-
ing said Jail In company with other prisoners
who were at that time taken before ciaudius NJ.
Rivers, police Judge Of said city, for trial. Said
Henry sheahnn was responsible for the escape
oil said Connofs BY reason OF the fact that he did
not state TO the iailcr In charge OF the said city
Jail that the charge preferred against said Con-
nors was OF serious nature and that he was TO
be confined In the steeieell in said JAIL in which
prisoners charged with grave offenses are GUS
tOmariy confined. but said Sheahan neglected
his duty by keeping silent as TO the charge
against said connors, and on account OF said
silence Connors was confined with the other
prisoners and with no other precautions than
are used In the cases of prisoners charged with
minor onenscE.
sssecond--For conduct unbecoming in an Of
dcer by misstating the facts in reference to said
confinement OF said Connors TO George c. Mon
roe, chief OF police OF the said city OF Seattle,
when questioned by the said Monroe concerning
said escape. as follows, to-wit: Said sheahan
stated TO said Monroe that he had directed the
tailer in charge Of the said jail at the time said
Connors was arrested to confine said Conuors in
the steel cell, whereas, q matter of fact, said
sheahan made no such statement to said Stretch
and made no. statement whatever 10 said
stretch concerning the gravity of the offense
with which said Connors was charged and gave
said iailer no directions whatever OF the CON
nnement of said Connors and said
on the 10Th day OF January, 1891 in direct con-
fradiction 70 his former statement, told said
Munroe that at the time said Connors was ar
rested and brought TO police headquarters, he.
said sheAhan, was down town aud was not in
the police headquarters.
"Third-For unlawfnlly taking and carrying
headquarters o. said city on or about December
ID, 1890, two ca silk handkerchiefs, not the
property OF said sheahan. and one (l} neektie on
OF about December 70, 1890, not the property of
.'Fourth-For unlawfully taking and carrying
away certain moneys belonging to certain pris-
oners at the time said prisoners were being
searched in the police headquarters of said citv'
as follows, towit: From John Mckay on Janu.
AIRY II 1891: from Thomas Buckley at $50 a. M,
on January IL. 1891, and from Thomas Buckley
On the same day. January IA, 1891, at 9.45 D. m
II have instructed Captain sheahan to report
70 you tonight Tor investigation OF said charges /"
AZ soon as the charges had been read ATTORNEY
Piles was on his feet and complained bitterly
because Chief Monroe had failed To provide
either himself or his client with the specified
charges, as ordered by Mayor White at the close
of Thursday nights session. lie said that the
specific charges were fled with the city clerk
III what time he did not know and the whole
proceeding showed malice ON the part OF the,
ehief. He said that IL was prepostcrous that
she chief should ''eome In here aud charge an
Did citizen like Captain sheahan with stealing
nyo handkerehiefs, a jackknife and vhet-
,tone' He also wanted to know ON what am
shorty Chief Monroe suspended the men in the
hrst place.
The commissioners assured the attorney that
Che chief had acted under their instructions:
that he is TO suspend an officer when he thinks
it his duty 10 do So.
Chief Monroe was sworn, and was questioned
by City Attorney Lyon. With regard TO the es-
cape of John Connors he testified substantially
rs was set forth in his affidavit, claiming that
Captain sheahan said, when asked about the
II told Ren stetch to put the man down in the
steel cell
And that later Sheahan denied making such n
statement. Thea the chief told the story OF tho
charges of theft Ms follows:
"Night Clerk Fayban came TO me on January
u, four days before | suspended Captain Shea
han, and said he would like to be detailed on a
beat asked him why and he said:
There Is some crooked work going on, and
want To get out OF Office p"
81 asked him To tell me more about il, and he
SAID that shcahan had several times taken
things out OF the property-room. There was a
Nhilse IN the room. and he said that IL was
opened by the captain, who took out two hand.
kerchicfg He said that Sheahan took them
home with him. He said Shcahan also took 3
neckte some time later, aud carried il AWAY
and later took some money. lie said that Shea
han took money from two prisoners, and on this
information, as much as anything else. sus-
pended him.
"Dld you not tell Captain sheahsn that he
had better resign, aud did you net tell him that
u be would resign yea would put him On the
force again, but as patroiman, and that the
charges against him would be- dreppeds' asked
the ccasel for the accused, sayagcly.
"lcs,f answered the chief. II have nothing
personally against the man, aud / wanted to
give him show.
"lou said awhile ago that you believed that
Clerk fayhan told the truth, and that sheahau
Was taiei' why then did yea wish 10 keep
such man on the police fazce OF our grand
eitys Are there any more thieves pasFoling the
streets IN officers GnitornsT" asked the attOr-
ney. with emphasss
Chief Monroe was plainly nuisled. and rnasla
long and confused statement which had no
bearing on the question. While be was on the
stand he was questioned SO severely that Attor.
hey Lyon had To eolne to his rescue.
Detectives J. L. Barek and {. C. wilson and
captain 5. ". Peer testified that they heard
saPi&ta Sneshan tell Chief Monroe, 81 ordered
hen stretch 10 put John ConnoES in the steel
Thea came Clerk Fayban. and he stated.
ala night clerk under Captain Sheahan az
resaee headquarters, saw Captala Sheahan 80
lhto tse property room where Is kept an
ltepetY belonging 10 prisoners, aud I saw
~, - osp saiise which was IN there. The va
-, Raa aesn there without an owner for about
tisbt months He took OCT two six scarfS ana