Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-11
IHIEF DELBRUGGR
.IcVS HIS RESIGNATION IN THE HANDS OF
TIE COMMITTEE
. Guarantee That Be VIII Hereafter Admin
is,sr tho Duties Of Bis OfSco Taiihfany-AFull
Report Of Last Nights Meeting

outside Of such occasions as election
irhts and party caucuses, there have
zen few times, since the location Of the
" government in its present quarters,
hen more excited and deeply interest
\ citizens were congregated about the
ity Hall, than were present yesterday
.fternOon and last evening.
II was perfectly we'll understood that
be session Of the Council Committee on
! olice, which had been called by the
hartman for eight O'Clock in the even
z, was for the purpose OF taking some
.rtion relative to the late conductof the
cad Of the Department. and during
! lost Of the day, as upon the previous
vening, the matters to come before the
ommittee, and the probable action Of
hat body in the promises, were about
be only thing one could hear discussed
\ the corridors and Offices. Both the
rlends ana enemies Of Chief Delbrugge
tere very active, and there was a great
mount of public and private talk on
be side or the other OF the case.
Saturday night 1t seemed to be the
Eminent OF a majority OF the commit
semen that the resignation OF The Chief
bust be forthcoming, without cOndi-
bon, but by Sunday evening 1t was APP
brent that this determination, II that
not too strong a word with which to
'eScribe the feeling Of the members,
'ad been somewhat modified, and yes
frday afternoon there seemed to be no
.neStlOn but that the committee would
I've the Chief fair show, provided
britain guarantees as to future conduct
fere given by that official.
The Committee was called to order in
be Office Of the City Clerk about half
.ast eight o'clock, every member of the
'ommittee being present. In calling
be body TO order, the Chairman said:
"GENTLENEN:-I have called this
'ommittee together on my own account.
suppose you are all aware Of the
rouble existing in the Department, and
thought il best for the members of
be Committee TO meet and consult
bout II"
Mr.. JefferSOn-There are no charges
zainst the Chief OF Police, as l under
HAND it. There are no regularly pre-
erred charges, and all we have tonight
re the rumorS which are going around
nth relation to derelictions OF his, and
understand through the papers the
,bief has q statement he would like TO
make TO the Committee with reference
b himself. move that be be heard.
The Chair would like TO hear an
ixpression Of opinion from the members
II the committee, first.
Nlr. JefferSOn-I will withdraw my
notion for that purpose.
Mr. Marsh-Mr. Chairman, as far as
am concerned, am somewhat at sea
ln this question. / have thought IL
,per considerably, and at one time l
Ella like calling on the Chief TO resign;
,rain. have thought that If he was
4illing 90 come before the committee
ma make a clean breast Of this matter
-then, II there was any way 10 save
he man from further downfall, / would
Sc willing 70 give him a ShOw-that
gOuld not feel like putting ought In
rs way.
Mr.. Klein feel, to a great extent,
Ike Mr.. Marsh. II he would come be-
ore Us, and make statement, and sign
paper the committee would have
hings 10 its hands, and If he didn't do
ight, in the future, we would be in a
iositiOn TO take action.
NTo-oB frhara ornhf n ho soma
hing in writing, and then, il there
hOuld be any complaint In the future
4 we give him a chance-we could act.
. Mr.. O'Kane.-Mr. Chairman, l ap-
roach this subject in a sOrrOwful way.
am sorry / have to say Il. l have
tnOwn Of this thing for a long time I
lave made up my mind, and it's pretty
lear time to end it. / have no charges,
lut this man has violated every princi-
lle of his Office, and SO far as l am con-
erned, want you 20 understand / want
inn to retire. The citizens Of Wheeling
laced me in this position, and / have
.uty 10 perform. lam very sorry for II,
Iut il the skies were TO fall, Pm bound
b dOit. This man has been repeatedly
demonstrated with. and he has promised
D do better. His bOndSmen have gone
b him, and he has promised then 20 do
|etter, and yet be has not done it. am
pDosed 70 any more leniency at this
|ine. Mr. Chairman, when a public
nicer has two as three chances, and
iolates his promises, it Is time to stop.
Dir. JeffersOn-Mr. Chairman, Mr..
l'Kane has partially expressed my feel
orS on this subject. | don't think we
al afford to ignore these stories Of the
cts OF the Chief OF Police. II there is
nv Office in the gift of this city which
eonires man to be vigilant, and to be
hove reprOach at all times, il is the
Nee of Chief Of Police. He is the guar
ian OF the public safety. Like
lr. O'Kane, l approach this
inject with many misgiv-
~. l hardly know what is my
nv under the circumstances. Ibelieve
- an owe a duty 10 the public. 1 don't
slieve in whitewashing, but at the same
me a Chief Of Police has never come
afore the committee or the people OF
tis city in the way the present Chief
8mes now, aud ! think we ought TO be
NV careful before we demand his reSlg-
4tjon-befOre we say, We will take no
plantations, nor allow you to make
sstement, but demand your resignation.
is question il that Is
IN proper way. There is another
IN Of getting out Of this, and that
an is on the side of mercy. There Is
I old book, which some OF you are
5ubtless familiar with, which says
|et he among you who is without sin
.st the first stone" Louis Delorugge
i done very wrong, but If there Is
i way to save his family from further
kgrace and give him another chance
j in favor of adopting it. l don't
low just what we ought TO do-lust
BAT shape IL ought to take-out 1 don't