The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-30
POLICE AND FIREMEN.
Outbreak of Investigation in
Both Departments.
sHEAHAn ACCUSED or STEALING.
chisf Monroe Springs New Chsrges-A
Faction Attacking Keiiehcr-
His Credentials.

New charges were made against Police Cap
tain Henry sheahan by Chief Monroe oeiore
the police commissioners last evening, ana
enf,sed yeritable sensation. When the board
met in the house OF delegates room 70 hear and
: Investigate the charges against Captain shea
ban and Jailers Evans ana Stretch OF allowing
connofs 20 escape from jail, CHER Aohfoe
sprung q charge against sheahan OF purioining
money and other property from prisoners
All the commissioners were in their chairs,
and besides Chief Monroe and Detectives Rogers
snd Barck there were present q large NUMBER OF
spectators
Eacl, Of the accused officers was represented
by counsel, W. T. Scott and John Wiley Tor
Evans, and S. II. Plies for Henry sheahan and
Ben Stretch.
Deputy Clerk Drown, after calling the roll.
was instructed TO read the charges as preferred
By Chief Monroe. The first read were those
against Jailer Ben Stretch, in which he Is ac-
cused Of neglect of duty In allowing an i'm
portant prisoner, John Connors, 70 escape from
the city jaii on January L. The same charge
was preferred against Evans. Then the startling
charges against Captain sheahan were read as
follows
- have the honor 10 report that on January
~. Je9s. suspended captain OF police, Henry
Sheahan. for neglect of duty ia connection VITA
the escape OF prisoner John C0nnors IRON the
city jail, January II, 1891, and for conduct IN
perning the escape of said John Conuors. l also
desrc 70 submit the charge OF purloiniDg the
money aud property OF prisoners IN the keeplDg
OF the police department. l have instructed
Captain Sheehan TO report 70 you tonight ior an
Investigation OF the charge"
The latter part OF the charge had probably
been made known to the commissioners, for
they did not evidence any surprise at the read
ing but among the spectators there was sup
pressed excitement and all eyes were turned to-
1rn.- b
eounsel and was yisibly anxious and aflected
The accused did not once take his eyes off the
clerk during the reading. When he had finished
Sheshan turned TO his attorney, who, after
moment, arose and said:
"Tile charges preferred are very serious and
niko sudden. Not until O'Clock this evening
did Captain sheahan know that be vas charged
with psrloining money and articles from psis-
oDegs, and IL was then so late that he has had no
opportunity 10 produce Witnesses 20 clear him
self OF the charge. For sixteen years the ae-
ctlsed has been honorable resident Of the city
Of Seattle, and this Is the first time that he has
ever been accused of theft
Mr. Piles also ensured Chief Monroe for not
sooner making known to Captain sheahan the
full Charges against him.
The ATTORNEYS for Evans and stretch also com
planned that it was unfair to make the charges
30 suddenly.
Mr. Wiley arose and startled the commission
ers BY claiming that Chief Monroe bad 70 au-
fh0rtty 70 suspend the men: that that privilege
rested solely with the police commissioners He
said that be had looked through the city char
Ter and satisfied himself that the chief of police
had assumed an authority which he did not
possess.
The point was caught up and discussed by the
other attorneys and was dropped for moment
The attorney for Sheahan asked among other
things. that the chief of police make his charges
0i dishonesty. More specially that he specify
what money and articles sheahan purloined,
aud from whom they were purlolncd. lie asked
that the commissioners instruct the chief TO file
his specific charges by today al noon, SO that
they can be examined by the defendant.
Tho argument and plea OF the attorney were
cut short by Commissioner Samuel Crawford.
who moved that the investigation OF the charges
against the three officers be postponed until this
evening at go O'Clock lie said that the COM
fnissioners should have the advice of Corpora
tion Counsel Jacobs, since the defendants had
secured able attorneys. The rest OF the com
raisSioncre agreed with Mr. Crawford that they
should seek the advice Of counsel and the mo-
tim Was carried and the board adjourned.
Chief Monroe alleges that he viii prove TO-
night all the charges which he has made.
Evans filed statement which will be read to-
night. in which he disciaims all responsibility
With regard 10 the escape OF connors. Stretch
Will also shift the responsibility to some one
sise's shoulders, and altogether there promises
70 be m cxcsting session.