Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-14
TAKING A NEW TACK.
Mayor GOurley Will Investigate the
Alleged Misconduct of a
Police Official.
GRAVE ACCUSATIONS BEINGsMADE,
Which His Honor Says Will MeetsTheir Just
Reward if Sufficient ProofTCan
Be Collected.
SOME SENSATIONAL STORIESEXPECTED.
GRAVE ACCUSATIONS BEINGtMADE,
SOME SENSATIONAL STORIESEIPECTED.
Plenty Of Comment Made Over the LastsCOmmunication
to Chief Brown


letter on municipal affairs. If he secures
the information he is now looking for his
next epistle will be much more emphatic
than any of its predecessors, and Will be OF
a decidedly sensational strain. Ever since
the executive typewriter began clicking out
messages Of wrath. the Mayor has received
numerous hints and comments about differ
ent affairs needing investigation. In most
cases deaf ear was turned to these ap-
proaches, the executive being inclined to
look with suspicion on them as ema-
mating from personal grudges which
the Mayor does not propose to gratify. But
there is one case in which he feels reason
ably certain OF his ground, and any further
developments in it will probably lead to
some interesting reading. His Honor has
been pretty reliably informed of a certain
individual, whose name appears monthly on
the pavrolls of the city, but who could ap-
parentlv dispense with the salary if per-
mitted to retain his position
Hiurmurs of Approaching Thunder.
This is the species of game the Mayor is
on a hunt for, and he is apparently rather
confident of bagging his prize be-
fore many weeks have slipped by.
If the chase proves sue cessful, there
will be merry doings about City Hall, end
the walls of the old building will shiver
under the laundering of official denuncia-
ton. Yesterday afternoon a gentleman
called on Mayor Gourley in his Office and
was soon engaged in conversation with him.
They sat together some time, and the out
come of what the visitor said may yet cause
a sensation.
The Mayor was informed on authority
that can scarcely be questioned, that a GER
tain police official had been taking illegal
advantage of his position. The accusations
against this official were that he had been in
the habit of extorting money from
persons for services which 1t
is the duty of an officer in his position to
render without any other compensation
than that paid him by the city. Also that
he derives a comfortable income from the
followers of occupations not strictly lawful,
frightening money out of them by threats
of putting them into the hands of other of
ficials whom they well know could not be
brought by the prospect of personal gain
into any such disregard of duty.
Some of the Information ELECTED.
The Mavor was informed that the official
in question paws but little attention to his
duties as a member of the Bureau of Police,
and fails TO figure very often in police mat
tiers. except in instances where he will be
personally benefited. The Mayor was not
greatly surprised at the statement of the
gentleman. Several weeks ago he was told
a similar tale, and he has received hints
from various quarters in the same strain,
which have led him TO decide on a deter
mined action.
IF such a person is connected with the
CITY government, " said the Mayor, SIT is
certainly shameful thing L do not pro-
pose to let this matter lie uninvestigated.
If | can secure absolute proof that such
plan OF otdishOnorable action is being carried
on hv a police official shall certainly make
it decidedly warm for him. 1t is hard to be-
lieve that an official supposed to be working
for the safety of the city and the preserva-
tion Of public peace should be able to elude
the vigilance of his superiors and the sharp
eyes Of the populace in such acts, but there
are indications that it is so. If it is possi-
hle for me TO run down a case of this nature
J Will do so, and the offender shall not
escape the punishment he deserves"
a Chance for Further Letter-wrIting.
The Mayor has been further informed
that the suspected individual is in the habit
Of spending his Sunday afternoons in a
place not in keeping with the dignity of one
Of the citv's officers and making little at
tempt to conceal the fact The name of the
suspected individual Mayor Gourley de-
clines to make public unless he can secure
clinching proof Of his misconduct, which,
up TO this time, he has been unable to do.
The main topic of comment about City
Hall Yesterday was the Mayors last letter
to Chief Brown. All parties connected de-
cline to make any statement concerning it
and Chief Brown said: 81 have nothing to
say"
The same reply came from the Mayor,
who says he made all his comments in the
letter, and has no further statement to
make.
Not Saying Single Word.
Superintendent of Police Gamble Weir
prefers not to talk about it. He said: 81
am prepared TO be quoted about the
weather, the prospect for good crops, on
almost any topic, but if you will excuse me
! Will draw the line on letters Of all de-
scriptions."
Assistant Superintendent O'Mara was in
a similar mood and declined to say a word
While nearly everybody else had some COM
ments TO make on the situation there is no
sign of any new move in the controversy.
The letter has been sent, the public has had
an opportunity to read it in the papers, and
there the matter stops, with many people
cat will jump next.