The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07
SHATTERED TO ATOMS
Charges Against Chief Rogers
Utterly False.
VERDICT OF THE COMMISSION.
Investigation OF Several Accusations
Made In Affidavits-Th Chief
Completely Exonerated.


Chief of Police Rogers, in the shape of affi-
dayits accusing him of having been con-
fined in the San Francisco house Of correc-
ton in 1879 and in the Colorado peniten-
tiary about 1881 or 1882. were made the
subject of inquiry at a special meeting OF
the police commissioners yesterday. After
the examination of several witnesses and
the reading of counter affidavits, the
charges were formally declared by the
board to be absolutely false and without
foundation.
Police Commissioner Manning. who had
filed the affidavits, intends leaving the
city on Monday and to be gone for several
weeks. As the usual meeting, on the 18th,
would be held during Manning's absence,
he desired to bring the matter up before he
left. and special meeting was suddenly
called by the mayor yesterday afternoon.
1t developed turning of the tables with
almost dramatic completeness.
When Mayor White called the commits
sion to order in the delegates room. DIR.
G. o. Guy, Samuel l.. Crawford, W. Z.
Ledgerwood and Captain A. III. Manning
were in their places. Deputy Clerk Drown
kept the minutes. and there was sprink-
ling of police officers, including Chief
Rogers, Captain Willard, Captain Barck,
Charles Phillips. Jailer Sheehan, Douglas
Phillips ard John Wallace, the mayors
private secretary.
Captain Manning, it was generally
known, had filed very damaging affidavit
against the chief, and the commissioners
patiently awaited the effect when it should
be read.
The mayor called for the regular order
of business but Mr.. Crawford said he must
leave on the O'Clock boat, and asked that
the special business be taken up first.
Bolton Rogers repeated request made
before the opening of the session that he
might see the affidavit filed by Captain
Manning. so as TO be prepared to reply.
This was rather an unnecessary precaution
on his part, as events proved, but Captain
Manning was evidently entirely thrown off
his guard, and on motion, the request was
granted
Mayor White said that other affidavits
had been filed at the last meeting. He
suggested that they be read.
The clerk read the affidavit of a man
connected with McGrcw's Blue Front sa-
loon to the effect that one Dutchy Brown
had arrested him on May 16. Rogers pro-
duced dispatch from Chief Crowley, of
San Francisco, to the effect that Dutchy
Brown was in that city on the 18th. having
arrived by steamer. The commissioners
said they needed no further testimony.
The clerk then read the affidavit of
McKenna, flied at the last meeting and
published in full ut that time John
McKenna's affidavit declares that he was
in the house of correction in San Francisco
about 1879 and that while there Bolton
Rogers was also there under the name of
IIar t,.. k,a4 vIo% IL
he did not know.
Chief Rogers offered several afiidavits
in reply, which were read.
Arno p. cambridge made an affidavit
that he had been for more than twenty
two years on the police force of San Fran
cisco, during most of which time he kept
the records Of convictions and sentences
of criminals, as part of his duty, together
with personal knowledge of criminals.
He deposed that he had searched the
criminal records Of the police department
during the years 1878 and 1879. covering
all the time Mckenna was in prison. He
found there was man named Hamilton
there but he personally well knows said
Hamilton and that he is notorious
thief and has been known to the police for
the past fifteen years as such and
that he is now in the city of San
Francisco Hamilton was convicted
for assaulting the same man as Nc
kenna. Mr.. cambridge says further
that there were two Emerys confined in
the Jail at that time, but that it is impos-
siblc for either of them to be Rogers, and
that as n matter of fact he knows they are
not. He swears further that had Bolton
Rogers ever been in the house of correction
affiant must have known il,
Daniel Rogers, of San Francisco. law
yer, made affidavit that he has lived there
for more than thirty-six years: that Bolton
Rogers is his nephew. He was born and
resided in the adjoining house to me, and
from September, 1874, until 1881 he resided
IN the same house with me- | have never
heard his moral character questioned, and
from my intimate association with the said
Bolton Rogers and, seeing him daily and
weekly, it is impossible that he could
either have been charged with n Grim
inal offense or imprisoned in any penal in
stitution without my knowledge. l never
heard OF the fact, and I deem it false in
every particular"
Walter G. Holmes. for eighteen years a
practieing lawyer in San francisco. makes
affidavit that he was frequent visitor Mt
tue residence of Bolton Rogers during the
years 1873, 1879 1880 and 1885, and dur
ing said four years knew him so intim-
ately that regard it rs impossible for him
To have been imprisoned. never knew
of his being confined and do not believe
he ever was"
Bobert c. Bolton, a cousin of Chief
Rogers, who was his constant companion
between ISIS and 1850, made similar aft.
davit
Jailer Sheehan was called at the chiefs
request, and being sworn testified that
Mckenna was an opium fiend and had a
had reputation; he was the man who. un-
der the name of Kennedy, enticed Gertie
Grant from her home in San Francisco
and placed her in notorious resort here:
shc could not stand the life, and was taken
tothe hospital, and on her way home to
San Francisco she died on board the
steamer while entering the heads.
Captain Manning asked how he knew
that Mckenna lived upon women.
We learn those things on our beat"
But you don't know that he didn't steal
for q liyingG" remarked Manning.
"No, don't know, of course: but he
lived with the girl all the time"
Chief Rogers had in the meantime been
reading the affidavit which was expected Ia
crush, Captain Manning frequently watch
ing him With acompliasant air. When Shee-
hanleft the stand Rogers, with imperturba-
bic gravity, asked that the next affidavit be
read, and everybody leaned forward 70
listen. lt was as follows: