Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-12-20
INSTALLED IN OFFICE.
CHEF OF POLICE ROBERT MNlCHOLLS IN CON-
troll OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Council Approves His Bond, and BE Takes the Oath
of 0fice-Ths Old Force Appointed and Con-
frmed-lntsrsStnS Scenes in the
Chiefs Private Office.


Chief Of Police Robert T. McNicholls
has been duly installed into Office.
Council met at half past o'clock yes
terday afternoon, and completed the
work of transferring that department. of
the city government, and last night the
new regime was an accomplished
fact.
There is disposition on the part OF
Captain Delbrugge to have the question
Of the right of Council to DO as it did, in
accepting his resignation after ne had
given notice Of withdrawal, tested in
the Courts, but just what will be done
in that regard, II anything, is matter
for the next few days to decide. Cap
tain Delbrugge told REGISTER report
er yesterday afternoon that ne would
think over it until Monday" and that
is about as definite statement OF his
intensions as 1t possible to obtain at this
writing. His counsel, Col. w. w. Arnett
and Dennis O'Keefe, seem to have no
question as to the legal status Of his
case, If he elects to go into 1t, their
views being very fully set forth yester-
day afternoon, at the conference held
between all the parties Immediately con-
cerned, In the private Office of the
tat NnynC a a
ton on the part of the ex-Chief TO re-
main In possession Of the Office, and
maintain the custody of the books, pa
pers and effects, but after discussion
and reflection it was decided that that
act would have no material bearing up
on the main point at tssue-the legality
of the act of Council-and Capt. Del
brugge and his counsel left the Office in
the full control OF Chief McNicholls and
his men.
As was expected, the fact that Coun-
Gil had been called to meet in special
session at two o'clock in the afternoon
drew large number of people to the
City Hall, and when the time announced
for the meeting had arrived, several
hundred citizens were 10 and about the
building. Members were little slow
in coming In, and IL was half past two
before quorum OF either Branch was
in sight.
AS a necessary preliminary, the Com
mittee on Police held q session, at
which the official bond Of the new Chief
and his list of appointees were submitted
by the Solicitor. The bond was in the
penal sum Of ten thousand dollars, with
J. 2. Hughes, John Waterhouse, j. S.
Hughes and c. II. Copp as securities.
1t was approved by the Solicitor and the
Committee. The list Of appointees,
comprising all the old force, namely,
twenty-seven regular officers, two patrol
drivers and one eXtraman, was also sub
mitted TO the Committee, the list OF
names read, and they were recommend
ed to Council for ratification.
The two Branches Of Council then
met, and the report Of the Committee,
transmitting the bond and list Of ap-
pointees, was read. The bond was APP
proved by both Branches, and then
Chief McNicholls appeared at the bar
Of the Second Branch and took the oath
of office, which was administered by
President Jepson.
All the preliminaries having been
gone through with, the appointees OF
the Chief were summoned and they filed
In and ranged themselves in three rows
in front Of the Clerks desk, only one OF
of the force, Officer Herbert, being ao-
sent. The oath was administered, the
officers fled out, and the installation OF
Tho Chiaf UaS rom Mote
After passing resolution changing
the market at the Centre market from
Friday morning of the coming week to
Thursday afternoon, Council adjourned.
Then came the most interesting incl
dent Of all.
Chief McNicholls, with the Mayor
and Solicitor Riley, went down TO the
police offices, where they were preceded
and followed by large number of Off
GERS aud as many citizens as could get In
10 the outer Office. The Chief, the Mayor,
the Solicitor, and the representatives OF
the press passed into the inner office,
where Captain Delbrugge was sitting
with Mr. O'Keeffe, of his counsel. AS
they came in Mr.. O'Keetfe addressed
them saying that he had advised Mr..
DelbrnRge 10 remain in possession OF the
Office, and to maintain his rights, even
proceeding so far as to arrest aud lock
up, and keep in the lookup, any one
attempting TO interfere or usurp
the duties of the Office, and TO
this the Captain gave his assent. saying
that was his determination. Chief Nc
Nichols closed the door and stationed
Officer Creighton there with orders to
let no one in. He then approached, and
told the Captain that he had been cho-
sen Chief of Police, and he proposed TO
take charge OF the Office, and Mr.. Riley,
the Solicitor, added that that had
been the action OF the Council,
that all the formalities had been
complied with, and that Mr., Nc
Nichols was the Chief OF Police and in
charge of the Department. Mr.
O'Keeffe demurred TO this view of the
case very strongly, and asked that Col.
Arnett, his co-counsel, who was up
stairs, be sent for. This was done, and
pending his arrival, there was a resum-
tion OF the talk as 20 the possession of
the Office by both sides, and Captain
Delbrugge rose from his chair once and
took couple OF steps in the direction
of Chief McNicholls, but desisted, and
upon Col. Arnett'S arrival 1t WAS speed
lily agreed that the whole matter should
be settled in an amicable manner,
every body disclaiming any personal
hostility against anyone else.
A long discussion Of the legal aspects
OF the case, aud OF the positions as
sumed Snd maintained by both sides,
resulted, Mr. Riley, for the city, insist
ing that the Council had acted legally
and that Mr.. Delbrugse was no longer
Chief of Police, while Mr.. McNicholls