The record-union., 1892-12-08
RODGERS ARRAIGNED.
Judge Cravens' Promised Structures
On the Chief of Police.
he Charges the Latter With Incompe-
tency and Other shortcomings
What Rodgers Says.

Police Commissioners coming together in
formal session.
Mayor Comstock explained that the
reason he did not attend on the preceding
day was that he and the other City Trus-
tees had gone to inspect D street, where
improvements are to be made.
Judge Cravens then drew forth pom
derous pile of manuscript, which he said
he desired to read. 1t was by way of ex-
planning his acts as a member of the
Board of Police Commissioners.
At first the Mayor mildly protested
against its being read, but when Chief
of Police Rodgers remarked that in his
opinion some of his personal and politi
cal enemies had induced Judge Cravens
to write it, the Mayor changed his views
and suggested that II be read.
Once or twice during the reading of the
document the Mayor again mildly pro-
tested, but that did not have any effect on
Judge Cravens, who went on TO the end.
AT the conclusion of the reading the paper
was, on motion of Chief Rodgers, laid on
the table. 1t was as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: There has been considerable
comment in the public press of this city and
among citizens concerning the alleged de-
lnoralZation Of the police force, and it has
been often charged that the Generalization is
que 10 the nOn-actlOn or vacillatiOn OF the PO-
lice Commission, and directly to the Mayor
and Police Judge, who compose a majority of
the commission.
that am unwilling any longer to submit to
this charge without replying thereto. Ifthere
has been any degelction of duty on the part
OF the commission in this respect do not be-
DcVe that any blame thOCld attach to me, and
] think that the time has come when should
make full, fair and frank statement to the
lie a
sons governing me as a Police Commissioner
When entered upon the duties OF this of
lice, did so with a full sense of the response
Dilitles IL imposed and with a determination
TO obey the Constitution and laws which had
sworn to support With me an official oath Is
not mere form. 1t imposes a sacred obliga-
lion not to be lightly treated, and in the per-
formance OF every official act have felt it my
Lounden duty to obey the letter and spirit Of
the law as l understand it, and TO this end
nave ZeaIOusly ana carefully studied the
statutes pertaining to the police department
of this city, with a determination that so lar
as could do so, each and every member of
the department should berequired to obey the
law, and also that he should be projected
in all his lawful rights. When | came
here two years ago, l sought to cultivate
friendly relations with every member of
the department. and to impress it upon
them that while / would exact from each
faithful service | would also see that they had
a iair and impartial hearing and trial in case
Of trouble. sought to encourage them to do
good work and to understand that the official
standing OF eacn O1flCCf would be measured
by the extent and character OF his work In
the nature of things some officers, owing to
location of their beats, had better opportuni-
ties OF making a creditable record than others,
and this fact was taken into consideration in
making comparisons. | at all times sought
10 encourage and promote good feelings be-
tween the different members of the depart
menJ ana 10 discourage geaIouseS and back
billings, practice which. unfortunately, is
too often prevalent among policemen every
where
Tho tbeu Chief of FOClica raaaiyrad ,,,o ,,-;.,
gentlemanly courtesy, and treated me with
the respect due from one officer to another I
believe that, as rule, he always consulted
his brother Commissioners before appointing
substitute officers, and on all matters concern
ing which they We're entitled TO be heard he
never at any time attempted to exercise arbi-
trary powers.
I will not say that the Board of Police Com
miSsiOnerS was always a unit on every prop
osition considered, but if there ever was a
difference in which the Cnief was the minor
ity, don't remember an instance when it
was given TO the press with such sensational
headings as has been the rule under the pres
ent Chief
1 don't want to be understood as expressing
complete satisfaction with the administration
of the late Chief. On the contrary, think
there was room for improvement. That
needed Improvement has not come with the
new Chief. The new Chief came into office
under peculiar circumstances. He had been
elected by the people, well knowing that there
was grave doubt us to his citizenship and
eligibility to hold any Office under the Consti-
tuition and laws OF this State, and that his
right to hold the Office would be contested if
he should be elected.
had no personal acquaintance with Mr..
Rodgers prior TO his election. 1 had never
seen him. / had no prejudice for or against
him-or, at least, none other than that held
by the Trainers of the Constitution in common
with all good citizens; that none but .Anaeri-
can citizens should hold Office in this country
Don't understand that / emphasize AnericGn
only. l mean American citizens, native or
DaturaliEed.
Soon aTter his alpctior, Mr. podrro,- oa1,..,
on me, suppose for the purpose of ascertain
ing how !, as a Police Commissioner wOuld
treat his claim TO be recognized as Chief of Po-
lice. l then informed him that the Police
Commissioners had no power TO pass unOn his
eligibility. That, if he obtained his certificate
OF election and presented proof that he had
filed the oath of Office and bond required by
law, would have TO vote TO recognize him
until a court OF competent jurisdiction de-
clared him ineligible to hold the Office He
did qualify, ana upon presentation of his Gre
dentials was recognized as Chief and entered
upon the duties OF the Office.
The expected suit followed and the SUPERIOR
Court declared Mr.. Rodgers ineligible a de-
cision which every sane man expected who
heard the testimony produced at the trial
After the rendition of this judgment Rodgers,
having in the meantime become eligible by
acquired citizenship, the Board of Trustees
appointed him to fill the alleged vacancy pro-
duced by the decision of the Superior Court
The question as 10 whether he is now an
officer de Jure or de facto is still unsettled.
/ have at all times stood ready TO support
MI. hONEeIS IN any eDOTJ Wnlch he might
make to enforce the law, or to enforce proper
obedience ana discipline among his subordi-
mates, provided he proceeded according to law
But ] am unalterably opposed to permitting
him or any one else to exercise power not war
ranted by the law governing his Office Why,
he had scarcely warmed his officiaI seat when
he began to assume arbitrary powers not be-
longing to him. He took prisoner from the
jurisdiction the Police Court and DISCHARGED
him, and when called to account by the court
replied that he wanted 10 use him for stool
niupOQ. The court IS nQiitplN q "a cir
stances would permit. informed hlm that the
prisoner must be produced or unpleasant con-
sequences might follow. Other cases have &C.
Cured where prisoners have mysteriously
disappeared from the prison, and the only eX-
PLANTATION given was that they We're dis
charged-by mistake.
For some cause. unknown to me, the Chief
has apparently conceived an intense hatred
toward several members of the force, and this
hatred is manifested in every conceivable
way. and otiensively so in every case where
an important arrest is made by any of them
The first notable case of this kind was in the
prosecution of "A certain crap game al the Cen
trial House. on X street. 1t appeared that by
order of Chief Rodgers, a party had been re-
quired to answer 10 the charge of conducting
q crap game. Before filing a complaint, |
asked Mr.. Rodgers what evidence he could
produce to show whether the game played
was a percentage or banking game, and
whether il had been played for money, and
found that he had no evidence whatever
After a full examination of the case was
forced to the conclusion that job had been
nut up to trap the court into a decision that
craps was not an unlawful game, and l very
promptly declined TO be party TO the enact
inent of the farce. This hesco was followed
soon after by an arrest of the same parties by
Captain Bradley. The next morning after this
arrest the Chief came into my office with a
complaint against Captain Bradley for having
made the arrest. l informed him that had
not seen Captain Bradley, but if he did not
produce more evidence to sustain his charge
than he. the Chief, had on the former occasion,
the case would have to be dismissed. 1t de-
veloped on the trial that the Captain pro-
duced the entire layout of the game and the