The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-30
And the Official Head of Police Com
missioner Shearman Fails Into
the Sawdust.
1t Was Spat Between Chief Burrows
and His Superior Officer, but the
Chief Seems to Have More
Influence at Court.

The telegram read:
TOPEKA, Kan, Dec. 90.
| Frank Sherman. Wichita:
You are hereby removed from the office
| OF police commissioner of the city of Wich-
It'd. LYMAN u. HUMPHREY.
| When Frank read the telegram he rolled
Off his seat onto the carpet and rolled
around and laughed till his sides were
sore. The EAGLE reporter didn't see him
/ do that but friend who was present
vouched for its truth. The said friend
said that Frank was very happy and had
reasons to be but what these reasons were
could not be learned.
AT the same time that Mr.. Shearman re-
ceived his telegram Commissioner Van
Ness also received telegram from Topeka
the contents of which is unknown but
presumably it was a telegram from
Governor Humphrey announcing what
action had been taken.
The dismissal of Chairman Shearman
was the principal topic in police circles last
night and at the end of each beat the police
came together, shrugged their shoulders,
kicked their heels together to aid blood
circulation and discussed the matter from
every standpoint.
What is the cause of the dismissal is the
question asked by every body. Well, from
all accounts it is an outgrowth of the
gambling house trouble that has been GO
ing on for some three or four weeks
The commissioners and the chief are not
much inclined to talk on the subject, but
then there is no object in their silence, for
cautious as they choose to be things of
that character will leak out. The whole
matter is connected with the Billy Polk
injunction matter detailed in another part
of this paper by link that is unmistable
Some three or four weeks ago the chief of
police ordered the gambling houses closed, |
About Saturday last the police commits
sioners met aud discussed the matter with |
the result that three Of the, houses, |
including the new house started |
by the Oklahoma parties, were |
allowed to be opened for the balance of !
the year providing they would pay fine |
OF so. This order was passed a the meet
ing of the commissioners by D vote of two
to one. The Oklahoma parties willing to
pay he fine opened up and were promptly
on Christmas eve and five of
them were taken to the police station and
locked up. They offered to give bail for
their appearance bnt bail was refused.
Joe Henley, their attorney went to Pres
ident Shearman of the board
and laid the matter before him
and insisted on the right of
bail for his clients. Mr.. Shearman at once
directed an order to Chief Burrows, order
ing him to release the imprisoned gamblers
on their putting up $50 for their appear
ance in the police court Monday morning.
The chief took the note, stuck it in his
pocket, aud refused to release the prison
ers He went away from the station, but
returned in about two hours and accepted
the oail. and the gamblers were released.
When he left the station it is alleged that
he proceeded to a legal friend aud
had a consultation with him,
Inc result of which was that
be was advised to occept the $50 bail and
release the prisoners. The fact that Chief
Burrows refused 10 release the prisoners
IN the order of tue president made Mr..
Shearman hot and he preferred charges of
against Chief Burrows.
The trial came up Tuesday afternoon in
he Office of the commissioners and Chief
Burrows WAS represented by an attorney
who, it is alleged. informed the board that
Mr.. Burrows only did what was his
plain duty under the statute law
)y arrestinG the gamblers and that it
would not look well for them to punish
lim for it, The result was that an ad-
ournmenJ was taken till Wednesday
,fteruoon at which it is said that Chief
Burrows half way spologzed and, as
tated in yesterdays EAGLE, they kissed
nd made up" Now, then, at Wednesdays
Meeting, so it is said, Frank Shearman
rave notice that since it seemed to be the
policy of the chief to close up the gambling
houses, and since they were getting on the |
high moral principle" he would
propose that all the other lie
Ultimate institutions in the city
ity be closed too. This was new move
hat was TO be met aud an adjournment {
vas taken until yesterday sfteruoon The
Meeting yesterday afternoon was not at
ended by Commissioner Shearman for
when the hour arrived for it to take place c
e WIS minus an official head. Now. then, '
he question is what caused such sudden '
4 certain LAWYER took the Y
rain "Wednesday night and it was given !
ut that he went TO Newton on important t
The sympathizsrs of the fell Z
ows who are after Billy Folks ]
,alp say that he went to G
opeks for the purpose of prevailing Il
D Governor Hun plrey 10 decapitate r
rank Sherman and thereby prevent him n
ON Carrying out the object of the motion o
: WAS about TO make to have ''ihe other n
aces closed o. course this is their "
TX and it must be taken for what il i.
N. They claim that il Shearnian's
Otion prevailed that Billy Pc l. ; revenue
ould be materially diminished and that IL
Is the real party who caused the dis n
issal OF Frank Shearmau from the board nj
his. too, must be taken for what it Is n
orth aud is only given by the EAGLE 7
lth that uuderstdudiD This statement N
also msde b. the f,euds Of Mr.. Shear ii
an. Il,
An EAGLE reporter tried TO find Mr.. -
It he could not be found
No appointment has been made 10 fiji -,
e vacancy caused by the removal of Mr. -
learmau 50 far as heard from -
The matter Of the removal IS causing A -
od deal Of comment in political critics.
rticularly so when il was understood at
at both Mr.. Van Ness and Mr. Sherman fo
,uld tender their resignatfoDs IN the GOV 4,