The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-24
Bolton Rogers Suspended by
Mayor Ronald.
DEMAND THAT CHARGES BE MADE
Commissioners Decline to Remove Rog-
ers, and the Mayor supersedes Him
Temporarily by Thornton.

/ when the regular meeting of the commissioners
| will be held.
Late Tuesday night Mayor Ronald directed
/ City Clerk SLOVENIAN TO serve notices to the
commissioners OF the board OF police of spe-
| cial meeting to be held yesterday morning q. IL
o'clock. The chief was also notified to be pres
ent The full board, consisting Of A. II. Man
| ming, 6. o. Guy, W. E. Ledgerwood and C. P.
| Stone, attended. and the mayor, who took the
chair, lost no time in stating the cause OF the
| special call.
~ have called you together. gentlemen" said
| the mayor, "for the purpose of securing free
| and frank expression of q matter that is deli
| cate one and one that l have tried 10 avoid /
desire, without casting any reflections upon the
| present chief, to have new chief of police. 1t
| is impossible for the present chief and the
present mayor to work in harmony. There
| ought to be the fullest and utmost confidence
| between them. l have no confidence in the
| present chief and he has none in me. / have
| asked him to resign. l asked him on Monday to
resign, to take effect on April l. have made
| up my mind that it is no use for me to try TO
| govern this city with the present chief. Now,
| gentlemen, you have a right to remove any
| police officer you want to. You are responsible
| to nobody but the people. If you deem it your
| duty TO force upon the present mayor OF Seattle
a chief of police he don't want speak out
frankly and tell me tell you will not
tolerate the present chief"
| There was dead silence, which was broken
by the mayor asking, swell, gentlemen"
"For my part" said Commissioner Stone, az
am very well satisfied with the present chief.
We have one of the finest departments on the
Pacific coast, and the credit is due the present
| chief ! am opposed to politics being intro
duced into the department and do not propose
TO remove the chief unless charges can be
brought against him. He has closed up gam
bling since you people seem to want it. / don't
believe the people of Seattle want the women OF
Whiteehapel scattered all over the city. How
ever, the chief will carry out any orders given
| him"
"Yes, be has closed up gambling" answered
the mayor. land it will remain closed as long as
| he is chief. There is no politics in this Mr.
Stone. Ii you will appoint good man that l
can work tremendously with, l don't care
whether he is Republican or Democrat. There
is no cordially between the present chief and
the present mayor"
"Then it is clear" said MI. Stone, "thet one
OF them should resign. 1 do not see why it
should not be the mayor instead OF the chief
The chief is satisfied and the mayor is not"
81 want you to understand" retorted Mr..
Ronald, shat the present mayor is mayor and
intends to be. Has any other gentleman any
thing to say?"
Commissioner Manning then read the follow
ing resolutions. which seemed to have been pre-
pared in advance:
Il
police commissioners OF Seattle that the best in
terest OF the city government requires the ap-
| pointment of a new chief of police
ReSotred, That Bolton Rogers, the present
chief OF police, is hereby removed because it is
the opinion of said board that said removal
Will tend to greater cordially and harmony in
the executive department OF the city govern
ment-
Resolred, That the mayor is requested to fill
the vacancy temporarily until the next regular
meeting of this board.
7 soss.
mayor. There was no response, and after an in
terval of silence Commissioner Guy said:
81 move to amend, so as to express that We
take up the resolution at our next meeting"
There was no second to this either and after
waiting minute so the mayor remarked
that as there seemed to be no further business
before the board, a motion to adjourn would be
in order. Nj Stone moved adjournment until
April 10, the motion was put and carried and
the members rose
II have something to say to you, gentlemen,
| as you have adjourned without action have
examined the charter, so lar it relates to this
| matter, and shall act as l consider the law
empowers me. have a communication wish
| TO read to you, and You, Mr. Clerk, will then
place it on fle.''
! He then read the following communications:
SEATTLE, March g. 1892
Bolton Rogers, chief of police OF the city Of
| Seattle, is hereby removed from Office by me as
| causes:
| First-My official relations and connection
| with him since my assuming the duties as
| mayor have convinced me to a moral certainty
| that he demeans and conducts himself in a
manner unbecoming an officer of Seattle and
especially unbeeoming the Office OF chief of
! seeond-He is not of gooi character for hon
| esty which is made requisite by the charter in
| every appoiutee of the police force
Third am couv need TO a moral certainty
| from my communications with him that Il is
| absolutely impossible to maintain good order
| in the city and TO enforce the laws and
| ordinances with said Bolton Rogers as chief OF
| police.
| Fourth-There is an absolute lack of cordial
| ity between the present mayor and the present
chief OF police OF said city, and neither one pos.
| sesses any confidence in the other.
| Fifth feel satisfied TO a moral certainty
that the best interests of the city of Seattle re-
] quire that thsre be more harmony and mora
| cordially in the executive department OF the
| city government than is possible to attain I'M
| der the present conditions and circumstances
| Therefore, the said Bolton Rogers, chief of
| police, being an appointed officer under the
/ charter OF the city OF Seattle. l, ). T. Ronald
| mayor OF the city OF Seattle, for the above
| causes, and for each Of the same, by virtue of
the power and authority in me vested BY the
| Bolton Rogers from Office.
| And do further, by virtue OF the authority
| IN me vested by the charter of the city OF Seat
tie, hereby appoint Mr.. H. G. Thornton tenn
porarily TO fill the vacancy of the Office OF chief
| of police, hereby created until the next regular
| meeting OF the board OF police commissioners OF
! the city OF Seattle. He Will be obeyed accord
| iugly as such chief OF police by the police force
and al police officers OF Lae city OF Seattle
| J. 7. Ronald,
Mayor of said City OF seattle.
On the way to the city hall Mr.. Ronald had
met H. c. Thornton ana requested him TO az
| tend the meeting When the reading was ron
| clueej the mayor turned 10 Thornton and
asked: 80 You accept" Mr.. Thornton re-
| piled: "Yes"
As the commissioners fled out Mr.. Thornton
| asked Chief Rogers, as it hght?' "Oh. no" re-
| pied Rogers, go down 10 the Office and I will
turn It over TO you" Rogers had not before Mt
| tered word, nor had sign passed over his
| countsnsnce 10 indicate that he was al ali con-
| eerned IN the proceedings. Commissioner Stone
remarked in reply TO an inquiry, that probably
| the matter would so before the superior court
| About noon Nj. Thornton took the oath of Of
fee and then went Immediately TO polico head
| quarters. A little later Mayor Ronald called ON
| the chief pro TEN, and for three-auar;ers of an
| hour the two gentlemen were eloseted in the in.
| speeiors Office. During the interview INSPECTOR
| WIZARD was called In, but what passed was not
| made known.
Later in the day Mr.. Thornton was mt in
| ful! possession OF the Office Mr. Thornton was
| asked by PosT-ISTELLIGESCEg rerorter what
his course would be. He replied that he wa.
| only temporarily in charge and should not at.
ieInpi to make any changes pending the next
regular meeting of the board
| When the night patrol was mustered at o
! oeIocS preparatory - going on duty. Chief
| h'secs ana NJ, Thornton presented themselves