The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-23
FIFTH EDITION.
CHIEF BLACKBURN RESIGNS.

Ho Does Not, However. Admit HIS
Guilt-Theodore W. Francis Made
Chief-Promotions In the Force.
So far "a tho Police Commissioners
are concerned they are released from
the necessity Of making farther In
|yestigation into the charges against
burn, for accepting bribes from policy
hackers. Mr.. Blackburn yesterday.
held conversations with the members
Iof the police commission, and told
them that he was ready to resign, his
counsel having advised him to do so.
Accordingly special meeting OF the
commissioners was held last night
and the matter was tulked over. The
result of the consultation was that
Ipolice officer Solomon was dispatched
to MIR, Blackburn with the following
note:
"bIR. W. j. BLACKBURN: have con.
Iversed with the other members OF the
commission and they have unanimous
ly agreed TO accept your resignation.
Please send 1t by bearer and oblige,
YOURS very truly. "Sp. WulEY.b
After the course of half an hour or
so officer Solomon returned with the
following from Mr.. Blackburn:
| .'WILMIEGToN, June 90.
| hon. .. u. WILEY, DluyOT, JOHN w.
| LAWSON and CHARLES JESTER, Police
! Commissioners:
GENTLEMEN: Please accept this as
my resignation as chief of police. But
not as an admission OF charges pre-
ferred. Very Respectfully,
| CIV. j. BLACKBURN"
| Mr.. Lawson, moved that the resig-
nation he accepted. Mr.. Jester Sec
onded the nomination, and the motion
was passed unanimously.
/ The resignation was not forced upon
Mr.. Blackburn, but It was rather &C.
lcepted by his request SO that he might
have an opportunity to go before the
courts and vindicate himself.
| Had MIR. Blackburn made defence
on Tuesday when an Investigation was
commenced before the Police Com
missioners the following affidavit of
Harry II. Kneezel the registry clerk at
the Philadelphia Savings bank where
the deposits were made would have
been presented:
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, 49,:
Personally appeared before me, a
Justice OF the peace in and for said
county, Harry II. Kneezel, who says
and deposes that he was registry clerk
of the Philadelphia Savings Fund So
lciety of Philadelphia, and was, or held
that position on the 2bth day Of April,
1882, and he further says that he does
not recognize William j. Blackburn as
the person who opened an account on
the above date In above-named socie-
ty, and he further says that he has
never seen William j. Blackburn be-
fore to-day, to the best of his know
ledge and belief. HARRY r. KNnEzEL.
Sworn and subscribed to before
me this 18th day Of June, 1892.
JOHN H. GoTTsHALK."
Mr.. Kneezei was found at Perkiom-
Ienyllle, Montgomery county, by, Do.
burn along. When Mr.. Hatton went
to him.alone, leaving Chief Black burn
In the carriage. He said he knew OF
the case from the public press. and
said he did not think he could recog-
Inize the persian who made the first de-
poslt and signed his name In the regis,
I try book. Mr.. KneeZel was at first
! somewhat retlcent about giving In
formation. saying that he once got
In trouble In the Spring Garden Bank.
and did not want to get into another
trouble by hnewering questions.
Detective Hatton assured him that
he would get into no trouble. He was
shown the fac-slmiles of the sigma
lures supposed to be Mr. Blackburn's,
and asked II he thought they were all
written by one man. He was inclined
to believe that they were not. He also
. asked II Blackburn wrote with his left
hand. He was then taken to car
riage where Blackburn was and asked
II he had ever seen that man before.
After the regular routine of bust
ness was over tho commissioners mot
and made these promotions: Captain
Theodore W. Francis to be chief 81 po-
LICE Patrol Sergeant Charles E. Evans
to be police captain; Joseph ". How
gate, patrol officer, to be sergeant OF
patrol; James II. Massey OF The Sew
enth ward to be patrol officer.
Theodore W. Francis, the new chief,
Is about 40 years old and was born and
raised In this city. lilo is q painter by
trade. He was special officer unaSsaz
ex. Mayor Harrington and was ap.
pointed police captain by the Police
Commission when 1t went into ofIlce,
Charles E. Evans Is q Pennsylvania
by birth, and 10 81 years old. He was
10 sergeant Of patrol under ex.Mayor
Harrington, and was retained In that
position by the Police Commission.
Joseph W. Howgate. the now patrol
sergeant, was appointed patrol off,
Ger by the Police Commission He 10
l36 years old and is Democrat