Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-01
Two MORE OFFICERS
SUSPENDED FROM THE POLICE FORCE BY
CHIEF MNICH0L.
The Charge, Drinking in Saloons at Sundays
Firs-Lisut TerriI and Officer FrOhms
the Dsfsndan.S-The Committee
TO Meet

Something OF a sensation was occa-
stoned in police circles, yesterday, when
Chief McNichoI formally notified Lieu
tenant Walter Terrill and Officer
Henry Frohme that they were suspended
without pay, under the city police laws,
and that their cases would be referred
to the Police Committee for investiga-
tion and action. The charge was, that
the two officers had drank in Bolts and
Cruces saloons on Sunday morning
during the fire; that they had virtually
secured the unlawful opening up OF the
saloons, in defiance Of law, and that
Lieutenant Terrill had become intoxi-
Gated, and had gone to the City Hall and
went to sleep, leaving the day force
without executive control; that after
the officers had drank in Bolts and
Cruces, others got into both places.
and that the officers charged
with the enforcement of the law virtu-
ally opened the way for violations OF the
ordinances, and themselves set an ex-
ample.
When notified OF his suspension Lieu
tenant Terrell at once turned over his
club, badge and other police property,
and then rendered his resignation TO the
Chief, in which he thanked the Chief
for courtesies shown him, and hoped
they would continue to be friends.
Many friends of the Lieutenant about
the building endeavored TO induce him
to withdraw his resignation, and go be-
fore the Committee, but he refused to do
so, saying he had made an error, and
the easiest way out Of 1t was the best.
To a REGISTER reporter the Lieuten-
ant said:
Far from blaming the Captain, l
think he did exactly right. ought TO
have resigned before l was suspended.
The whole thing was my fault, and l
got Office Frohme into it. The Chief is
not to blame for suspending US; he
couldn't do anything else. l have the
promise of job, on the outside, and
Pm going to see about it at once"
"Why not go before the Committee"
81 don't want to plead the baby act.
It's all right"
Later, however, Officer Terrell was
induced To recall his resignation, and TO
allow the matter to be passed upon by
the Committee The Chief at once wrote
a note to Chairman Happy, of the Police
Committee, but he was out OF the city,
and no meeting can be held before this
evening.
Officer Frohme at first declined TO
turn over his badge and club, but later
did so. There seems to be extenuating
circumstances in his case, as Terrill ad
mits he alone was to blanca very
manly admission, by the way, and one
which won him q number of cOmpli-
ments, yesterday.
Chief McNichol was seen about the
matter, and said
81 am sincerely sorry for the matter,
but l had no other course open TO me.
If the men had simply got drink, after
their hard work, it would have been
all right; I would never have said
word. There was bucket Of wine
there, and they could have drank some
of that If they wanted to. But to go to
one saloon, have it opened up,
drink there, and then go to an
other and repeat the perform
ance, and get others to drinking is vio-
latiug too many laws for me. 1t won't
do. Then Terrell gets full, and goes to
t. sleep at the City Hall. There was no
occasion for either officer to get wet, at
the fire. 1t would have been much bet
ter if they had stretched the fire lines,
and kept back the crowd-in other
words, to have performed legitimate po-
lice duties. As it was, there was no
one left in the office, and one OF the city
officials had TO stay here TO answer the
telephone I'm sorry this thing &C.
Cured. Lieut.. Terrell, especially has
been q good man, sober, courteous,
obliging and energetic, and both he and
Frohme did good work at the fire-out
must see that the laws OF the city are
carried out, and when things OF the
sort occurring yesterday come up, the
least can do is to refer the matter to
the Committee. If they reinstate the
men, l have othing TO say"
The matter naturally created a grea I
deal Of comment about town yesterday.