The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-02
THE CHIEF SUSTAINED
BY tho oommittoe on Police, in tho
Suspension OF tho Deputies.
ASKS FOR THEIR REINSTATEMENT,
And tho Committee, According to tho
Rules, Recommends Ills Request
Tayorably to council...rhc Commit.
fee Not Possessed Of tho Power to
RcInstato the Men.

RClnstato the Mon.
On account OF their previous good
record as efficient officers Lieutenant
Tcrrill and Officer Frohma were yester-
day roinstated by tho committee on
police, subject TO the action OF Council.
tho committee not having tho power to
nut tho men back on7tte force. The
recommendation was In line with the
request Of Chief Of Police McNichol,
who, whilo announcing that no had
suspended tho officers for; good cause,
yet asked the committee to deal lenient-
Is with them on account Of their pre-
yious good record and the mitigating
circumstances connected with tho case.
Chief McNichol was not present dur
ing the deliberations OF tho committee,
but when tho members assembled, the
following communication was read:
Mr. Frti Happy. Chairinn Police Committee:
DEAR SIR:-On February POI suspend
: ed Assistant Sergeant Terrill and Dopu-
Is Sergeant Frohme for what | consid-
cred a fragrant violation OF the rules
goyerning'the police department, viz:
Rule 80, under which no deputy shall
enter 4 saloon while wearing any part
Of his uniform, but would say in con-
clusion that, tho opinion of the public
being divided in this matter, and there
being mitigating circumstances con-
ncCtod with this violation ! would ask
tho honorable body OF committee on
police TO DO as lenient as possible in
this particular case, as heretofore both
have been very efficient officers. Both
men admit their guilt.
] have received a message from Mr..
Donaldson asking for their reinsthte-
ment, as they.both did good work at the
fire.
(signcd.) ROBERT T. McNlcuoL,
City Sergeant.
Mr.. O'Kanc-"In view OF the circum-
stances Of this case, | move the REIN
statement OF tho mcn. There is not 4
man who would not have done rs the
officers did under the same scircum-
Stances"
Mr.. Jet1erson-"What is tho mo-
tion?'
Mr.. O'Kane-"The motion is that the
men be reinstated, according to the re-
quest OF the chief OF police"
Everything was quiet for 4 fow min
utes, until Chairman Happy finally
said that the motion had not been SOC
onded.
"Well," said Mr.. Jefferson, IT second
the motion, just to bring the matter
up"
Perhaps, Mr.. Chairman" said Mr..
Jefferson, 81 may not understand the
ordinance. We have been all at sea ut
other times, and | would ask the COM
mittee il We have the right to r%einstate.
without referring the matter to Coun-
Gil" Mr.. Jefferson then read Section &c
oil the police ordinance, which requires
the chief TO report 70 the COMMITTEES
any suspension OF officers, and the COM
mittee to report to Council its action on
the chiefs suspension. This Mt least is
the Interpretation the committee placed
on the section, though by a reading OF
the section it would seem hat Council
is required to act only in case the COM
mittee recommends the removal OF q
policeman, and not in the case OF every
suspension the chief may make. Tho
section reads as follows:
Section %. The city sergcan: shall have the
right 10 suspend ut pleasure any o. his deputies
or patrclmen. reporting the same within five days
70 the police committee, and the Council, upon
the Recommendation of the committee OF tho
police department, may ENJOY any Of said de-
putiesor palrolmcn for ncglcct OF duty or incom-
potency or for any violation OF any OF the provi-
slons OF this ordinance or the rules and regula-
lions adopted herewith or which may hereafter
be adopted.
Alter Mr.. Jefferson hadread the above
Mr.. Warneke said:
81 don't think ii VIC were to order tho
chief to reinstate the men that Council
would object. MI. Jefferson said that
the saloon doors were open and that
the men were drunk. That is not So"
Mr.. JciEerson-"T only repeated what
had heard, OF course. know nothing
OF my own knowledge"
Mr.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS arc not
reliable, Mr.. Jefferson. Icould say u
few words myself. A certain squire
told me hat no had met Terrill, and
that he was very mad because the news
papers had said he was drunk. He
said he was not drunk, but tired from
his exertions Mt the fire, and that it was
the fatigue which caused him to 90 to
sleep"
MIR. 0'Kanc-'I understand that Ter
rilI doesn't drink
Mr.. Jellerson-I have heard that he
is very straight. 1 think that the COM
mittec will not impair tho efficiency of
the police force by attaching some pen
ATTY Tor an oiiense OF this kind. We
should let tho police know. that We OK
pect them to keep sober under all cir
cumStances, and that VIC think the re.
q%ulrcments ofthc ordinance arejust. l
nm perfectly willing to reinstato tho
two deputies, but We will have to wait
until Council meets"
Mr.. OKane-'T am satisfied.n
The motion to reinstate was then
made 10 agree with the committees in
depreciation Of tho ordinance, that
council had 10 act on tho matter. and.
10 that body tho motion to reinstate,
according to Chief McNichol's request,
was referred.
Clerk Hanke here showed the COM
mttcc two books he had purchased,
one Tor the entering OF complaints
against officers, and tho other for tho
AeeplnC OF an inventory Of nil property
otthepolicc department. Mr.. Wurneko
thought thatSf the stir-up in.the police
department continued, the complaint
book would soon bo filled. .,5%ft
The members Of tho committee had
pecn unanimous in their action, and
though they regretted not being able
10 relnstate Officers Terrill and Frohme
Immediately, yet they parted in good
humor with themselves and all the
world. S.,g