Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-18
CAPTAIN BELLS HEARING.

The Onicer Refuses to Appear without m
/ Attorney-Charges Said to Be Drunken.
ness and Neglect Of Duty-LivelY War Of
| Words.
The case of Police Captain Bell, who was
suspended from the Allegheny force on
| Monday night last, was heard by Chief
Murphy, of the Department of Public
Safety, about noon yesterday. When Cap
tain Bell was suspended no reason was as
| signed by Superintendent Muth. When
the Captain reported for hearing at II
o'clock yesterday he was accompanied by
X. I. Mead, his attorney. Chief Murphy
ordered all those not interested in the case
to leave the room. Attorney Mead at first
refused to 60. He insisted that he was
present to look after his client. that no
charges had been made against the officer
and that the public had right TO know
how the case was disposed Of The chief
forced him out Of the place, however. All
the reporters were also compelled to leave
Captain Bell was then called, and to him
Chief Murphy said:
"You amt a bit better than any other
officer who was ever given hearing, and
it you want hearing will give it to you;
but will not allow you or any other set of
try to run my department. I am chief of
this department and am going to run it to
suit myself, and I don't propose allowing
you or anv other person to interfere
In reply Captain Bell said: 81 don't
know what the charges are against me, and
consequently I did not know who I should
call to appear as witnesses in my behalf
l am willing to go on with the hearing, and
1 would prefer to make it public one and
allow the reporters and all others who desire
to be present"
Captain Bell then agreed to go on with
the hearing, provided the witnesses were
sworn, but to this proposition Chief Muir
ply objected, and then Captain Bell re-
ply, however, went OH with the hearing.
The charge against Captain Bell was drunk
enness and neglect of duty. Several police
officers appeared as witnesses and at the con-
clusion Chief Murphy said he would
formally dismiss Captain Bell from the
police force.
When Captain Bell was informed last
night OF the charges made against him he
said: Everybody in Allegheny knows
that occasionally take a drink I have
never attempted to conceal that, but I defy
any one to indicate time or place when or
where was drunk or neglected nv duty as
police officer. I have been especially
careful since the reconstruction of the
police force, and, as I understand
it, the drunkenness charged against me dates
back to time when Chief Murphy and
myself were out together having a little
sport. That is why Murphy refused to have
public hearing. The witnesses summoned
against me were officers whom I had
reported for various offenses and of course I
would have had no chance with them.
Chief Murphy pesistentlv refused to give
them hearing and I am satisfied I would
not have been suspended or discharged had
turned in against Parke and May, the
candidates for State delegates, and as
Superintendent Muth instructed.
II have an abundance of information in
my possession. Ofcourse have no hope of
getting back on the police force as it is now
constituted, but thorough investigation of
the system am certain will land some of
the head police oficisls in jail"
Captain Bell has turned in with the re-
formers. He says he will 60 into court and
demand the testimony brought out at the
secret hearing at which he was dismissed.