The record-union., 1892-12-08

told the Officer that he was expected 10 pro-
uuce1nls witnesses, and that ! would not per-
m hlit Tue Chlef or anyone else to interfere with
! VI oostrucI tne course OF justice. Daring the
examination OF the case the Chiefs actions
s4tished me that he was not in sympathy
win tbe prosecution, but was working TO de-
Another case brought to my attention was
W. Wy case ol man named Reeves, charged with
&ttelh hptlng 70 defIaud an insurance company.
a.VIIce .t was leit al my residence on Sunoay
aIlei noon tliat was wanted AT my ONCE lnitt
evening. fes ponded to the call, and the re
net George Kroner, the complainant in the
casc, VINO informed me of the nature OF MS
cpiApidLhl. anu that, 1n company with Jne
general agent Of the Insurance company, he
i.au called on Chief Rodgers during the day;
mat tAe interview had been very unsatls-
factory TO them, and they had no confidence
ia his ability or disposition to assist them:
tIat they afterward called on Captain Brad
ley, who advised them TO consult me. He said
that they desired immediate action. | sent
for City Attorney Hart and after examining
the evidence produced and the law, Mr.. Hart
prepared a complaint, and issued warrant
ana gave IL TO Captain Bradley, who arrested
tile defendant that night.
An unnecessary collision between the Chief
and Captain Bradley was the result Of this
arrest and was again forced to the conclu-
sion that the Chief could not be relied upon
TO assist in Il full, fair and impartial eXamina-
ton OF The case. These were important cases,
and according TO my idea, il was the duty OF
Lie 1illti Oh ass bringing 10
ali The facts obtatnable, and any attempt on
his part TO obstruct the prosecution or TO sup
press testimony was a criminal violation OF
duty.
1t is well known that one of the chief causes
OF complaint against the Police Department
IS the known existence of unlawful gambling
in this city. and Notwithstanding the Police
commissioners have given orders for its sup
preston, it still goes in defiance of such
orders and the law prohibiting it. II is true
that one or more yigilant officers have made
occasional raids on these games. which have
brought many hundreds of dollars into the
treasury in the shape of fines and forfeitures
during the past lew months. Now, am al
ways willing to bestow credit wherever credit
is due, and if Chiet Rodgers has made any
6OIl0 Hde or honest effort TO interfere with
gambling at any time | nave failed to find 1t
out, and believe that am familiar with the
facts Il every arrest made. Just previous to
the holding OF the last State Fair in this city
there was the usual agitation OF the gambling
question. About that time Chief Rodgers
came into my Office and asked me what was
going to be done about gambling. l read to
MIN the law enumerating the unlawful games,
and also sections 335 and 337 of the Penal
Code, and informed him that if he failed TO
do his duty, he might be prosecuted, and on
conviction, punished as provided in these
sections; that he was an executive officer and
l was judicial officer.
Ii was his duty TO catch the game and mine
to skin it after it was caught" In the course
of that conversation he said that the gamblers
paid $4,000 for the privilege of running last
anything into the City Treasury that 1 know
OF. But if they undertake to run this year, as
they did last year, and you will do your part
and bring them before me- with evidence
enough TO convict l will see that the City
Treasury is materially replenished. But you
must remember, Mr.. Rodgers that it is use
less TO make arrests without securing evi-
dence.'
in less than forty-eight hours after this con-
versation the ECeping Ne1CS published a state
ment that Chief Rodgers had decided to let
everything go during the fair, or words TO that
effect. At the first opportunity l asked re
porter of that paper If the statement was au-
thoriZed by Rodgers, and he ansW cred that it
was. Well, Mr. Chairman, l was paralyZed
and inVoluntarily remarked as the man an
idiot or is he crazy? He has furnished a
weapon for his own destruction if anyone
shall lie disposed to use it,"
II was apparent to me from this article that
immunity rom prosecution by Rodgers had
been secured to the gamblers.
But there was still one officer on the force
VINO had not been suppressed, and il was for
the purpose OF squelching him that COM
mirtee of prominent citizens waited on this
commission with a petition, asking us to vio-
late our oaths of Office and subject ourselves
TO criminal prosecution and removal from
office, by making order directing police
officers to refrain from prosecuting persons
who violated the law relating to gaming.
Every member OF the commission was present
when the petition was presented and received
and | asked that immediate action be taken
and the prayer OF the petitioners be refused,
petition.
My motion was not seconded, and the
Commission adjourned without doing any
thing.
VINO was to blame for non-action at that
time? 1t was not l; one is not majority of
three. 1t appeared, however that 1aOdiLS u
Uendi was agreed upon by some one, don't
know who, and things remained in StdtU quo
for two days, when Captain Bradley, finding
that he had no strings or him, recommended
hOstilities, and pandemonium reigned dur
Ind faT
discomfort of the Chief of Police. The press
accused the Police Commission of vacillation
and. cowardice. Chief Rodgers explained his
non-actiOn, as it is said. by saying that he
was waiting for orders from the commission.
Why, my dear sirs, had not the law been
read and explained to him dozens of times?
Can he not read the law for himself? l protest
against being held responsible for Mr.. Rodg-
ers cowardIce, imbecility and failure to do
his plain duty in the matter.
Can any reasonable person accept Mr.. Rodg-
erS' apology as being the real cause of his nom
interference? He had been informed of his
duty as an officer. II he wanted further action
by the Commissioners, why did he not second
my motion denying the prayer of the petition
ers and vote for it? And if that was not
enough, why did he not ask us for further in
structions, instead of sneaking out of the
room without asking anything or even maxi
ing suggestion of any kind? His excuse is
too silly ana irrational to be accepted by any
rational being; but it is characteristic of It's
author, and tully illustrates his power of rea-
soning.
1t is charged that the treatment of the Chief
by the Mayor and the Police Judge is disre-
spectful. This charge is lulqudIJfeotty false so
far as | am concerned and 1 believe ii false as
to the Mayor. We are charged with promot-
ing and encouraging INSTRUMENTATION to the
Chiefs orders. This charge is also false. 1t is
true that there is an evident want of respect
for their Chief entertained by almost every
member of the police force, even among men
who came here as his friends; but l deny that
either the Mayor or the Police Judge has ever
an a : iS
wholly due 10 Mr.. Rodgers own course and
arbitrary conduct toward his SubOrdinates.
These men are not slaves or dogs, They are
men, and entitled to decent treatment II is
but natural that when he applies his profane
and vulgar epithets to them they should re-
sent them. In every instance where he has
made complaint to the board he has been re-
quested to make specific Charges and give the
officer complained OF an opportunity to de-
fend himself, but he always stubbornly re-
fused to do so. Does he refuse because he
knows he cannot sustain his charge?
On one occasion he took the stars Off two
officers and told them they were suspended
for thirty days When heard OF it l told
him that he had exceeded his authority, that
the.men were entitled to be informed Of the
charge against them and to hearing in their
defense before any such penalty could be i'm
posed, even by the Commissioners; and when
asked to make a specific charge he refused to
do so, and of course the men were restored to
duty by the Commissioners. What else could
we do? But we were roundly scored for re-
fusing to sustain this arbitrary and tiagrant
violation of the law by Mr.. Rodgers When
the alteration between the Chief and Officer
White occurred | was considerably incensed
l thought that White had done wrong, and the
case ought to be investigated, but l was un-
willing to condemn him without
trial and advised Mr.. Rodgers to prefer
charges, and even went so far as to suggest
what the complaint should state in order to
give the Commissioners jurisdiction to try the
case. A complaint was prepared and submit
ted to and approved by me. and supposed it
was to be Immediately filed with the Clerk,
and a copy served on Officer White. But il
was not done. Why was it not filed? All +!
l fear that thereby hangs a tale
During the same afternoon, ana soon after
Rodgers left me. l was called out by Max