The morning call., 1893-06-06
WORDS THAT BURN
Conlan Attacks the Police
Commissioners.
THEIR TRIALS ARE FARCES.
He Withdraws the Complaint Against
Parrotte, but the Board Will
Compel Him to Prosecute.

Police Judge Conlan poured the walls of
his wrath upon the Board of Police Com
missioners last night in a way that made
that eminently respectable body hot with
anger and increased the friction between
him and the guardians of the peace.
1t will be remembered that when Con-
Ian charged Whitman with taking brides
from fallen women and lottery-keepers. he
also charged Corporal Parrotte. turnkey
at the City Prison. with taking money
from persons confined in the Jail in return
for privileges granted them. The trial of
the charges against Parrotte should have
been held last night. but il was not.
Call the case of Corporal Parrotte,"
ordered Commissioner T0bn after the
board had transacted its routine business.
Secretary Hall, slowly and solemnly, as
is his wont, read the charges that had
been made against the corporal. He had
hardly concluded when communication,
of which the following is a copy, was
thrust into his hands. In voice CULVER
Ing with emotion he read:
SAN Francisco, June 5, 1898.
To the Honorable Board IF Police Commits
stoners Of the CITY and County Of san Fran
cisco deeply regret that the
conduct Of your body toward myself and he
witnesses testifying for The prosecution In the
recent investigation OF the charges against Ser
Geant Whitman, and your final decision in the
matter acquitting Whitman In the face OF posi-
tive evidence Of his guilt, makes 1t apparent 10
ME that 1t is idle for any citizen, unless with
your approval, 10 call your attention to abuses
by the officers under your control, aud espe-
cially those OF rank.
Probably your honorable bodydeemed it neces-
sary In the face OF the positive evidence OF
guilt offered and presented and the verdict or
the press and peonle 10 find Sergeant Whitman
innocent, as counsel for Whitman insisted
that the reputation of The Police Commission
and OF all the officers was at stake.
II such Is The case, can see no possible good
In proceeding before you against Corporal
Parrotte, as the same reason would stlll exist,
and therefore the same result might reasonably
be expected.
Such being the case decline to be a party to
another farce, as l believe an Investigation
before you against Corporal Partotle would
amount to. and l have neither the lime nor the
inclination to engage therein. aud, therefore,
positively decline 10 appear or assist any fur
ther In any investigation before your body at
any time hereafter Of any charges now pending
OF hereafter made against Corporal FarOtte or
any other officers, but VIII pursue the course
L now advise every citizen TO take In the future
in all matters concerning police abuses, and
that is TO submit all the testimony and facts in
the Whitman ana Parrotte cases to the Grand
Jury, and let the latter deteI mine whether the
Honorable Board of Polio Commissioners, or
their subordinate officers, or both, are on trial
when direct and positive charges are made and
proof thereof offered against any member Of
The Police DEPARTMENT.
With feelings of intense disappoin at
tHe Ut ceSSlly LOT present attitude toward u
body of men have heretofore highly respected,
l remain, CHARLES L. CONAN,
Judge OF Police Court Department 2.
The faces of the Commissioners flushed
and paed alternately during the reading
of the irate Judges letter. Colonel D. NJ.
Burns was the first to find his tongue.
Il insist upon Conlan coming before the
commission and telling what he knows"
he remarked.
Chief Crowley said that Conlan could be
compelled to testify before the board.
VERY well, theu." ordered Commits
sioner Tobin. who was very angry, we'll
set the case for next Monday night. Sub
PEI a Judge COnlan to be present"
Officer John Curran was charged with
being drunk On April %. and it was fur
theI charged that while in that uninterest-
ing condition he cutfed one Mrs. McGlown
Of Rincon Hill, with whose husband he
was quarreling at the time about dog,
and that he subsequently drew his revolver
and drove McGlcwn into the house.
Attorney Long. who appeared for Cur
ran, asked for a continuation on the
ground that he had not been able to pre-
pare the defense.
''We have been censured for postponing
trials said Commission Alvord, land
am tired of it," Nevertheless, the case
was postponed until next Monday night
Officer w. II. Wells was fined SIS for
smoking while on duty and Officer George
Collins was fined 500 for permitting three
burglars who had been pointed cut to him
to eS.ape.