The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-28
In tho Case of the Suspension of
Polioe officer Snyder
WITH A LITTLE STRING ATTACHED
In tho Shape of Recommendation
that in the Face OF the Evidence
Snyder BIO Reinstatod-The losli-
mony of tho Witnesses for Proscou,
ton aud Defense.

AAbaNNAt EAp"N
Chairman Irwin read communica-
ton from Chief McNichol informing tho
committee that he had suspended Oil
Ger Snider, on tho complaint oil Louis
Zoeckler, on account OF refusing to do
his duty, aud stating he had taken this
action in compliance with section 20 OF
the CITY ordinances, Tho chairman OF
the committee had been notified OF the
matter March 20, five days after tho
suspension had been made.
Mr.. Robinson suggested that tho
prosecuting witnesses be tirat called, tol-
lowed by those tor the defense, and
moved that the chief DO summoned,
which prevailed.
A petition signed by large number
OF First ward residents WIS read, asking
for the reinstatement OF Snyder, stating
that the charges against him wcro lOlse,
and that he had always been IN
efficient aud faithful officer.
Chief McNichol appeared before the
committee and was asked TO outline the
case.
THE CHIEF TEsTIFIES.
Tho Chiei-"rhere WAS some trouble
in the upper end Of town on tho street
car line Saturday. WAS telephoned
that a car had been taken lrop tho man
in charge md oil the track. sent
Lieutenant Gaus up; he stayed there
two hours, then came back and re-
ported that man named Gosuey had
struck Slater, the driver, and had not
! been arrested. then telephoned to an
Monday. Young Slater. in his evi.
dence, said that he mad run down street
until he saw Snyder, when he told him
that his car had been taken from him
and that he wanted the man arrested,
Snyder, according to Slater, said it
would be better him not to have Cos.
ney arrested. lie then wanted Snyder
to go up and protect tho car while no
(Slatcr) went after warrant for Cos
ney's arrest. Snyder replied that no
couldn't do anything unless Slater weRt
back with him. Both then went back.
This was the story Slater told. Later
on there was more trouble and Snyder
was asked to make an arrest, but said it
would be better not to do it"
"After court" said the chief, II had
q talk with Snyder, who told his side
OF the story. Later got u message
from Mr.. Zoeckler, and met him, and
the latter said Snyder was no good, and
that every man. woman and child in the
vicinity knew OF the Gosney trouble.
He told me the trouble with Snyder
was that he didn't want to do anything,
Al. H.
testing against Snyder. On the intor.
nation OF Mr.. Zoecklcr suspended
Snyder and called your attention to
the matter"
On being Intercepted, the chief said
Snyder was not drinking man, and
that he had been on the force four or
five months. taking Deku's place. He
also spoke well OF Snyder's record at
the Grand Opera House, n very difficult
station. Before this occasion Snyder
had been n pretty fair officer. 1t devel-
oped that Snyder was not around at
the time OF the trouble later in tho
evening. The first trouble had occur.
red at o'clock, and tho second at
o'clock, tho last not being go serious as
the first Gosney had been arrested
early Sunday morning.
MIR. zoEcKLER's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Louis zoeckler, OF tho First ward,
on whose complaint officer Snyder had
been suspended, was next summoned.
He said there had been trouble in
connection with tho street cars for two
or three weeks, principally by boys. On
the afternoon OF the trouble he saw tho
officer going down street; later on Slater
came running down without his hat.
He looked up street and saw some PEG.
pie starting the street car mules down
street. Snyder, accompanied by Slater,
came mp in about fifteen minutes. He
was told about Z o'clock that the boys
wero going TO run the cara into the
river, Snyder came in to call head.
quarters. He asked Snyder to SEQ
whether the chief was in. lie then tel
ephonedNhO chief to sendup man who
could arrest the men, and stop
tho trouble at tho turn table.
Snyder then told him he knew
walking six squares with Slater, tho
driver. When the second trouble oc.
Cured, II the car hadn't struck water
pipe, itwould have run onto the Pewiky
tracks. Gosney was the man who
started the horses down the street. He
said they wanted man who could
make arrests. Snyder could have made
arrests the Saturday before II no had
wantod TO. The boys on occasions would
jump on the rear platform OF cars, turn
the brakes half on, then Jump off, leav.
ing the car on tho down grade so they
could not be controlled. On being in.
terroCaied he said there had been no
trouble when Skaity was on that beat,
and that during nights when other Off.
GERS were on there was no trouble. He
also said there had been no trouble
lately in the upper part Of town.
THE ASSAULTED DRIVER,
Slater then appeared and testified. His
testimony was substantially the same
as tho story he told in police court, and to
tho chief given above. He said he had
approached Snyder, who advised him
not to have Gosnoy arrested and would
not 20 to the scene unless he would &C.
company him. When asked what no
undorstood from Snydor's expression
that in case he had Gusnoy arrested,
cit might 90 worse with him." Slater
said he thought 1t was a threat OF per.
Ronal harm, lilo also said he thought
Snyder was in sympathy with the
strikers, and "sidod in with them" and
was more or less an habituo at the
Italian saloon near tho tutniablc, whore
strikers aud sympathizOrs gathered.
Tnr SUSPENDED orFicEn
Officer Snyder then appeared and told
his story At tho time of tho first