The morning call., 1894-03-20
PEACE PREVAILS IN DENVER.
Ousted Commissioners Will
Abide by the Decision.
POLICEMEN WHO ARE PENITENT.
They Were Led Into a Trap, and
Are Very Thankful They Es-
capped determination.

DENVER, March 19. - The Supreme
Courtroom was crowded this afternoon
with lawyers, politicians and other inter-
ested citizens while arguments were being
made on the question submitted by the
Governor to decide whether Orr and Mar
tin or Mullins and Barnes are legally en-
titled to act as mem bers of the Fire and
Police Board.
Wells, Taylor & Taylor, counsel for Orr
and Martin. whom the Governor attempted
to remove. yielding to the force of pubic
opinion. concluded to appear on behalf of
their clients, and in a communication TO
The court declared: "ShOuld the court,
despite its settled determinations hereto
fore expressed in kindred cases, conclude
that it has the authority and shall there
fore try in this summary and unusual way
the title to these offices and shall judicially
determine the issue adversely to our clients,
we shall advise them to promptly comply
with such ruling AID to Immediately sur
render the places they now hold without
further con ention."
Orr and Martin have agreed to follow
the advice of their counsel. These law
ysrs presented themselves, however, not
To argue he case on its merits, but TO con-
tend that it should b. referred to the DIS
trict Court, from which an injunction had
oeen issued forbidding the unseating of
the old members of he board. as questions
of private rights were involved.
Thomas Ward, Platt Rogers, j. Warner
Mills and Charles HartZel represented the
case for the Governor. They argued that
"solemn occasion" had arisen, and the
public Or ace depended upon the Supreme
Court making answer to the question sub
miited by the Governor as provided IN the
constitution. They cited decisions of the
court to prove that no private right was
involved. and that the Governor in re-
moving Orr and Martin for causes stated
10 writing and not of a political nsture,
had exercised right inherent In his office,
and no court had the right to review his
action.
The court took the matter under advise
ment. Its decision is not expected until
the latter part OF the week.
Some questions asked the attorneys by
the Judges indicated that the latter are of
the opinion that the Governor made the
solemn occa sion" by calling ont the
militia and will give an opinion as to his
right to do so. 1t is feared that the court
Will sflust 10 Slfo au answer TO tue O0V-
ernor's question.
The contempt case against Mayor Van
Horn and the new commissioners in the
District Court was postponed until to-
morrow.
MIR Rogers. of counsel for the defense,
sisted after affidavits had been 6leG
against the Governor that he should also be
brought in for contempt and the question
whether this court had exceeded Its au-
thority be tested.
At he City Hall nearly all traces of the
recent bloodess war have vanished. A
large number of the conservative police
officers held a secret meeting to-day and
decided they would not sgain resort to
arms TO defend their positions. One Of
them stated they realized now that they
were led into a trap when thev signed an
agreement to stand bv the old board re-
gardless of consequences. The officers
who refused 10 sign this agreement were
dropped from the force.