The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-18


sioners. with the result that Nelson, be-
loved of the force, was dismissed.
There is hardly a policeman in this city
who does not speak of this mans petty
tyrannies. 1t is supposed that he levied
toll or backmail upon all that came I'M
der bis notice. yet his position and infiu-
ence with Chief Crowley were such that
the mems tongues were united. The sem
tence passed upon Hall on Monday night
has found its echo in the breasts Of all his
once subordinates.
Patrolman Dawes, too. had been under
suspicion for some time. For years Dawes
was placed in sole charge of the white
lotteries in the city. Dawes was good
officer, and his record for considerable
period stood at from eight to ten arrests a
week. Little by little. however, his aver
age dropped. Ii was perfectly we'll known
to all that lotteries and gambling-ho
were in full swing all around, and yet
Dawes was responsible for no arrests An
investigation follow ed. with the result that
he, too, has joined the great majority, in a
sense.
Patr0lmen Shields. Jones and Reisng
were until quite recently all members OF
the Chinatown squad. under Sergeant Spill
lane. They did plenty of good work. and
perhaps the squad was responsible for
more successful raids than any body of
men stationed in Chinatown for some time.
But whether or not the temptations of the
tenderloin district and the fantan houses
proved too seductive cannot be stated, but
it is fact that the erstwhile squad CON-
prises now but two men, Sergeant Spill
lane and Patrolman Dodge. Both have
something to say upon the subject.
An old-time member of the force when
speaking of the changes said: 1--WE ex-
pected this would come for some time. We
knew Hall was 0nly tyrant, and we
know what he did when he caused poor
Nelson to be broke. Dawes hasn't been
doing well lately. either, and thought he'd
have to go some day. But Shields, Jones
and Reising were all young and good
officers, and I'm surprised to hear that
they are let out. Bet suppose they've
been led into mischief, and now they have
to suffer for it,"
Police Commissioner Robert j. Tobin
was seen last night and did not deny the
truth of the above statements. Mr.. TObin,
however. was extremely reticent on the
subject, and remarked that it was for the
public good that he was so.
ut can do no good to make the facts
public" he said, because we hope to
make many more such changes. You can
see readily how it is. We impose certain
trusts upon certain persons, and when we
find a rascal who willfully beirays the con-
fdence reposed in him, why. the best and
only thing we can do is to dismiss him
from the force, and in that way we hope to
rid the force of all the scum before many
days are past.
81 may tell you that we took this step
on Monday night solely upon Chief Crow
ley's representation of the facts. We
knew. of course. why we were dlsmissing
these men. but we held no official investi-
CATION. We simply took Chief Crowley
word, as a man of honor whom we have
known and respected for very many years.
and we concluded to &C: upon it. The
work has only just started and there is
more to follow"
It is also stated that ex-Captain Hall and
Captain Lees are very old and intimate
friends, and that the question OF Halls re-
moval wa discussed at favorable mo-
ment when Captain Lees was absent from
the city. Ii is not for a moment supposed
that Lees participated in or had even cog
nizance of Halls nefarious schemes, but
merely that the old detective would not
wish to assist in the decapitation of man
who had been his friend.
Relative to the confidence reposed in
Hall by Chief Crowley and the basis for
charges brought against the decapitated
clerk, gentleman closely allied to the
Police Department said that the inves-
tigation had been quietly conducted for
some months past for the purpose of as
pertaining whether Hall really was guilty
as charged by specified persons.
1.-THE police" said this gentleman, ''were
not, as it is generally supposed. altogether
ignorant of the fact that a sensation was
about 20 be exploded among them.
"Several weeks ago an intimation was
made that certain heads would have to fall,
but just who the unfortunates would be
no one knew until about six or seven days
ago. Then 1t was whispered about that
the complaints against Hall and certain
members of the Chinatown squad had at
last come to a focus and would become
effective.
"The alleged levying of tribute by off,
GERS In the 'Tenderloin' end Chinatown
districts has long been thorn in the side
of Chief Crowley. He has caused several
changes to be made In the squads assigned
to duty in those precincts. but still the
scsndalous reports flooded in upon him.
HALL was more unpopular than any
other man on the force, and there were
always men who evinced a disposition to
watch his dealings pretty closely and make
capital of the results in the shape of
gossip.
''As near as am able to learn. the