The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-20
CHOPPED OFF HEADS
Safety Board Officially Decapi-
tates Fourteen Policemen.
Inefficiency Was the Cause Given-Su-
perintendent Powell and Mayor
Denny Ask for More Officers.

The guillotine controlled by the Board of
Public Safety was worked industriously yes
terday, and the official heads of patrolmen
were carried out of the Office of the board
by the basketful. The uncertainty which
has demoralized the police force was re-
moved yesterday and became, to some of
the men, unpleasant certainty. The official
heads OF fourteen patrolmen went into the
basket, and the guillotine used was labeled
inefficiency. This general charge without
specifications sufficed in every instance. The
men dropped are: Democrats-Giblin, Ker-
rims, Deshong, Grothaus, Nicholson. Arnold,
Griffin and Pierson. Republicans-Corhan,
Henry Pope, Wurtz. Alberts, Winn (~colored)
and Ginger.
Those appointed in the places of the re-
moved patrolmen, together with their per-
centage, were: Democrats-William Dundon,
s214; John c. Johnson, 70; Dayton Rinker.
II; William H. Conklin, 70; n. j. Hoffbauer,
1872.
Republicans-William l.. Cienar, Sc; George
w. Laird, 50; A. W. Burris, 81; r. II. Meyer
peter, 70; Alfred Johnson, 20; w. o. Sulli-
van, So; C. F.. Shortridge, s61a; Joshua p.
Spears, 6612; c. Kiefer, 70.
OF those who nave filed applications for
v vi - AoAANa ~ NAo R-JS -
cal examination, and they will be given no
mark till the police surgeon is consulted.
The board will hold another meeting during
the week to appoint Democrats to the force
in order that it may be kept equally divided
politically.
Superintendent Powell and Mayor Denny
ment of the force by the appointment of ad-
1itfana1 pafralpaan Tha opnarfntandan Cai1
the time had come when 1T was necessary
to make every effort to enforce the liquor
laws. He said in order to do this it was
necessary to appoint more men, the present
force being wholly inadequate for the duty.
The men were required to do double duty,
for which they received no extra compensa-
tion. superintendent Powell said there wers
a number of saloon keepers who obeyed the
law, but there were others, and their num-
Der was not small, who dehed the law and
the police. In some instances he said it was
necessary TO station a man inside the sa-
loon or on the outside, and often it was
necessary to station officers in adjoining
buildings, from the fact that in some cases
barber shops, stores, etc., were used as en-
frances to the saloons. He said the saloon
men had cOntriYed all manner of plans and
devices for defeating the attempts to en-
force the law. Lookouts were, in some in
stances, posted upon the street In either oil
rectiOn from the saloon and warning given
the minute a patrolman appeared in sight.
he promised If the board would give him
more men he would see that the law was
enforced.
The Mayor urged the board to increase
the force. He said he had been in favor OF
the strict enforcement of the law from the
start and had not changed his mind. He
thought the people would be willing TO stand
an increase of the expenses il the law was
enforced. He said the laws must be en-
forced if the city has money n power
enough TO accomplish 1t. President Ruckle
said the board would take the question W
at once, and would do all 1t could to assist
the superintendent in his efforts to enforce
the law. 1t had been In favor OF increasing
the force, but disliked to increase the ex-
pense OF the city government.
After this the board took up some other
matters in connection with the department
The superintendent was told TO inspect the
uniforms and report TO the board the mum
Der needed, and it would make arrangements
for them The superintendent asked thai
belts and maces be used instead OF the
present style of mace. He also thought new
badges ought to be ordered. He was also
informed that the men at the police station
were under his control, and he could trans
fer them TO any department he desired. The
building inspector was ordered 10 proceed
with the repairs at the police station and To
inspect all the engine houses and ascertain
what repairs were needed upon them. Pa
trolman Hoefgen was transferred to the
tunnel.