The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-04
NIGGLE ON THE RACK.
Hearing Of the Suspended
Police Commissioner.
HALF ADMITS THE CHARGES.
Rogers Tells About Bisckehapei-Me-
Ssaghs and Nigxie ssy He
Showed Partially.

oy Mayor Phelps y as held yesterday and
revealed . startling combustion OF clrcun-
stanees- Il was generally admitted last
evening At the close OF the hearing that
siggl~. fnssmuch IS he bad Been given
ample opportunity TO resign. had SET mp .
particularly Lame and unexpected defense.
In fact he ha. practically admitted nearly
everything that has been charged againss
him. The investigation covered much
ground and conversations were given be-
tween the chief and Sigrle, Siggse and
the mayor. Mcknight and the chief, all
tending TO prove every allegation charged
In the complaint IL Was SHOWN that prior
10 the action Of the chief In driving the
lewd women of the Mcknight property in
Eiackehspel. Niggle snd the chief were
good friends, and that since then Niggle
has endeayored 10 secure Rogers removal.
/. The hearing took place in the room
occupied by the board OF delegates and the
mayor has taken the matter under advise
nsnt until Saturday. Throughout the
day the spacious room was well hiled with
spectators. TO whom the testimony OF
Chief Rogers and Commissioner Siggle
proved especially interesting. Ii the
mayors decision Is against Siggle. he
promises TO appeal the case to the supe-
Tior court.
Itwass.45 O'Clock when Mayor Phelps
called the session 10 order and announced
that the hearing should procsed. After
little preliminary sparrIng by Siggle's at
torneys, Howe 4 Donworth aud Corpora
ton Couhsel Scott and Assistant Steele.
Mr.. Howe filed an answer. in which Niggle
denied the charges in toto. The FIRST wit
ness was ex-Mayor Ronald. who testified
that he had appointed Niggie commits
sioner and that he appointment was made
a. the solicitation OF J. +. Mcknight, Mr..
Siggle's employer. who, Mr.. Ronald said,
was 8 warm personal friend.
THE COLLECTORS STORY.
". d. Hicks. who collects rent for j. r.
Mcknight, said he had lived In Seattle six
years. and for some years has been in the
employ of Mr.. Mcknight Regarding
block Is, ID. 5. Maynard's plat of Seattle,
which Is the blackchapel property con-
corning the occupancy of which the
charges against Siggle were based. he said
be had collected rent there. but that since
July last. when the lease held By Mr..
Mcknight expired, he had ceased further
work there except 10 collect back rent. He
did not know into whose hands the
property had passed. He admitted
that the buildings were used for
saloons. lodging-honses. and that the
cribs were built for immoral purposes but
denied that he had ever collected any
money from the women. lie Afterward
admitted, however. that on one or two
occasions he had collected rentals from
one Jennie Naughton.
WANTED Rogers PLANS.
Sam G. Corbett, the detective, testified
that Niggle and be were neighbors and
were friends, and he also knew Mr.. Nc
Naught. Two weeks previous 20 Niggle's
appointment as a commissioner he had
talk with him, at which the latter wanted
him TO ascertain Rogers opinion concern
ing The buildings and cribs in Blackchapel
owned by Mcknight Rogers was not
then chief but was candidate for the
position. and when the witness saw him
Rogers said that he thought it would to
easier 10 regulate the women within a
small compass, but, should he go in as
chief, he would be under Obligations to no
one lie afterward talked with Niggle.
and the latter on two occasions said that
Mcknight wanted to see Rogers. The
second time he delivered the message
Rogers went to MeNsught's Office. Con-
tinulng. Corbett said:
"In August, after Niggle and Rogers had
both been appointed. saw the former and
he said he didn't think the chief was doing
the square thing With him: that instead OF
letting the cribs open up. he fired out
everything, and the property vas costing
him $500 per month. He said he would
cause the chief trouble II he didn't do the
square thing.
The crosse examination of the Itness
vas long. bat developed no new fscta
ROGERS TALKS wIrH N'SAusHr.
Chief Rogers was called, and said that
shortly before he was appointed he had
conversation with Mcknight about the
prostitutes IN Blaekchapel. Said he:
Mcknight opened the conversation,
and wanted 10 know my opinion concern
ing Riaekehapel lie said that the erihs
hRd been vacated and shat il was good
place for the women: and, in fact, The
only proper place FOR tnen. | saw he vas
trying 20 get me 10 commit myself and
buli-con lac. RBd gave him the con right
back. and told ala there was no question
bat that it would he easier 10 sandle the
women ia the cribs than scattered over tae
city. left him and le. him eonstrue what
1 had sad in whatever way be wished
The night 81 my appointment | met Mig
gle on the corner OF Second and Cherry
streets aud he made thts remark
We gili uow have il cur Way. We
will have = new Mhifechapel and get these
women Ronald has scattered about town
back again.
Later / met him again in my Office and
be said he couldn't understand why / bad
ran the women ont Of BlackchApel. lie
said | vas wrong on the proposition. He
was ST my Office still another time aud
talked in s.miisr manner ABOUT the mat
tes. There may have been other converse
Iions bat I can't Tcc0ilect them. The
women "a bAckcnapel we're OF the lowest
ortter, French. Japanese and negro.
Seveasy-hve per cent. oi them have left
TIE city"
The chiefs testimony vas exhaustive
and ioak Up much time. MF. Donsorth
conducted the examination and At time.
had ia argue sith tie witness, in whom.
however, he had eiever opponent
OsfsceF J l. Wells s~ose that there were
thlrty-tve ers8s ia the MeSaaght properly
Ia Blackehapei. capable Of accom- molstsng
as many women.
seFgt Templsion confirmed the tessi-
moay Of The eAi-f xita reference 20 ais
conversation with Nigg.e 81 the corner u
second and Cherry streets. At this point
a recess wAs taken aasA after lunch.
Al the opening OF the afternoon s~sssoa
Attorney Steele offered in evidence ne
minutes Of ths police commission covering
tie meeting Of September 5. wheu TIE az
ternut 20 remove Rogers was made and the
Msyos removed Nlggis. Chief Rogers -
ing recalled. testified more fassy concern
ing TIE Rlaekcaapsl property. and SAD
that Ter the aFxs three weeks he vas ia
oeias he enaesrorea % keep sae wonasa in
CHECK aaa make thena remain from saew
bat. nndiuE tAis impossible, he drove