The morning call., 1894-04-19


lotteries to afford trip to Europe.
Chief Crowley was a very difficult man
TO see yesterday. There were callers at
his Office by The score. In the afternoon
the Chief had to absent himself from his
regular sittiDg-room and go into an office
IN another part of che building. Here be
had lot of business to transact with
Police Commissioner Tobin, and with
them was Sergeant Henry S. Robinson.
who has succeeded Sergeant SpiIlane as
head of the Chinatown squad. Nothing
could Of course be got out Of Sergeant
Robinson after the consult ton, and be
made basty exit from the building.
Chief Crowley was seen after the con-
ference and said that he had no informa-
ton to give the public He declined to say
whether any more removals are contem-
plated. but he said that his reason for
Withholding the details of the present
affair was that if he made known what
facts he had in his possession it might in
terfere with Investigations which he now
has in hand. From this it is clear that the
commission is not disposed to rest on its
laurels and that it is after other scalps.
The Chief does not hesitate to say that
it is his intention to go to the b. ttnm of
the affair and to "break" any who may be
found 10 have been guilty Of crookedness.
The following autographic letter was
sent to THE CALL flee yesterday:
OFFICE CHIEF OF POLICE.
san Francisco. April Is, 1894.
Editor Morning CaH--DEAR SIR: L notice
in an article published in THE CALL this morn
ing a statement In regard 10 the dismissal OF
Clerk Hall and four patrolmen.
Permit me 10 state hat my investigation was
In progress for some time before the departure
of Captain Lees, and that he was made cog
INFANT OF all the facts by me when the investi-
Q ton was first instituted. The article referred
10 does Captain Lees an injustice, hence this
card. Respectfully,
P. CROWLEY. Chief of Police.
An error has also been made in stating
that Captain Lees and Hall were on init
mate terms of friendship. as it is known
that they were not friendly and had not
been so for long time.
Under the surface in police circles there
is strong conviction that some of the
minor victims of the ak are suffering from
the effects of a fight for department
Office.
Captain Short has long been known to
have determined to retire. and it is even
stated that at last Mondays exc cutive
session of the Commissioners the retii ement
became an actual TACT
1t is an open secret in the force that
there are several candidates for the cap
taincy, among them being Sergeant Spill
lane. Moreover, ii is evident that the re-
moval of SpiIlane from the fight would
benefit the chances of 9th er candidates.
Now, although Sergeant Spillane himself
has not been decapita ted, yet three OF the
dismissed patrolmen were in his squad, and
1t is conceded that the sword of Damocles
is even now suspended over the sergeanrs
head. The presumption accordingly is thai
these dismissals are the result OF 'iob"
by rival candidates to put SDillane out Of
The running Tor the caDtaincy.
From the official records it would seem
that Sergean Spillane's squad has not
been inactive Of late. During the present
month alone twenty-five arrests are re-
ported on the books as having been made
By one member, the offenses being lottery
dealing, selling opium without license.
visiting OPIUM places, tan-dealiDg, aiding
and betting lottery. etc.
Sergeant Spilane bears an excellent
nd industry.
W. A. Dawes said last night that he
would not rest quietly under the imDusa-
ton that had been cast upon his character
by his summary dismissal.
at is DUE" he said, ito the friends
through whose Influence was put on the
force that they should know the reason of
my dismissal. The public should not be
kept in the dark. also. l have nothing to
hide, and l defy the Chief or any one else
to prove that / have been guilty Of tood-
ling or derelicrion OF duty.
'In March of last year II. Fl. Handley,
who was on the Ii ttery detail with me, and
TWO attorneys made charges to the Chief
of boodling against me. l then demanded
the fullest investigation. and four days
afterward the Chief sent for me and told
me that the charges were false.
What was the result? l was kept on
the detail and Handley was removed.
Was that not evidence of the fact that the
charges against me had no foundation?
81 do not say that | have never been
approached. On the contrary, If 1 had
consulted my own pocket instead OF doing
my duty conscentiously l would have
been richer to-day by several thousand
dellars.
"If the Chief would state the nature of
charges preferred against me l Will pledge
him my word that within twenty-four
hours 1 will prove that my traducerS have
lied to him as they did before.
II can point to my record in refutation
Of any charge that 1 was derelict in my
duty. Within the past sixteen months l
have made between 400 and 800 arrests;
have seized about 375, 900 lottery tickets.
and fines have been imposed aggregating
over $1,000. think that is sufficient proof
that have been attending to my duty.
Besides l have stamped out completely
all the coun terfeit lottery men. and have
incurred their enmlty and the enmity of
others for doing so.
II made my report to either the Chief or
Clerk Hall. know nothing of any bood-
ling in connection with ] terry men by Mr..
Hall. have sufficient to do to look after