The Anaconda standard., 1895-03-07
DWYER NOT TO BLAME
The POliCs Commissioners EXOnerated
The 0ffl33r.
PUT BACK TO WORK AGAIN
Marshal McNIchols Explains How
He Came to Be Absent From
the Last Meeting of the
Commissioners.
Ut BACK TO WORK AGAIN

BUTTE, March 6.-The police commits.
sion this afternoon fully exonerated OH
Ger Dwyer for the shooting OF Owen
Walsh in Phil Harrington's saloon a
| couple of weeks ago and reinstated him
with full pay from the day of the tragedy.
In taking this action the commission did
a great deal toward repairing the damage
that has been done in the past by hauling
officers up on the carpet on the most
frivolous charges. Hitherto it has been
possible for any sort of person, whether
he was responsible party or not, to
secure the investigation of an officer on
charges for which there were absolutely
no foundation, and which could easily
have been shown to be false. if not ma
licious by referring them to the marshal
for investigation before taking them UP
before tho commission. If things had
gone onin this way much longer the ofii-
GERS would have almost been afraid to ar
rest hobo for fear he would have them
investigated. To-day's action on the part
of the commission will, however, give the
police renewed confidence in themselves
and their authority.
All the members we're present when
Chairman Brophy called the meeting TO
order and Gallick promptly moved that
Officer Dwyer be exonerated and REIN
stated with full pay. He called attention
to the fact that Dwyer had been exoner-
ated by the coroner's jury and discharged
at his preliminary examination.
The chairman stated that the only mat
ter for the commission to decide was as
to whether or not the officer had COM
mitted an infraction of discipline in using
his gun.
fhn ma hal t.4a 4I,.t r
force had been violated and Gallick's mo-
tion was then put and carried unani-
mously.
AT the suggestion of the marshal,
Dwyer was ordered placed on day shift
for month. The marshal then called at
tention to his absence from last weeks
meeting and explained how it happened.
he took exception to some of the remarks
that we're made by two or three of the
commissioners at that meeting aud OK
planned that he had not been at fault
from his point of view. He understood
that there was no sick list TO be reported
for last month and the only officer off
duty was John Nico. and he had
been oil for two months through an in-
jury.
In the ma r of hauling refuse and gar
bage through the principal streets during
the day time the marshal explained that
day the persons moving it have permit
from the health officer, who is empow-
cred TO give such permits, designating the
time and manner IN which the stuff shall
be moved. Cess pools, the marshal said,
must be cleaned at night, hut garbage
could be hauled during the day when a
permit was secured. Furthermore he said
the police commission had nothing what
ever to do With the matter.
The marshal next referred to the state
ment made by Brophy at the last meeting
to the effect that the police department.
could not be in a more unsatisfactory con-
ditlon with the police commission and tho
police committee both abolished. The
marshal agreed with THIS statement SO
far as the police commission was con-
cerned, but If the commissioners saw any
thing wrong they were supposed to bring
the matter up.
Brophy explained that his remark had
been prompted by the fact that at a
previous meeting Gallick had complained
that there was no policeman on his beat
and at that time McNichols said that he
thought there should be a man on the beat
referred to while the chief said that there
was not supposed to be an officer OIL that
beat.
That's only another indication of tn
need of having only one head to the po-
have never received any reports from the |
night shift"
The marshal is the responsible head !
of the police department" replied
Brophy. THE mayor defined the relative
duties and positions of the marshal and
chief months ago and there is no ground |
for misunderstanding. Conscientious |
discharge of duty is all that is required of |
any officer and If he does not do that no |
law is required to direct what shall be |
done with him."
At the suggestion of Alderman Kelly |
and ON motion of Gallick. Officer Nicol |
was allowed half pay for February. Con- |
siderable discussion then took place rela- |
i've 10 the non-payment of old bills by /
wo or three policemen who seem to have /
been playing fast and loose with the COM /
mission. Three officers we're warned that /
f several bills were not paid by next |
meeting they would be permanently sus-
pended.