The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-28
TOOK II ALL BACH
POLICE COMMISSIONERS REVERSE
THEIR OWN ACTION.

And Ben Downing will Stay on the Police
Forc-They will Make Room for Him
and You Bet They will Not Monkey with
that Buzz Saw Any More-Poor Mr..
Lieurence Submits to an Interview in
which He Tells All About It-Massey's
Head Is Now in Danrer-Aspey Nav
Succeed Him.
The police commissioners have taken
water.
The Eagle Of yesterday predicted
that they would recede from their ac-
ton IN the Ben Downing matter, and
they did so with promptness that is
very complimentary to the prophet
The police commissioners know when
they have hold of the business end of
buzz saw and they are careful nor
TO hang on TO it too long.
1t was their first undertaking aud
the people viewed it with interest in
order 10 ascertain how much, if any,
backbone, the new board has They
are satisfied and the general opinIcn
Is that the gentlemen who cannot face
al
the actions of 10000 people.
BEN HAD a SMILE ON.
Ben Downing came up town yester-
day morning with smile on his face
and stepped as high as anybody con-
hdent that he had the cOmmi sSi )ners
On the hip. He pulled away at mis-
brieT root as serenely as a prince of
the blood royal and beat a cheerful
tattoo on the flag pavement with the
ferule end of his cane when he anchor
ed himself at the corner of First and
Main streets to talk with his friends.
a reporter for the Eagle took the
trial OF NJ. Secretary Lieurance yes
terday and after two hours of waiting
ana watching run across DAVID
Smythe. Mr- Smythe, upon being ask
ed what the status of Ben DowninS's
case was, said that he guessed tina: Ben
would be taken care of all right.
You are going to take him back,
them"
las | understand it he was not dis
charged
But wasn't his resignation asked
for?"
1t was"
SMYTHE DID NOT VOTE.
did you vote to ask for his resig-
nation?''
Il am president of the board and do
not vote except in case of a tie.''
But the secretary's letter asking
for the resignation stated that the re-
quest was unanimous"
Technically it was for there was no
vote against it,
What was Ben Downing asked to
resign for?''
well, there is a whole lot of talk
that We hear that the people at large
do not. There was some talk of in
efficiency, but then the resignation was
n l-.al ~, - he int &c
omy."
Mr.. Smythe. it was easy to see. was
very much worried over the matter
and looked as if he would be gla1 70
have his hands washed Of the whole
business.
MR.. LIEURANCE WAS SEEN.
Where is Mr.. Lieurance?" the re-
porter asked of the chief of police.
He is in that ROOM"
The Eagle man knocked three TIRES
at the door and scratched the panel
once 1t is the customary signal of dis
tress at joint door and whether Mr..
Lieurance understood il or not he re-
ponded and opened the ioor of the
sanctum sanctorum or holy of holes
of the commissioners.
Mr. Lieurance what have You folks
done with the case of Ben Downing"
We don't feel very much like Civ (
ing the Eagle information at this |
office"
But you have no right to refuse; |
you are public officers and the people |
have right to know what you ara do |
ing whether you feel like it or no.
We'll, but you fellows misrepresenl
us
In what way has the Eagle ever mis-
represented you; at what timer
.-Oh, well, we viii give you what
ever You want that can be given"
&c roa h.. ola
have a right to know what you do eX-
cept, of course, secrets that would in
terfere and hamper the cause of JUS |
tice. Have you reinstated Ben Down |
ing?"
I'VE never discharged him.
Isn't it a fact that you wrote him |
a letter asking for his resignation"
Yes, that is a fact"
Didn't you know that Don s. Colt |
made a special request that Ben Down |
in he kept on the force?"
He never consulted me about Ihe |
matter"
But didn't you know it to be a fact"
He may have talked TO the other /
members about it,"
Isn't it fact that Ben Downing |
was fred because he was a Method |
list ,"
That is what the Eagle stated this
morning"
VI ell. is IL q TACT
LIEURANCE WAS TICKLED.
81 am glad to see that the Eagle has !
at last recognized that Don s. Colt is /
quite man." and Mr.. Lieurance |
laughed, evidently thinking he had a |
horse on the Eagle.
Downing was not asked to resign
then because he was a Methodist"
Why the president Of the board, Mr.. |
Sniythe. is a Methodist
But Mr.. Snythe is the chairman and /
did not ask for his resignation"
Mr.. Downing was asked TO resign in
the interest of economy"
WAS he inefficient as a policeman"
"Oh, well. I don't want to say any
thing about that We are responsible
for what We do. We hear a. great deal |.
more because we are IN this position |
than -. AIRS. don't say that Down
ing was inefficient; il WAS all done in
the interest OF economy
THIS Is QUEER ECONOMY.
Didn't you appoint a new man. Mr..
Aspy?"
Yes. we appointed Mr.. Aspy in Mr..
Aocks place"
"Whal did the commissioners fire
Mr.. Kock for?''
we let Mr. Kock out in the interest
Of economy, too"
But you say you appointed Mr.. Aspy
n his place"
We'll. we propose 10 let some more
put, too.
do you propose to reinstate Mr..
Downing?
- said that we did not fire Mr.
Downing"
DO YOU mean to say that he is now
citing in the capacity of an o1ficer?"
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