The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-12

Public interest in the trial of Cap
tain Donovan upon the charges filed
against him by Chief Pratt continues
TO grow more intense. The chief re-
fuses to give any more definite outline
of the charges against the captain
than those contained in the document
filed with the board of police and fire
commissioners, but all the same he is
quite diligent in getting up evidence
10 sustain the charges, and last even
ing went to Mount Pleasant, Dresum-
ably for the purpose of interviewing
the lady who plays an important part
in the affair.
The Charges Boiled Down.
The charges stripped of their legal
redundancy of words in substance are
that the captain has been guilty of
conduct unbeccming a gentleman and
OF disresepct towards his superior Of
ficer, Chief Pratt; that he received an
anonymous letter stating that Ser
Eeant Ford had been guilty Of immor-
al conduct and had failed to turn the
said letter over to the chief, but
corruptly suppressed the same al
though it was addressed to the chief
and was opened by Captain Donovan
while the latter was acting as chief
in the absence of Pratt; that the cap
tain obtained leave of absence from
the chief representing that he wanted
to visit friends at Bingham and Mer-
cur, and that when leave was granted
he didn't go to either OF those places,
but went TO Mount Pleasant to obtain
evidence against Sergeant Ford in re-
gard TO the misconduct charged
against Ford in the anonymous letter.
1t is also charged that Donovan
sent Officer Mcdonald TO Mount
Pleasant for the same purpose
attending to his duties as
police officer in Salt Lake city, and
that the time occupied by Mcdonald
was charged up to the city. Finally
1t is set up that it was reported to
Donovan, while he was acting in the
capacity Of chief, that Officer McDon-
aid had been intoxicated at Saltair and
had been guilty of bOisterous conduct
and using obscene language, and that
the captain had failed to suspend him,
and that Donovan had fraudulently
allowed Mcdonald to draw pay from
the police department for seven days
after he was suspended on the charge
of shooting Sackerison.
Captain Donovan Confident.
Captain Donovan has repeatedly de-
clined to make any statement on his
own behalf for publication, preferring
that his defense come out in regular
manner at the trial. He, however, is
very confident that when his case is
heard he will be fully and entirely
eXonerated; that there is not an atom
of foundation for the accusations. and
that instead of acting on the offensive
and seeking to bring disgrace on Ford.
he acted on the defensive in order to
protect himself from what he had
every reason to believe was a plot to
accomplish his own downfall. and that
what he did was done in the utmost
good faith.
What the Captains Friends Claim.
The story behind the Mount Pleas
ant affair as told by DonoYans friends
is that some weeks ago the captain was
informed that woman Of ill-repute
living in Mount Pleasant, boosted of
having had relations with him of an
improper character and that she had
his photograph hanging on the wall
of her boudoir.
The captain conscious of his in
nocence and having reason to fear
that a trap had been laid for him by
his enemies, commenced ali inveStiga-
ton by which it was divulged that it
was not DOnovan's photograph which
adorned the wall of the southern
maison de joie, but that of another
member of the department, who like
Caesars wife, was supposed to be
above suspicion.
On the charge of allowing OIcDonald
to draw pay Illegally, it is claimed,
the captain will have no difficulty in
clearing himself. In the matter of
failing to suspend Mcdonald for his
conduct at Saltair, it is claimed for
Donovan, that the facts did not justify
a suspension.
However the matter may terminate,
the trial on September % will be
a hotly contested affair.
Attorney p. L. Williams and City
Attorney Eoge will prosecute and
Judges Powers and Mckay and At
torneys AIcCallum and Hoppaugh will
defend Captain Donovan.
Chief Pratt has conducted himself
throughout the affair with dignity, and
no criticism can be made of him.
Captain DOnoVan's course, since the
controversy arose, has also been such
as to win praise. The Herald has en-
deavored to present the claims of both
sides briefly, and when the cases come
TO trial the facts will be reflected with
absolute impartiality.
The Mayor VIII Not Suspend.
Captain Donovan called on Mayor
Baskin yesterday and held a confer
ence with him.
.>Mr. Mayor" he said, you and L
have been friends for four or five
years and 1 hear that your action in
not suspending me pending this trial
of mine is causing you to be criticised
somewhat. Now 1 do not wish to en-
barras you at all. and if you have the
slightest desire to suspend me pending
this investigation. 1 would rather you
would
$50 they are talking. are they?" In
quired the executive.
Yes sir, so L understand"
And 1 am being criticised?"
so they tell me-
We'll they can criticise all they want
10. 1 believe my action is right and all
$he criticism they may indulge in will
not cause me to swerve a hairs
breadth from the course L have mapped
out. L will not sus aend you