The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-04
DR.. R0BNsOh's BIC BOMB
Stirs q Hornets Nest Ia the Police
Department
WILL BE AN OPBg INQUIRY
Charge That an Officer Led Young Men
to Houses Of Ili.famc-Msyor Con.
nell Demanded an Invcstiga.
tion-Policemen Make Oath.

For the first time in the history Of
Scranton its police department has
been publically charged from a church
pulpit with one of the grossest of Of
fences. The charge was made by Rev.
DR.. Charles f. Robinson in his Thanks
giving Day sermon In the Second Pres
byter,an church. He said:
II have personal knowledge that a
certain police officer of the Scranton
police department led young men into
dens of infamy of this city
DR.. Robinson's statement was called
to the notice of Mayor Connell, who
formally requested DR.. Robinson. by
letter. to substantiate his charge or
retract it. DR.. Robinson replied. in
timating that he would not attempt
to establish the charge because of the
injury it would work to the families
of the young men who had been re-
claimed by the church; neither would
he retract as he had every reason to
believe the veracity of his own state
ment. Last night. however, he in
formed the mayor that the young men
had consented to give testimony con-
cerning his Thanksgiving Day utter
ance as soon as desired.
Meanwhile, during yesterday after
noon the entire police force of the city,
numbering forty-nine men, excepting
two absent on vacation and including
Chief w. T. Simpson, four lieutenants
and the desk sergeant We're formally
ordered to assemble in Mayor Con-
nells Office. There. with doors open,
and with no attempt at secrecy, the
officers of the force, separately, and
the patrolmen. collectively, signed
sworn affidavits denying the truth OF
DR.. Robinsons statement. a resolu-
tion, containing the correspondence be-
tween mayor and minister and the
facts involved in the matter, was
signed by each man present demand
ing. for the protection Of themselves
and their families. that DR.. Robinson
publically produce the source Of his
information.
Object Explained by tho Mayor.
At 1880 o'clock yesterday afternoon
every member Of the department gath
cred in the assembly room OF the city
hall in response to an order issued by
Chief Simpson the preceding night. The
men thought the order unusual. They
did not know the reason why they were
called together, but suspected some-
thing out of the ordinary. Chief Simp-
son gave the order to march single file
and led them up the narrow iron STAIR
way to the mayors reception room or
the main floor. where two rows OF
chairs were arranged in semi-circle
| to receive them. The three doors lead
| ing to the main corridor were wide oper
and were occupied by a crowd of visi-
| tors to the building, who, when Mayor
Connell announced the object of the
CALL We're as much surprised as were
| the policemen themselves.
Among the men. from Martin Gurrell
who has been eighteen years a police.
man, down to David Parry, two months
on the force, none had ever been called
on a similar occasion. The silence in
the larger room was profound while
Mayor Connell recited the cause for the
gathering. He stood while addressing
them, behind a large oak writing table
in the east end of the room. Chief
Simpson sat at his right and about the
table the reporters were grouped.
Mayor Connell said he had found only
an insignificant number of occasions tC
| doubt their individual integrity ant
manhood and could not believe the trutf
| of DR.. Robinson's charge until 1t was
proved. He did not hesitate to say thai
| each of them would be under cloud OF
| suspicion until the statement against
| them was withdrawn or confirmed, ant
| he was just as emphatic in announcing
l,ox T. erfy hn v,arcnr
or persons every facility for substantial.
| ton. After repeating the exact Ian
guage of DR.. Robinson's pulpit charge
Mayor Connell asked:
II want you to tell me before goine
further. If there is one among you who
| has so far forgotten his character ant
manhood?"
"No,sir was the immediate response
| from every one present. Until this mo-
| ment there had scarcely been a sus
| picion of sound, other than the mayor.
voice.
The Resolution Signed.
Then was read and signed the follow.
ing:
Whereas, DIR. Charles L. Robinson, pas
| tor Of the Second Presbyterian church o.
| the city of Scranton, Pa, in his sermon o.
Thursday, Nov. 2S 1895, made the follow
| ing charge against the individual mem
| bers of the Scranton police department
viz:
IL have personal knowledge that a GER
| tain police officer of the Scranton police
department led young men into dens o.
infamy of this city," and whereas hi
| honor. Mayor Connell under date Of Nov
| 20, addressed the following communication
to the Rev. DR.. Robinson as follows:
my Dear Doctor:-I observe by the pa
| per this morning that you are reported a!
saying in the course of your sermon yes
| terday morning that you had persona
knowledge of certain officers OF the polio,
| department Of this city leading young mel
| into dens of infamy.
| Since I have been the chief executive
| officer OF this city 1t has been my mos
| earnest endeavor to lead young men ava,
| from and not into dens of infamy; ant
where I use the personal prOnOun, l refe
| to myself as the responsible head OF thi
| department, which has been so seriousl!
| reflected upon.
II you were reported correctly in tn,
newspaper should deem 1t q very grea
favor IL you would furnish me with tn,
| names of these officers at your earlies
| convenience.
/ am, Yours very truly,
w. L. Cqdnell. mayor"
Reply That Was Received.
To which the following reply was re
| ceived:
Scranton, Pa, Dec. 2, 1895.
| Monday a. m.
| To His Honor, Mayor w. l.. Connell:
/ Dear Mr.. Connell:-My attention ha
been called to the fact that In my sermon
on Thanksgiving Day, a reference to
policeman directing some young men II
whom I was interested to a house Of In
fanny. reflected seriously upon yourself a
the responsible head of the police depart
ment, and that 1t would have been wiser 1
I had first reported this to your honor.
| That, I would have done. had realise
| that you exercised any oversight Of tn
police department. You will remembe
| that when the Sabbath saloon closing com
| mittee, of which was a member, waite
i ....-.. ,rr,,, mn mora frrs,,ad vos hn,