Bridgeton pioneer., 1895-12-26

thiTuS vi III was substantially Du1lt up.
The defense rested with this testimony.
In rebuttal, Mayor Appelgate said that
the written statements of Parvin were
made Immediately after the receipt of
them.
The Solicitor called Special Officer
Shull but he was not in the room, and
the case ended as far as witnesses were
concerned.
Both Mr.. Hampton and Mr.. Fithian
made splendid arguments for the accused
officer, Mr.. Fithian appealing to the SYM
pathy Of the audience, and pointing to
the twenty years excellent record made
by the policeman.
The Solicitor was pointed and logical
in his remarks, and the Council was
ready for vote.
+ The question of guilt came up first, and
the vote resulted as follows:
Guilty-Robbins, Matthews, Marks,
Conner, higgins, Elmer, Blew, Smiths.
Not Guilty-Johnson, Ackley, Bacon,
Sellers.
Mr.. Hampton was upon his feet in an
instant, and said that now that Council
had, in its wisdom, deemed Mr.. Camp
bell guilty of misconduct, what should
the punishment be. Twenty years he
had served the city faithfully and well,
and while it may be trne that he was
guilty of trifling offense, was it SO great
as to warrant dismissal? Would not the
interests of the city be well cared for if
Mr.. Campbell was suspended?
Mr. Hampton's view of the case was
that this would have the effect of awak en-
ing the officers to full sense of duty.
There was long pause, nobody say
ing word, each of the Councilmen look
! ing for somebody else to do or say some
thing. Finally Mr.. Bacon arose and said
| that it seemed to him that the case was a
| trifiing one, and that suspension would
answer the purpose of increasing the eff
ficiency of the force, and he offered a mo-
ton that Mr.. Campbell be suspended for
three months. The motion was seconded
by Mr.. Johnson.
This brought Mr.. higgins to his feet
and he showed plainly that he had some
thing that to him was unpleasant to say.
Every ear was open for his words as he
said, that on Tuesday last, Mr.. Parvin
had been convicted and dismissed from
| the force upon charge no stronger than
| that presented against Mr.. Campbell
Some had said that the removal of Parvin
| was due to political reasons, and in his
judgment if Mr.. Campbell was not re-
moved, it would look very much like it.
NO rxrhxy
suspend Mr.. Campbell, while Mr.. Parvin
was dismissed. He thought the whole
trouble was in the fact that Council was
| afraid to act. He knew it was unpleasant.
He did not like to make any motion but
| he had duty to perform, and was ready
to do 50.
Mr.. Matthews then made an argument,
with Councils need of back bone as a
subject, He thought that Campbell should
be removed. He had his own opinion of
| the police force and did not hesitate to ex-
press himself. He thought it time to
| have reorganization, with rules and
regulations.
as follows:
Yeas-Johnson, Bacon, 2.
Nays-Robbins, Ackley, Matthews,
Marks, Conner, Sellers, higgins, Elmer,
Smith, Blew, 10.
| Then Mr.. Matthews offered resolution
to remove Mr.. Campbell from the force,
and the motion prevailed by this vote:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, Ackley, Matthews,
Marks, Conner, Sellers, higgins, Elmer,
| Blew, Smith, 10.
Nay-Johnson, Bacon.
Some little minor business was at
| tended to and Council adjourned.