Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-08-27
BESIEGED.
Louisville Aldermen Refuse to
Obey a Restraining Order
In Impeachment Proceedings Against
the Louisville Board of Safety.
Rules of Contempt Issued by Judge Toney
and the Aldermen Lock Themselves in
to Prevent tArre.t-Mayor Todd AS
sumes Control of the Police.

sumes Control of the Police.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Aug. 26.-The fight
of Mayor Geo. D. Todd, republican,
and the A. =. A. republican board of
aldermen to remove the democratic
board of public safety, which controls
the police, fire and charity depart
mcnts of the city government
reached a climax Tuesday after
noon when the aldermen refused to
obey an injunction restraining them
from taking further steps in the i'm
parchment proceedings. against the
board of safety. The injunction was
granted by Judge Toney, who immedi-
ately dissolved it, but he stated that
under the code it would remain in force
for five days. The aldermen at
once refused to obey it, and
took recess. After this was over,
the board of safety was denied
attorneys and the impeachment case
proceeded. Judge Toney was informed
of the state of affairs and he iss ued
rules of contempt against the alder
men. The latter locked themselves in
to prevent arrest and the sheriff and
his deputies were forced to wait out
side as the judge did not desire to have
the doors broken in.
A special session of the city council
was called and a trolley rugged up
between the two wings of the city
hall in which the aldermen and coun-
cilmen chambers are located. Whisky,
beer, cigars and notes were passed
across to the self-imprisoned aldermen.
In the meantime Judge Toney revised
his contempt order and gave the alder
men until IL o'clock Wednesday to
show cause why they should not be
sent to Jail for refusing to obey the
mandate of court.
Mayor Todd has assumed control of
the police force, and sent word to Chief
Taylor that only his orders were to be
obeyed. At $50 o'clock Col. L. III.
Stone, attorney for the prosecution,
and Mayor Todd announced that
word had been received from the al
dermen that they had impeached Col.
Robert Tilford, ID. L. O'Sullivan and
Chas Wilson, the members of the board
of public safety. When the proceed
ings at the city hall became known
about town, a regular mob gathered at
the city hall and blocked the sidewalks
and corridors of the big building. The
majority were members of the Amer
lean Protective association, who are
looking forward to places in the police
and fire departments.
At Z o'clock it was given out that
Mayor Todd had appointed John Scar
cy G. M. Crawford and VIM. Evans
members of the board of safety. At
7:12 o'clock the aldermen had con-
frrned the appointments. A little later
the new officials proceeded toward
the aldermcn's chamber, headed
by Sterling Edmunds, an A.
p. A. leader. Mr. Edmunds gave
the A. p. A. knock on the door and the
iron bars, tables and desks, with which
it had been barricaded to keep out the
sheriff and his force, were removed
AS soon as the door was opened the
sheriff and his men made a rush for
it and forced themselves into
the chamber after fierce fist
fight. The sheriff then cited the
aldermen to appear before Judge To-
ney to show cause why they should not
be punished for contempt of court
The aldermen then adjourned. None
of the members of the deposcd board
of safety were in evidence. Their
offices on the second floor of the city
hall were dark, but inside was a squad
of police instructed to deny admittance
to all intruders including the new
board.
AT Sis o'clock Gen. Thos II. Taylor,
chief of police, received note from
Mayor Todd, ordering him to remove
The policemen stationed in the Office of
the board of public safety and turn the
rooms over to the new board. Gen.
Taylor replied that himself and force
were at the mayors command to pre-
serve the peace, but declined to re-
move the policemen from the Office, as
they were placed there by the board of
safety and that he did not recognize
the new board appointed by the mavor.
At S:30 o'clock the Offices of the chief
of police We're locked and derkened,
but in each was number OF police
captains, 'lieutenants, patrolmen and
detectives. The charges on which the
members of the old board of safety
were impeached are; Failure TO sup
press prostitution and gambling and
usurpation of authority.
Gen. Taylor was removed from the
Office of chief at nine o'clock and Rob-
ert Cunningham, a livery stable keeper,
appointed in his stead.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Aug. 2G.-Louisville
has two chiefs of police and before
many hours it looks as if there will be
two complete police departments as
the result of the impeachment of the
old boards of public safety. Robert
Cunningham, the sew A. p, A. chief,
and the new board of safety are hold
ing forth in the mayors Office, trying
Assistant Chief of Police S. Gunther
for refusing to obey Their orders. The
old board and chief are in possession
of the offices of the police department
and say they intend to hold on at al
hazards. The city hall and courthouse
are surrounded by an enormous crowd
waiting for the appearance of the
aldermen to answer the rule of con-
| temDt issued bv JudOe TOnev Tuesday