Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-02


a REFORM CAPTAIN.
The record of II. p Haze. who was APP
pointed to the position second In Importance
In the department, is even more notorious
than that Of his chief. He was appointed
a patroman about the same time as Sigwart,
and two years later had become chief OF
detectives. From that time until he was
dismissed from the force there was scarcely
q month that did not leave some marks OF
official irregularity or Incompetence TO stand
against Hazo's name.
Haze was assigned to the duty OF stop
ping the gambling that was going on in
the city, but somehow the gamblers always
had tip when Haze was about to raid
their resorts Complaints were filed that he
had forced an entrance to rooms under pre-
tense of having a search warrant and had
assaulted women. That he had interfered
with the operation Of the law with regard
TO women who wished to reform is matter
of record One Of these cases was that OF
young girl arrested in a house of prosti-
tuition in February, 1883 She was induced
to consent to go to the Milford home, and
her transportation was secured for her. But
that night Haze had an interview with the
girl and persuaded her to go home with
him. She went. stayed a week. and day
or two later was again arrested i'm den in
the burnt district
Haze seemed to have a ponchant for keep
ing girls of this character from being taken
to the home. In the case of Laura Day his
interference was followed by the murder Of
the girl who was soon after shot and killed
by her lover in a room in the Anderson
block. As chief of detectives his incapacity
was notorious among those who were fa-
miliar with the workings of the force He
was also noted a disorganizer and was
one Of the men who were removed for cause
In July, 1895.
A. A. Bebout who was selected by the
reform" board for the important position OF
sergeant went on the police force in 1885,
and finally became one OF the jaile;s at the
central station His services went. without
complaint until he began to give so much at
tention to breeding dissension in the force
that he failed to look after the duties of
his position 1t was his duty to retain the
effects of prisoners and return them when
they were discharged. But it came that one
prisoner was frequently given what belonged
to some other prisoner, sometimes caus-
ing serious loss. In ono case a gold watch
disappeared in this way and was never ac-
counted for. sample OF the manner in
which Bebout attended to his duties oc
CURED when a horse reported stolen
from Wirtf's Music hall. An officer found
the horse and placed it in a stable, at the
same time notifying Behout. Bebout failed
to record the report, and the horse remained
in the barn for several days, while officers
were searching all over the county for it.
AS result he was removed for cause, and
owed his reinstatement and promotion to the
reform" commission.
A REFORM CHIEF DETECTIVE.
One of the most surprising selections OF
the reform board that of W. w. Cox
for the responsible position of chief of de-
tectives The records of the board show
abundant evidence of his incompetency, aside
from the more serious charges that have
been made against him at various times.
The records show that Cox was on the carpet
for assault before he had been on the force
year. Subsequently he was charged at
various times with sleeping duty, going
into saloons while on duty, sitting down and
reading while on duty, and various other
violations of police regulations.
1t charge of frequenting saloons
on duty that he was dismissed from the
service in 1898, AT that time he threw his
star the table at which the board was
seated and invited the commissioners to seek
a warmer climate Eighteen months after
ward he allowed to apologize and resign
In order to straighten his record, and when
the reform" board came in he was appointed
to his present position. Since then his in
competency has been notorious, and it is we'll
known that instead OF directing the detective
work of the department he is mere figure
head. The instance in which Cox chased
out the whole force to hunt down some bold
burglars who had taken the elevator at
the Boston store is a fair sample of the
sagacity of this gallant officer.
Sam d. Corey, another sergeant of "reform''
selection, had also been previously dismissed
from the force for cause. He was made a
sergeant by the new board, but he displayed
SO little interest in his work and was charged
with so many Irregularities that they were
compelled to remove him after five months
service. After his dismissal Corey claimed
that he had been discharged because he had
been accused of log rolling with the city
council in regard to the levy for the police
department. He admitted this but showed
his authority in written instructions from
Captain Haze.
Daniel w. Iler and Frank D. Mitchell were
also made sergeants by the new board in
spite of the fact that they had previously
been removed from the department Iler and
Mitchell were discharged for characterization
and for spreading mutnous sentiments
among the other members of the force.
REFORM IN THE RANKS.
Nearly all Of the men who were relnstated
as patrolmen had been dismissed for serious |
causes. Several were VIGOROUSLY lazy, and
others were drunkards. Several of them had |
been charged with blacklnailing women who |
lived outside of the burnt district, exacting |
a specined sum per month for immunity |
from police interference. A few examples |
VIII suffice Officer Louis Godola had been |
found ON his beat several times in an in |
toXicated condition, and on various occa-
slons mad wantonly assaulted prisoners whom |
he was placing under arrest. He was sew
eral times on the carpet for intoxication
false arrests and sleeping on duty for which |
he was finally discharged. But he was good |
enough for the reform" board, and is now
wearing IL UNIFORM.
William Fl. Shoup is another shining light
In the galaxy of efficient officers that the
new board has foisted en- the force Shoup
has besn several times charged with DISC
bedlence OF orders, and was also on the
carpet FOR an assault on his superior officer |
He was in command of the squad that as
sisted In the midnight orgie at the Coliseum
a couple of years ago, and for these and
other Items OF misconduct he was discharged
from the department June 49, 1895. He was
at once reinstated when the reform" board
came into power, and is still on the pay
roll
A. III. Burr was on the police force as a
pasrolman from January, 1889, until he was
removed for cause, July g. 1895 During that
time he was on the carpet on various
charges at frequent intervals, and was sew
eral times fined suspended or reprimanded
Leaving beat, ill-treatlng prisoner, dlsobey-
Ing orders, sitting down while on duty
and riding on street cars while on duty are
among the charges that appear opposite his
name on the records of the board But he
was Immediately assigned to duty by the
''reform" board
REFORM AND MORE REFORM.
Using abusive language" "leaving
beat" "intoxicatlon" AMI assault and bat
terry are some Of the charges for which
Patrolman Nicholas " Halter was on the
carpet during his four years service on
the force, At the end CT this time he was
dismissed, but his name now appears on the
"reform" list.
IIang t-