Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-17
IGWART AND THE BOARD PERMIT IT
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY IN cox CASE
Policemen Swear TO Having Covered
Political Assignments for Ed
Howell ana Charley Tanning
at Sigwart's Direction.

case on trial before Judge Scott of the equity
division of the district court yesterday
afternoon 1t was the case wherein w. w.
Cox, chief of detectives. seeks permanent
injunction to restrain the board from dis
charging him or trying him ON the charges
preferred some time ago.
Immediately upon the convening of court,
the plaintiff was put upon the witness stand
to testify In his own behalf He detailed the
attempts of the board to remove him from
office and was then asked: rs Charles
Tanning member of the police force, or in
eny way connected therewith?" The defense
objected to the question, insisting that It
wcs immaterial, but the materiality, how
ever, was shown later when S. G.. Hoff an
ex-poiceman, was called upon to testify.
Following Cox, Joseph Vanderford,
hostler at the police stables and who was
discharged last July, was called. The wit
ness testified that he had conversed with
members of the board relative to his dis
charge and had been Informed that 1t was
due to the fact of great pressure being
brought to bear
what your politics." was asked Of
the witness.
81 am a republican" was the reply, and
told me that there was an arrangement by
which each member Of the board could name
men of their particular political faith, and
that if l would apply to the mayor and
eecure his endorsement I could probably be
retained. Commissioner Bullard, however,
told me that my politics were not in accord
with those of majority of the board,
The sensational feature of the trial came
y,han IJnf II inn nT
is member Of the police force. He was one
of the officers let out some time ago. without
a trial and was restored to his position by the
order of Judge Scott. which was to the effect
that no man could be removed for the good
of the force"
HIS POLITICAL DETAIL.
In giving his testimony Officer Hoff swore
that he had been a member of the police
force for the period of six years and had
always obeyed the orders of his superiors.
never questioning the motives that induced
them to issue instructions to him.
Asked if any officer had instructed
him to do political work, the witness re-
piled: Last spring, few days prior to the
city election, A. T. Sgwart, then chief of
police, instructed me to report to e. e.
Howell, democratic candidate for mayor, for
Instructions | was then in uniform, but
was ordered to appear in citizens clothes.
Were you on the city pay roll as a po-
liceman?' interrupted Judge Scott.
YES your honor" replied the witness.
Continuing his testimony the witness said:
"Chief of Police Sigwart gave me card,
on which he had written my name. This
card he told me to hand to Howell, who
would instruct me as to my duties. | asked
Sigwart if this was satisfactory to the Fire
and Police Commissioners and he told me
that it was. Sigwart asked me how | felt
with relation to the candidates for mayor,
Moores and Howell and | told him that
had not thought much about the matter.
He then asked me If | could support Howell
and ! told him that | could.
During the afternoon of the day on
which the conversation was held | went to
Howell's office, following instructions, going
through a clothing store and entering by
way of the back door of the office where
Howell was doing business ! presented the
card to Howell and he said that he wanted
me to do some political work for him. He
said that | was to look after the Third
ward. the policemen and the street railway
employees. | also instructed to watch
The Bee office and learn the names of dem
ocrats populists and silverites who visited
Rosewater. / reported to him once or twice
each day and was told to come in the even
ing If possible, When at Howell's office
frequently met Commissioners Herdman and
Bullard, but do not know what they were
there for. | also saw Charles Tanning at
Howells and was given to understand that
he was managing the fusion campaign.
DREW PAY FROM THE CITY,
During the giving of the foregoing testi-
No
Finally he stopped the witness and asked:
How many days did you spend doing this
political work?"
Five" answered the witness.
"Were you drawing pay from the city dur
ing the timer" asked the Judge,
yes" responded HOff.
Continuing his testimony the witness said:
"Chief Sigwart told me that two other men
had been detailed to do political work for
Howell, One of hem was Detective Savage
and the other was Officer linda, Howell told
me that he was suspicious of linda, AMI lGr me
to go on and do my work well and tell the
boys that he was with them. | don't know
what he meant by the expression, but sup
pose that he meant that he was frlen i,y with
the police"
On cross examination Holf testified tha:
Howell instructed him to zee he officers Of
the Omaha Street Railway company and as
certain how they felt with reference to the
mayoralty fight. He also testified that he
saw thirty or forty OF the policemen and said
to them: Howell is with us in this fight"
At this point Judge Scott took occasion TO
make few remarks and in doing so hs said:
Understand me; / do not state that what
this witness is saying is the truth. but IL II
is, and the chief OF police and the members
of the board knew that this man was as
signed to do political work. as he has testI-
fed. II is the same as though they put their
hands into the pockets of the taxpayers and
took out their money. II they did allow this
man to do this work and made no effort TO
stop him, the only reason why they would nsb