Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-05
sPOTTER SYSTEM FAILS AS APPLIED
TO THE POLICE.
TWO OFFICERS ARE REINsTATEI
MIR. sCARRITT REFRAINs FROM VOT-
ING ON WHITEHEAD.
SpOtter loves Charges Against Nor
ley and Whitehead Prove Very
FIimsy-He 'Peeped Through
Window - Christy
Again Refused.

head. who were charged by Spotter Sam L.
Lowe with violating the rule prohibiting
drinking while on duty. were tried by the
police board yesterday afternoon and exon
Grated. When Lowe filed his charges with
Chief Vallins against the two officers they
were promptly suspended. The decision Of
the board carries with it their reinstate-
ment without loss of pay.
Lowe testified that he saw officer Morley
enter Louis Robidoux' saloon on Union ave-
nue. with a citizen on the night of May p.
He saw glasses upon the bar, but did not
see the officer drink. He was standing upon
the sidewalk peeping through the front
window.
| officer Morley testified that he met
man, who gave his name as Erickson, upon
Union avenue. who asked him to show him
where Robidoux' saloon was located. The
officer walked with Erickson into the sa-
loon. and while Erickson and the bar
tender drank whisky and ginger ale re-
sTectively, he took a cigar. These state
meEts were corroborated by Ell Messmore.
the night bartender, and by Joshua Jack
son, the colOred porter of the saloon. OIL
Ger Morley further testified that he had not
drank intoxicating beverages at any time
during the past eighteen months.
( In the case of officer Whitehead. Lowe
testified that on the night of May 90 about
1880 o'clock, he saw that officer and an I'M
known man in citizens clothes enter Flan-
agan's saloon. at Ninth street and the state
line. The bartender put glasses and bot
tie containing whisky upon the bar, and
the officer and his companion poured out
some of the liquid and swallowed it. On
previous occasions he had seen Officer
Whitehead and the officer who wore star
No. IL in the saloon, but did not see them
drink.
Officer Whitehead testified in his own be-
half that he had never been drinking
man. To the best of his recollection he had
not taken TO exceed six or seven drinks of
whisky in his life. During the time that
he was on the beat in the West bottoms,
frCm which he was suspended about three
weeks, he had been in Flanagan's saloon
a number of times. AS it was kept open
all night he was in the habit of leaving his
lunch there when he went on duty at
night and would return some time between
IL o'clock at night and l o'clock in the
morning TO eat it. About o'clock on the
night in question he and Officer Liston ar
rested a man at the state line who was
suspected of having stolen a team of horses
and a wagon that he was Offering to sell.
They took the man, horses and wagon TO
No. police station, where they remained
until II or 11:15 o'clock.
The book at the station will show that
registered of there at 1850" said officer
Whitehead.
Continuing his testimony, Officer White
head said that there is a man on the Kan
sas City, kas., police force who walks the
gHra fa linz TaaaW H.
We have been taken for each other half a
dozen times during the past six months"
said he.
John Quinn, the night bartender in Flan-
asan's saloon, testified that Officer White
head had been in the place several times,
but had never taken anything stronger
than soda water or bromo seltzer He had
never seen SpOtter Lowe until that individ-
ual lad given his testimony in the Morley
case. Captain William Parker, Jailer ID. e
Snyder and officer Pat Liston corroborated
officer Whitehead's statements in regard to
the arrest and the time that he was at No.
station. Justice Walls testified that he
had known Officer Whitehead six or seven
years, and had never known him to drink
that he had been sober and attentive to
duty.
The vote upon exonerating Officer Morley
officer Whitehead was taken. Commits
sioner Scarritt remained silent.
We haven't enough evidence to stick
him. so l vote no on finding him guilty.
said Commissioner Gregory. His vote was
surprising, as he publicly stated a few days
ago that he was prejudiced against Officer
Whitehead.
Mayor Jones said the evidence in both
cases would not hold in any court, as
Loves statements were not corroborated
by n single witness.
w II. Christy made another attempt TO
obtain a license at No. 12OS Walnut street
but was unsuccessful. He presented a ma
jCrity petition, but owing TO his past record
the members of the board decided against
him.
The board granted the following licenses:
IT. G. Dickinson. and 10 East Tenth street.
Miller Curtis. 1l9 West Fifth street
There were protests against the granting
of both these licenses, but the members of
the board disregarded them.