The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-14
CAPT. RITTER NOT THERE
Ills MESSAGE MISsTATED BY CLERK
HERRICK TO BOARD.
Two PatrOImen Acquitted of Minor
Charges by Board of Safety
Contracts Awarded.

When the Board of Public Safety con-
vened yesterday morning the office was
crowded with people anxious TO hear what
Capt. Eli +. Ritter would nave TO saw In
answer to the summons which he had re-
ceived from the board. Captain Ritter had
made come sweeping charges against the
police force in general. and declared he was
ready to give specific cases if called before
the board. Chairman Mcguire looked about
the room when the time fer taking up this
business came and asked Clerk Herrick if
he had heard from the colonel"
The colonel sent word that he was
called out of the city" answered Herrick.
The fact hat Captain Ritter had received
a telegram calling him to Portland in the
interests Of his clients in an important
lawsuit was not explained by Mr.. Herrick,
though Mr.. Ritter's law partner, the man
by whom the woTd which Herrick delivered
to the board was sent, had made this ex-
PLANTATION to Herrick.
When Mr.. Herrick had made the partial
and misleading explanation, Mr.. Mcguire
said: We'll. then. there is nothing in these
charges. If there was he would certainly
a enough interes: in them to answer
the summons of the board"
Mr.. Baker had further explained to Her
rick that Captain Ritter had left word that
he would appear before the board either
next Tuesday or Wednesday, as the board
should elect. or at any other time. This
was afterward told the members of the
board. but no further date for hearing
Captain Ritter has been set.
The charges against William Winn and
Albert MILF. patrolmen. were investigated
and both men were acquitted. Winn was
charged with conduct unbecoming an
officer. He elected some men from Fred
NINTH and 1andeS streets. n il was
charged that he had threatened to shoot
the proprietor of the place. There was no
evidence 10 show that the latter part of
the charge was true and the board found
that he was justiiable in ejecting the men
as he did.
Sergeant Corrigan preferred the charge
against Patrolman Miller. He claimed that
Miller had gone TO rooms above an East
Washington-street restaurant and an
noyed a woman. He also thought Miller
was intoxicated. Miller explained that he
had gone upstairs because he thought there
was gambling going on there. He eX-
planned his conduct which led Corrigan to
believe him intoxicated by saying hat he
had taken several heavy doses of quinine.
The request of John Long. night turnkey
at the police station, that he be allowed
denied. Albert raffe is the day turnkey
and has been there for twenty-siX years.
ana was considered 100 HuCn OF a UXiule
TO be changed. Long was granted a va
cation of two weeks with pay, however.
He has been in i'll health recently and he
attributes ii partly TO his continuous night
service.
The board promised the Rev. ]. A.. Mil
burn that his petition for the reinstate-
ment of ex-Patrolman GunSolus would be
considered when there should be a vacancy
on the force. Mr.. Milburn made the board
a little speech i'm which he suggested that
trials of policemen be conducted privately.
He also thought the board made n mistake
when ii rev oked the rule allowing patrol
men vacations Annually.
The following contracts for fire hose were
awarded: The New York Betting and Pack
ing Company. 500 feet at so cents: the New
Jersey Car Spring and Rubber Company,
500 feet at 81 cents; the Chicago Fire Hose
company 500 feet at so cents. Bids for one
inch hose were opened. but no contract
was awarded. the lowest bid being cOnsid-
cred too high. 1t was 12is cents a foot.
The contract for furnishing 1900 bushels
of oats was awarded To L. a. Gait d Co.
at 2Iih cents a bushel. j. r. Ryan x Co.
| received the contract for furnishing fifty
| tons of hay at 5000 a ton.