The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-07-17
SENSATION In BALTIMORE.
Removal Of Marshal Frey and
Other Officers After a Far
cical Investigation.
POLITICS At THE BOTTOM
scathing Letter by Bernard Carter.
CRITICISM Bx THE SUN.


and Round Sergeant Edward F. Meehan were
dismissed on Monday.
Charges were formulated against Gilbert
and Meehan alleging dereliction of duty in
not suppressing policy playing. There were
none against Frey, but it was quite evident
that the Republican Commissioners were try
ing Frey through the charges made mp against
Gilbert and Meehan.
The charges eminated from report by a
meddlesome attorney to that very partisan
club called The Reform League.
The whole proceeding was 4 farce from
to end. The dismissal had been
decreed. very evidently, before the hearings
took place, and no matter what the evidence
might have been the verdict was made up in
advance. Mr.. Heddinger left Baltimore for
hot Springs, Va, before the stenographic
report of the evidence had been written, and
he mailed his opinion from that place favor
ing the dismissal of the officers. 1t is likely
the opinion was written for him by some at
torney before he left Baltimore, When Mr..
Heddinger's opinion was handed to Commits
sioner Schryger on Monday and read by him,
Mr.. Johnson produced type written copy of
his own opinion and handed it over, and this
was no doubt written by some Republican at
torney for him. Perhaps both opinions were
written by the same man, and to make some
show of the move not being precenceived
Johnson's opinion was made to differ with
Heddinger's TO some slight degree.
Mr. Bernard Carter, counsel to the Board,
read the typewriter stenographic report Of
the testimony in the case of Gilbert and
Meehan, and gave his opinion to the board
upon request OF Commissioner Schryver, that
there was no evidence in sustain the charges.
As soon as he heard of the action of the two
Republican Commissioners he immediately
resigned the Office of Counsel in lengthy
communication, in which he said in part
WHAT MIR. CARTER SAID.
I'm my letter of this date, sent to you this morn
ing said that after carefully, calmly deliberately,
and without fear or favor, consid-
ering and weighing the charges made against Cap
tain Gilbert Round Sergeant Meehan and Sergeant
Smith the charges were so altogether destitute of
foundation that in my Judgment no tribunal com
petent to deal with the subject, and governed by q
determination to deal with 1t fairly and honestly,
could find that any one of the officers named has
been wanting in any respect in the discharge of his
duties in reference to the enforcement of the law
against lottery policy in the city of Baltimore.
Having reached this conclusion ii is, OF course.
apparent that it is impossible for me, retaining my
sefrespect to continue to be the legal adviser OF
board, the controlling majority of which have by
their action this morning shown themselves, IN my
deliberately formed Judgment, either incapable of
intelligently diseharging their duties as members
of the board, or unwilling to be governed in the
discharge of their duties bya determination to dis
charge them fairly and honestly. AS you are
aware, have not been consulted by the board i'll
reference to its proceedings either in the beginning
of the investigation in its conduct since il was
begun.
graphic report OF the testmoney and of the pro-
ceedings before the board upon the hearing of the
charges above mentioned with the fact that it was
proved, without any attempt to gainsay or contra
diet the testimony, that before the charges. which
had been made i'll the report of Roger w. Gull to
the Reform League, had been adopted as those OF
the board by the action of President Heddinger,
and before, therefore, any investigation of the
charges had been made by the board or any mem
Der thereof. Mr. John G. Rose. member of the bar
and prominent in republican counsels, had declared
in an interview with the counsel of one of two per-
sons charged with murder, and with a view of
benefiting the of that one of the alleged muir
derers whom he represented, that if a removal was
made OF the case against the other one OF the al
legged murderers to the Circuit Court for Baltimore
County, that before such case could be tried Cap
tain Gilbert and Sergeant Meehan, TO whom it was
alleged confession had been made by SAID alleged
would have been removed from the police
force and would be thereby discredited as wit
nesses.
II was further painfully impressed with the fact
that the stenographic record of the proceedings
before the board contained many evidences which
it was difficult to reconcile with that degree Of fair
ness and impartiality upon the part OF MeSsrs
Heddinger and Johnson which members OF the
board should possessand exercise in hearing charges
against members of the police force; but until my
hopes were disappointed by the action of these
members of the board this morning, had persuad-
ed myself that, Notwithstanding any bias they had,
l
hearing would prevent them from reaching con-
clusion which, in my judgment, it is impossible to
be reached by those having the capacity and the
willingness to reach an honest and intelligent con-
rlusiou upon the subject before the board.
Even, therefore. if Commissioners Heddinger
and johnson had taken no other action THIS morn
ing than the dismissal OF Captain Gilbert and Ser
geant Meehan, their action would be such that be-
cause of what have above said, it would be i'm
possible for me to be willing longer 10 remain as
the adviser of a board in which they are the con-
trolling factors
''But their ACTION in the dismissal of Marshal
Frey the chief executive officer of the board when
charges had been preferred by the board against
him, when he was in no way on trial, and when
ne. therefore, had no reason TO suppose that any
lction upon the part of the board against him was
was, in nay Judgment, such Il gross
disregard of every obligation upon the part OIL
members of the board toward the marshal, that it
S impossible for me to reconcile this action with
my other theory than that the action of Roger w.
Jul in making his report to the Reform League,
ind the action of Messrs. Heddinger and johnson
n all the proceedings which have taken place in
with the formulation of charges against
captain Gilbert and the sergeants above mention
ID was part of preconceived plan to get rid of
he marshal and of the officers above named, and
hat this action was taken not for the purpose OF
Jenefitng the police force of the city OF Baltimore
nut Tor political and other purposes and upon this
heory there is explained, what otherwise seems to
ne nexpicable, the remarkable attack WHICH was
Frey during the hearing of the testimony.
THE sUH' S OPINION.
The Baltimore San of Tuesday very plainly
charges that partisan politics are at the bot
ON of the removals. Here is an extract from
IN editorial from that paper:
The reasonable presumption is that Marshal
Frey's removal and possibly other changes in the
orce were foredoomed when the last Legislature
elected Messrs. Heddinger and Johnson as police
The law, it is true, and the Official
aths of the commissioners were supposed to consti
ute barrier against removals for merely political
easons They made it impossible at all events, for
he new commissioners to make changes openly
md ostensibly upon political grounds. There will
re many people, however, today who will believe
hat ''politics" had more to do than anything else
With the removals which the board have ordered
lpon the ostensible ground of failure to suppress
he crime of policy playing in the central district
This is unfortunate for the board. 1t is doubly
that meaning to reach Marshal Frey
nd to find pretext for his removal. they should
ave hit upon such an indirect way of accomplish
ng their purpose viz, by placing not himself, but
Unfortunate officers on trial, and then upon the as
umption that the evidence Justified their removal
ummarily dismissing him, It is above all unfor-
innate that in announcing their decision they
hould be confronted with the emphatic and strong
Y worded opinion of the counsel of the board one
# the foremost lawyers of this city, that upon a
arefnl examination and review of all the testi-
nony before them, taken during the progress of
he socalled trial. he finds no evidence to sus-
ain the charges against any OF the officers accused.
IT. Carter naturally does not refer to the case of the
larshal, because he was not accused and not on
rial but upon the evidence which he finds utterly
Insufficient TO sustain the charges against Captain
hilbert and the accused Sergeants Meehan and
nlth the majority OF the board not only convict
nd dismiss Captain Gilbert and Sergeant Meehan,
ut dismiss Marshal Frey against whom no charges
ad been preferred
We are afraid that the greatest sufferers from this
Extraordinary action will be the police commits
toner's themselves. 1t is poSsible-it will not be
asy-for them to find successor for Marshal Frey,
S brave, as competent and who, in the end, may
Yin and enjoy the same measure of public conf
ence. 1t will be much more difficult for them to
Inspire either the farce the public with the
onfidenee in their own judicial fairness and free
ON from partisan bias
MARSHAL FREY TALKS.
In an interview on his removal Marshal
Trey said:
81 was not surprised at my dismissal, although I
vas not on trial and no charge had been made
gainst me. Soon after the majority of the board
ecame Republican, March Is last, I realized that
he principal desire was to create vacancies and
ave not been unprepared for any of the changes
hat have been made.
II believe this whole plan was arranged before
ny investigation was begun. was told some
months ago that there were to be changes and that
Yard was to be made captain. There is nothing
n the movement but politics.
Captain Gilbert said he was removed be-
ause he was Democrat and Sergeant Nee
AN said ''the investigation was farce, and
e anticipated the result.
The removals created Il sensation in Balti
lore. and they have been the talk of the
own ever since. The Republican Commits
toners are universally condemned, and the
esult of their action will add another burden
0 the already over-burdened Republican
arty in Baltimore aud Maryland.
Farmer A. P. German.