The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-04
POLICE BOARD MEETS.
Take the Chiles Hotel Case I'm
der Consideration.
Will Secure List of Guests at
the Opening.
Policeman BahPs Case Acted On Not
Proven Thai He Was intoxicated,
But Asked to Resign for IN
becoming Conduct.

The board or police commissioners
met Saturday night and took prompt
action in regard to the dereiction Of
duty on the part of the police officers
in permitting Nick Chiles to openly ad-
vertise and give or sell intoxicatin
liquors to some 200 persons on the oc-
casion of opening his new hotel on
Fast Seventh street. DR.. F. S. McCabe,
the third member of the board, was out
OF the city at Emporia and was not
present. Commissioners Rodgers and
Holiday now show every disposition to
thoroughly look into the matter, and
a list of those who participated in the
opening will be secured for use as wit
nesses. Tt was decided to rescind
C'hiles' contract for supplying the pris-
oners at the city jail with food, but as
the contract had almost expired, on ac-
count OF the incoming Populist admin
istratiOn it viii be no great hardship.
Ia one sense, President A. K. Rodgers
is not entirely to blame for some of
the lapses in the police management in
this city. In one instance, when Mr..
Rodgers and other members of the
board abrogated the food contract with
Chiles, the latter appealed to Governor
Morrill, and the governor sent word to
reinstate Chiles; this was not an absO-
lutte command, but was sufficiently
strong to secure the reinstatement. 1t
will he seen from this that President
Rodgers Judgment has been overrid-
den by the governor in this instance
and probably in others. Under the
circumstances it could hardly be ex-
pected that there would not be a great
deal of working at cross purposes. Mr..
Rodgers proper course would have been
to inform the governor that he would
act on the police board as his best iuCg-
ment dictated or he wouldn't act at all
Mr.. BOnebrake resigned because the
governor undertook to hint at the good
policy of some of his actions. Topeka
never had a better commissioner than
Mr.. Bonebral6e.
1t is not likely that Nick ChiIes will
be very severely punished. His action,
although fragrant is not as great VIC
lation of the law as is now going on
daily in a number of other places in
this city. At one place on upper Kan
sas avenue there is said to be an open
bar, which has not been disturbed.
The responsible party in the Chiles af-
fair is not Chiles SO much as it is the
police department. Tt should have pre-
vented the open violation of the law.
Chiles has opered an excellent hotel
for cOl0red people, an institution that
has been long needed in Topeka, and
one under Nick's Tust1ing management
that is likely to be a success. If Chiles
will avoid unlawful acts and take care
OF his new business, there is money in
it for him, as he is a go-ahead, enter
prising man.
A good colored hotel here is a good
thing, as it will furnish accommoda-
lions to many visitors to Topeka who
now frequently encounter unpleasant
TudcnCsS when seeking lodging in this
city. Chiles' hotel, as a hotel is an
excellent affair and should be encour-
aged; but not in law breaking.
BAHLfS CASE
The police board Saturday night also
took up the case of Patrolman BAIL
President Rodgers asked Chief Gardi-
ner what the facts in the case We're
The chief replied that charges had been
made 10 him that the officer had been
drunk in low colored resort and that
he had made partial investigation and
secured enough evidence against BAH
TO cause his suspension pending the in
vestigation by the board
Nh. Rodgers-Is Mr. BAIL down
stairs? Mr. Gardiner, you had better
give him a chance to resign first, in
case he does not care to stand an inves-
Chief Gardiner went downstairs and