The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-22
COLBERT is SUSPENDED
HIS CONDUCT AT THE "YELLOW
BRIDGE, TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Safety Board and Mayor Wait for the
Police superintendent Till
in the Afternoon.

THOMAS Il. COlDerL, superintendent OF pO-
lice, has been suspended by Mayor Taggart
and the Board of Public Safety until after
the election for conduct unbecoming an Of
hcer An account of Colbert's strange &C
tons at the yellow bridge the night be-
fore was published yesterday morning Col
bert wanted to denounce Police Judge Cox.
who is a Democratic candidate for re-elec-
ton, at the Republican meeting, but he
was taken in charge by his bosom friend,
Charles Polster, keeper of a saloon and
wine room within stones throw of the
meeting place. There were other facts that
reached the mayors ears. These he is ig-
noring.
After the board had spent several hours
waiting for him the superintendent arrived,
and after very painful scene the mayor
announced that the superintendent had
been suspended.
ION what grounds" the mayor was aft
EDWARDS asked by a reporter
ION the charges made in the Journal"
1.-The charge that he wanted to speak
against Cox?'
The mayor replied that the specific
charge was unbecoming conduct. He would
not say definitely Just what that meant.
The conference, the most unpleasant and
trying that Mayor Taggart has ever held
with Messrs. Mcguire and Mack, of the
board OF Safety, took place in the mayors
private office at the Grand Hotel. Mr.
Morse was absent. Secretary Herrick was
directed to prepare a formal entry for the
boards minute book, which reads:
Charges of conduct unbecoming an off,
Ger having been preferred against Thomas
r. Colbert superintendent of police
through the pubic press, it is ordered by
the board that he be suspended pending an
investigation of the same.
1T is ordered by the board that Captain
James F. Quigley be directed to take
charge police
intenoent pending an investigation"
COLBERT DENIED EVERYTHING.
Mayor Taggart said that Superintendent
Colbert denied everything charged against
him. 1t is said that he will make deter
mined effort to show that he was guilty of
no wrong doing.
Some time ago. after intoxcation had
grown to be very common thing among
patrolmen, the board announced that any
ofncer brought before it on that charge
might expect little leniency, as drunken
ness would no be tolerated. Since then
more than one patromaa has been dis
missed on that charge In each case it
was said that discipline must be main
tanned.
Early yesterday morning Mayor Taggart
began consulting with his advisers as to
what should be done. The members of the
board were notified to meet him in his pri-
yate office at the Grand at 1870 O'Clock
When they arrived effort was made to
reach the superintendent by telephone. At
his residence 1t was said that he had start
ed down town at 10 o clock Inquiries made
by telephone failed to reveal his where
abouts. Then the mayor sent his friends
TO look him up. AT 80 O'clock the mayor
and Messrs Mcguire and Mack met again.
IL was nearly o'clock when Colbert, ac-
companied by Mrs. Colbert and Attorney
Martin M. Hugg, entered a side door and
hurried to the mayors office. Shortly after
his attorney, Martin M. Hugg, and Mrs
Colbert emerged, leaving the superintend-
ent, the mayor and the board together.
Ih6 meeting was most painful Colbert
listened with bowed head to the charges
that had reached the mayor, while the lat
ter and the two members of the board
walked the floor in great agitation. Mr..
Herrick was called in and directed to notify
the superintendent of the boards charge.
=, suspend .!Sn me-, questioned Colbert, blank
know that L have been rather severe in dis
| clpIfne, but have always tried to do my
duty: What do they want to suspend me
He did not seem to comprehend Just what
| II all meant, 1T is said AT that time it is
| said that the superintendent was perfectly
sober, but he did not understand everything
and his conversation was incoherent. He
spoke OF enemies, saying it was known
tnat they mad prosecuted him for a long
| time
Mayor Taggart says that he saw Super
intendent Colbert Monday evening at 8
O'Clock, and that he was perfectly sober at
that time. The latter says that he went to
the Yellow bridge Ito help the old man
he was not drunk.
When the facts became noised about YES
terday the greatest surprise was expressed
by men who have known and admired Su-
perintendent Colbert, and they could scarce
ly credit the statements that were made by
many who were at the yellow bridge
when the affair occurred. Nothing but re-
greet was expressed at the unfortunate Incl
dent. Those who know him IN Ultimately trace
his present miSfortuneS back to the time
he was seriously injured in a runaway ac-
cident. He was driving down town at a
rapid speed. AT the corner of New York
and West streets his horse became unman-
abeable, and dashed the superintendent S
buggy against trolley pole between the
street-car tracks The superintendent was
thrown upon the hard brick pavement,
thought he was dead. For several weeks
he was confined to his bed, and for time
1t was feared that he could not recover
Since then his friends say that he has not
been the same man. Mrs. Colbert told a
friend that he has been unable to sleep
comfortably, and often pressed his hands
over his head complaining that the pain
was almost unbearable. Many friends of
the superintendent the mayor and
members of the board yesterday to urge
that he be dealt with as leniently as pos
Sible, urging his long and useful service in
the police department in extenuation OF the
present lapse. Under the provisions of the
charter no official can be dismissed without
a formal trial. 1t is understood that Super
intendent Colberts trial will be postponed
he was yesterday Martin NJ. Hugo will ap-
pear FOR him at the trial.
The mayor said last night that the fur
Their investigation of the case would prob
ably be had the first Of next week. Mean
time Captain Quigley will direct the police
department. He assumed charge last night.
what His Physician Saws