The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-17
COME TO TROUBLE IN
COMMITTEE.
KENNY STOOD UP FOR WALSH,
BUT THE POLICE COMMITTEE
WILL REPORT TO SUSTAIN
THE MAYOR.
SERGEANT DAVIS WILL BE SUED
In Civil Proceedings, So the Ex-
PRtroIman's Counsel Says-DaIy
as Dove of Peace.

The aldermanic committee on police
decided yesterday to a vote of three to
one to recommend that the action of
the action of the mayor in discharging
Patrolman John P Walsh for drunk
enness and disobedience of orderss" be
concurred in. There was rather live
ly session of the committee, and Aid
Kenny and Chief Goss had wordy
tilt over the manner in which men,
bers of the force were removed to make
room for those Of the administration
political faith. The only charges in
vestigated were those made by the
mayor in his letter of Nov. ?, in which
he informed the council that Walsh had
been removed for drunkenness and
disObedience of orders. Present at the
meeting were Aid. Bell, Bigelow, Ken
ny and Sanborn, of the police COM
mittee, and several members Of the as
sembly. Walsh was represented by T.
d O'Brien, and F. Barta was on hand
to look after the interest of his client,
Sergeant Davis, who made charges
against Walsh, which was afterward
sidetracked for those of drunkenness
and disobedience of orders.
Aid. Bell, chairman of the committee,
read the letter from the mayor giving
the reasons for the removal of Walsh.
Lieut.. BOerner, after being sworn, tes-
titled that Walsh had been drinking
for several days before his discharge
and was drunk at the time he was
ordered discharged. The orders came
from the mayor to request Walsh to
hand in his star. There had been no
charges Of drunkenness made against
Walsh that he knew of, but he under
stood that was the reason of his dis
charge. Walsh after giving up his
star. Oct. 80, had gone home and had
not been on duty since. Chief Goss
Sergeant Horn and the witness were
present when the demand was made
by the chief for Walsh's star.
Sergeant Horn testified that he was
not present when Chief Goss asked
Walsh for his star Walsh was under
the influence of liquor at the time he
was in the station, Oct. 30. Lieut
Boerner argued with Walsh to give up
his star and he heard that part of the
conversation. Witness had heard moth
ing about the charges made against
Walsh, 'but had heard that Walsh was
given a trial before the mayor. 1t was
after the trial before the MAYOR that
the demand was made for his star
Walsh was discharged Oct. 30. about .
o'clock and had been drinking that
day and a portion of the day previous.
Chief Goss was not sworn, but said
there had been a conference in the
mayors office between the mayor and
the attorney representing Walsh, reIa-
tive to the charges, which were to be
made against the officer. This was
after the trial or investigation in the
mayors office. At the time he was
brought up there were no charges of
drunkenness against Walsh After the
investigation Walsh was drunk The
investigation was Friday Oct 20. Aid
BigeloW interrupted to say that he did
not see how it was possible for Walsh
to get very drunk between $50 p. M
and 6. D. IN. He had noticed Walsh
during the time the investigation was
in progress in the mayors office, and
dld not see how it was possible for him
to get drunk so quickly. Chief Goss
said 1t was a fact, and he was also Of
the opinion that Walsh was drunk
while in the mayors office.
7. d. O'Bren, attorney for Walsh said his
client did not care about remaining on the
force, but did insist that his character be
cleared of the charge which had been made
against him by Sergeant Davis. If the coun-
ell did not care to go into the matter il
would be taken to the courts and settled
there. The committee decided that the only
charge which could be considered was that of
drunkenness and disobedience of orders which
were mentioned in the mayors letter as the
cause for the removal of the officer. Aid
Bigelow said the evidence heard by the COM
u IN hat ole
guilty Of the charges mentioned in the let
ter from the mayor.
The committee asked If Walsh desired to
make any statements as 10 the charge of
drunkenness, and the officer and his attor-
ney retired for a consultation.
Aid. Kenny heated up the atmosphere of
the committee room by stating that he had
been Informed that all man of the right
kind had to do TO get a job on the police
force was 70 trump up some charge against
an officer. and the officer would be dscharg-
ed and the informer given the vacancy. Chief
Goss told the Third ward alderman that he
had better bring some proof to his state
ments and not talk so much. Such talk
too silly to pay attention to. Aid. Kenny re-
piled that he had made the statement and
would stand by it. 1T may be" said AID
Kenny. turning in his chair and looking at
the chief that you do not have charge Of
the force and only acting under orders
but the statement has been made, and ! can
prove It,"
''There have been no such occurrences to
my knowledge" replied the chief. and I have
never done anything of the kind.
This phase of the investigation was inter
rupted by Assemblyman Daily, who standing
in the door of the committee room, inquired
rs this a session of the Knockers club?"
All hands laughed and the threatened trou-
Bile was averted for the time being atleast
The committee drew up the following report
which was adopted by a vote of to l, AID.
Kenny voting against its adoption. The re-
port read follows:
''Your committee police to whom was
referred the communication OF the mayor
nouncing that he had removed Patroman
John P. Walsh from the force on the ground
of drunkenness and disObedience of orders,
respectfully report: That we find from the
Oct 80 1897. No other charges were before
considered or passed upon. Your committee
recommend concurrence in the action of the
mayor in removing Walsh on the above men
toned charge"
Mr. Walsh, in his own behalf, said he was
not drunk at the time he was in the mayors
office, notwithstanding the statements Of
the time he was requested to give up his star. g
The serious charge made against him by Ser
geant Davis had excited him and possibly
gave him the appearance Of a man under the
influence of liquor, but he was not intoxi-
Gated.
After the adjournment of the committee Mr..
in the courts against Sergeant Davis for libel
and the matter would be investigated before
a legal tribunal.