The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-01
new POLICE FORCE.
Two Hundred Applications For
PatrOlmen Before the New
Board.

The new police regime for Topeka
commenced today, though but two ap-
pointments were made by the board
Saturday evening. These were Henry
Steele as chief of police and w E Atch-
ison for police judge. These appoint
ments were made at the request OF
Governor Leedy and were not surprises.
the Journal having announced them
some time ago. Both appointees are
Democrats.
Though Chief Steele is nominally in
charge, the old force is still on duty and
Sergeants Donovan and Ellison are
looking after the details of the work
Jailer Hopkins did not like the idea Of
being dismissed and he accordingly pre-
Sented his resignation and gave up mis-
post Saturday evening. As no one
was appointed to take his place Ser
geant Donovan has been acting as
jailer.
The policemen on their beats today
are restless and inattentive. They are
hourly expecting to be summoned 10
headquarters to surrender their badges
of authority All Will be permitted to
serve out the day, however for the
commissioners say that patrol,nen
will be elected until this evening.
The board has adopted A new rule
concerning applications. They are this
afternoon holding open house" and all
applicants Will be heard. cacl one is
allowed five minutes. and as there are
-
II they did not complete that part Of
the work today.
There are SO applicants for the posi-
ton of patrol driver. the least active no.
sition on the force but which paws S.
more per month than the position of pa
trolnan. There are also % men who
want to be jailer
There is question whether a captain
Will be appointed or not. The old
board abolished the office when thera
arose bitter contest for the position
hot II
Tim Donovan. Governor Leedy said that
Donovan, who is a Democrat should be
captain, but it seems that he did not
understand that the position was not
now filed. At any rate Sergeant Dom
Ovan will remain on the force though
it may be in the position of sergeant.
Some pOpuliSts have been making q
tight on him, but there is no indication
that Governor Leedy would allow him
to be supplanted.
Detective Zeller is no longer detective,
for he is the one man upon whom the
wrath of the board fell Saturday even
ing and he was summarily dropped.
Zeller has been known as the Berry
Wall of the force. He always dressed
in the height of fashion, and though he
wore under his coat a golden star he
bore no outward semblance of an off,
Ger. He was, however, one of the most
active and alert men on the force and
more than one piece of good work may
be aScribed to him.
The crowd that swarmed about the
police station today was & motley lot.
Gray-haired men and beardleSS youths.
dWarfs and giants were there all Ger
tain of position on the force Most
of them are claiming places because of
their political services. though there are
men among them who have served the
city faithfully in other police admins
trations. The board has no regula-
ton concerning the size of the appli-
cants, at least half would be dis
qualified. 1t would be a good plan to
appoint one who is not at least six
feet in height That is the rule in other
cities.
Secretary Henderson CT the new board
was classifying applications, when a
Journal reporter saw him today There
are about 20 Oof these" said he, ''and
we have not had time to look over all
of them. We have decided that every
applicant shall have a hearing and the
whole afternoon will be devoted to that
work"
Both Mr.. Keith and Mr.. Henderson
said that the board had not decided
whether or not captain or sanitary
sergeant would be named.
Chief of Police Steele. who Is the
doorkeeper at the room of the commits
siOners and who protects them against
an onslaught of applicants, said to
Journal reporter: 4 have always
served in the ranks and consequently
cannot say what the men may do. but I
shall exert myself to give the city one
of the best police forces it ever had
Chief Steele was asked what the pol
icy VI tHe new stdiiilll Il eAeAet " ~ -
toward the joints: Il cannot tell There
has been no organization and the mat
ter has not been discussed, SO cannot
tell
The new chief said that the regula-
lions would probably be more stringent
than those now in force. but he said he
was not able to tell just what will be
done.
Ex-Chief Gardiner said today that ne
did not know what business he would
go into He refused to talk about po-
lice affairs.
A weed in the garden can be easily
DESTROYED when itsfirst starts. Consunp-
81, 60, he rirnrned in the ln11d b1r o.