The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-26
The Proceedin gs.

before the meeting began. during
which time Commissioner Kenyon
paced up and down the hall adjoining
the commission room with long, leon
inc strides The mill began grinding
when Judge Powers entered shortly
after 5 o'clock, closely followed by the
huge form of the suspended chief.
In the meantime a large number of
witnesses had arrived; and were elus-
tered together in one end of the small
apartment EX-Captain Donovan, who
was on the bills as the leading witness,
was not in the room.
When the roll was called, Chairman
Dininny inquired if Captain Donovan
was present, and thereupon Commits
sloner Kenyon arose and said he
wished to make a statement before any
or the witnesses were examined. Then
in a loud and mello-dramatic speech
ne recited his position to the board.
KENYON'S POSITION.
Commissioner Kenyon began with
the exclamation that he was hoarse
and then, after pausing a moment for
second breath. launched alI his violent
thunderbolts in quick succession. II
have been thinking over" me said, .the
proposition which 1 advanced to you
last Friday night. and which was dis
closed by the reading of the record of
your proceedings of July IA, and the
objections which l then recfted as to
the fact that there was nothing before
the board to try. In other words. the
minutes disclosed the fact that the
charges were filed on the 10Th of July;
THAT You met as a board on the Nth.
and that the charges were read. After
that You attempted to obey the man
date of the court restoring Chief Pratt
tO bi- r1hcitin,, iof o,f+ ~
partment of this city.
Since that time 1 have had that
matter upon my mind, seriously so,
and have attempted to evolve some
way out of the difficulty, whereby
could believe your position was right
but have been absolutely unable to do
SO. | have also taken the privilege to
obtain counsel upon the matter from
gentlemen who are learned in the law
and it is a pleasure to me to say that
they agreed absolutely with me-
There are but two conclusions to
draw from your action. either of which
is fatal to your position, and these con-
illusions are:
Cd That the charges, having been
filed and entertained by YOU before you
ATTEMPTED to obey the mandate of the
court. YOU either did not obey the man
date of the court, or, (2) if you did, that
everything preceding was quashed and
is absolutely null and void.
Believing. gentlemen, as | do, that
my position is absolutely uncontrovert-
aole upon that point. and as / say that
am trying to act advisedly in the mat
ter. and furthermore because one OF
the members has made the charge that
my connection with you was procured
by bribery and fraud. and in as much
as the council of this city. which ap-
pointed me. has under investigation at
this time this charge, I could net hon
orablY sit as member of this court,
because If | am guilty of the charges
which have been alleged against me,
L certainly am unworthy TO sit here:
and until those charges are disposed
of l cannot sit with YOU.
Also because l believe that there is
nothing here before this court to try,
because [ believe there are no valid
char%es ever filed here before this court
since the reinstatement of Arthur Pratt
as chief of police under the mandate
of the court. ! can not consent to give
my presence to a court which shall take
up the time Of this CITY at the expense
of the tax PAYERS of this city in calling
in witnesses here or in compeHing
Arthur Pratt or any one else to defend
against charges which do not exist in
fact and truth.
Il would speak of another matter. I
have been ostracized from you three
gentlemen from your counsel. It has
been charged in the public press that
certain members of the commission
have been examining witnesses since
the last adjournment Of this court. pre-
liminarv to this trial. | do not know
how you can proceed in the trial AS a
member Of the court, L have received no
counsel from YOU.
Taking into conjunction all of these
matters. 1 decline TO sit in this court.
as l declare there is no legal court ex-
listing. I am a member of the fire and
police commission. AT your regular
meetings I shall attend and take part
in YOUR deliberations and transactions.
but as there is nothing here to try, and
as it is not for the best interests of
this city and its citizens to take up the
time of tax PAYERS and other people in
case of such gross folly as 1 believe
this to be. [ retire from it,
GRANT EXPLAINS.
AS Commissioner Kenyon was max
ing his speech, an intense silence
hung over the little room. save for the
emphatic, strident tones of the COM
missioner. AS he concluded the SEN
sation was as great as if 10 shooting
comets had leaped athwart the room
Then Commissioner Grant, at whom
Mr.. Kenyon's fire had been chiefly di-
rected, arose to make an explanation OF
the charge that Mr.. Kenyon had be-
come a member of the board through
bribery Chief Pratt inclined his head
forward; Commissioner Kenyon leaned
back in his chair. The squad of pa
troI1nen seated in one end of the room
shuffied their feet nervously.
Before you go, Mr.. Kenyon" be
gan Mr.. Grant, Il would like to say
that as regards the charges which il
was stated were made against you
the conversation that occurred com
menced in Jest and was carried on ir
jest. At the close of the converse
ton it flashed upon me that the gen
! tleman l was talking to might be TAX.
| ing my words seriously, and | dis
claimed then and there any intention
of accusing you of bribing the council
! or of any member of the city council
receiving brides or undue influence.
so state, and if you had been here In
town before I should have seen yor
and made this explanation which I now
make. 1t was simply jocular con,
versation, and how it got into the pa.
pers 1 have no means Of knowing anG
| do not know"
KENYON REPLIES.
Almost before Mr.. Grant had finished
his explanation, Commissioner Kenyon
! was again on his feet and birthstone
was in his eye as he made his response
While the first sensation was at it:
height, he launched another, and il
doing so. spoke directly to Mr.. Grant
Il will say, in reply" retorted Com
missioner Kenyon, that l am glad t.
hear you make that statement, We
after all permit me to state that you