The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-16
EXPOSES THE BOARD
Inside Workings of the Police
Commissioners
TOLD BY JOE FURNISH
He HurIs Some Hot Shots at
Spencer and JoCeIyn.

Nj. Joseph NJ. Furnish, who was remov-
ed as police commissioner and secretary
Of the board by Governor Leedy last
Tuesday, has given out the following
statement relative TO the inside workings
of the board as run by the King and the
Kurnel. Mr. Furnish said yesterday:
Spencer has said that do not know the
difference between the debit and credit
side of the ledger, but 1 do know enough
10 leave money alone that does not belong
to me-"
Wichita, Kan, Jan. Is, 1897.
ITO the Peoples Party Of Sedgwick Coun-
ty. and the Citizens Of Wichita, IRE
spective Of Party:
u desire to make the following state
ment in justice to myself. and in the in
terest of good government and the hon
est performance of official duty.
when accepted a place on the board
of police commissioners of the city OF
Wichita, I believed I would have the sup
port Of the governor and the assistance
and cooperation of the other two mem
bers Of the board in the performance Of
our duties in accordance with the provis-
Ions Of the statutes prescribing the duties
Of said board. But to my surprise, when
the board organized for business, I dis
covered that the other two members Of
the board had decided not to be governed
by the law, and had determined to adopt
methods in direct violation of the express
ed provisions of the statutes. And I was
at once confronted with the necessity Of
deciding whether we should have har-
mony at the price of my doing violence
TO my oath of Office and becoming per-
jurer, or opposing their methods of pro-
cedure. at once took stand on the
side of the law and lawful procedure. be-
Heving that a little time and experience
would convince them Of the danger of
their course, not only to themselves but
to our party and the state administration
as well. And when it became evident that
they intended TO usurp the power, author
lty and functions that the law Cunder
which they had legal EXISTENCE had vest
ed in the police judge. and proceed by
the aid Of the chief of police and other
officers under him to impose fines, penal
ties and forfeitures for the violation of
!
isdiction, our official paths began to di-
verge and that divergence has grown
wider from that day to this. as they have
from time to time extended their assump-
lions and widened their scope Of disre-
gard for law.
Il demanded that an itemized statement
of all money received and expended be
kept, and in connection with other pro-
ceedings of the department be made a
public record, and be always open to the
public for inspection, if desired. The re-
ports from which such records of money
received could be made have been with
held by Jocelyr and Spencer, and have
never been permitted to see the reports
filed by the chief, or purporting TO be by
the chief, with Jocelyn and Spencer. ex-
cept those for the months of March
April and Nay, and the report for the
month of May was left in my hands just
long enough for me to glance over it, and
from that time to this they have been alb
solutely withheld from me. and when the
May report was taken away I called on
Chief Campbell for a duplicate or copy
of the report for that month, and he said
he would gladly make it, but when I call
ed for it he said the other members of the
board had told him not to make it, and
that I could not have it. and at about the
same time Jocelyn attempted to compel
uIe to attest the warrants for the pay
ment OF the expenses of the department
before he, as president of the board. had
signed the same. When I made stand
on my rights they called me from the
court house by phone in order to pass
the following resolution:
Resolved. That in the absence of the
secretary. or in the discretion Of the sec
rotary of the board. the president shall
appoint some suitable person to act IN the
place of the secretary in the performance
Of any duty devolving upon him.
Spencer presented the resolution, and
he and JoceIyn voted for it. And on the
s1st day of May Jocelyn came to me in the
court house and asked me 10 go to the
county attorneys Office in the building,