The Saint Paul globe., 1898-01-20
WHAT IS G0sS Up TO?
HIS ACTION IN THE OLYMPIC IN
VESTIGATION CAUSING MUCH
CONJECTURE.
HAS NOT BEEN HIS POLICY
TO DISTURB ANYTHING so LONG AS
NO EXPOSE WAS
MADE.
TALK ABOUT "GETTING EVEN"
All He VIII Say Is the Grand Jury's
Coming Report VIII Furnish
Explanation.

The grand jury is investigating the
Olympic theater Chief Of Police Goss
is accredited with instigating the in
vestigation and rumors Of his alleged
reasons are plentiful and believed to
be at this time, Of particular signifi-
canoe. Never before has Chief Goss in
terfered with any form of defiance of
law throughout the city unless driven
to make a show of proper police ad-
ministration by an expose in the
G 10 e Of some swindling scheme, "big
mftt" joint, tape game or other form
of criminality, and the question is gen.
orally asked, why should he take the
initiative in regard to the Olympic at
this time, when the council, the assem-
bly, and Mayor Doran have placed their
official sanction upon the resort. AL
most two years of open robbery of
strangers and citizens on the public
streets, the tolerance in the city of a
colony of crooks known throughout the
country, all of which has been winked
at by the police, is held 10 lay the ac-
ton Of Chief Goss open to speculation
as to motive and the object sought by
his publicly making a move which has
some semblance of sincerity Specula-
ling with the problem have been able
to figure out what Chief Goss has in
mind
Several nights ago Chief Goss visited
the Olympic with Detective Daily and
had long talk with Manager Sodini.
The subject of the conversation could
not be learned. but the fact that two
policemen in citizens clothes visited
hn
went through the building from cellar
to garret has caused a suspicion in
certain quarters as to what Goss and
Sodini were talking about. After re-
ceiving the report of his policemen de-
tectives, Chief Goss went himself be-
fore the grand jury and also had his
officers summoned to tell what they
had seen at the theater
Previous to the visit of the police
men to the theater an order was is
sued for raid upon the Olympic, and
one evening Lieut.. Pothen. with sew
eral detectives, also went through the
resort. The raid was, however, called
off, it is said. because sufficient evil
dence, of whatever it was the police
were looking for, could not be found
to warrant arrest. Among those who
are familiar with this move of Chief
Goss, it is said that his course is in
spired by desire to ''get even" for
the failure Of the planned raid,
Another explanation of Goss' actions
comes from another quarter in the
statement that his move is a piece Of
politics. which is meant to throw dust
in the eyes of the Christian Citizenship
league and to catch this factious vote
in the spring. 1t is rumored that the
league had formed plans to call for an
investigation Of the Olympic and had
sent agents to the place to gather evi-
dence to be presented to the jury.
When this came to the ears Of Chief
Goss, it is said, that he, much prefer
ring that the theater be left undis-
turbed, decided that as long as the
matter was to be called to the atten-
ton of the grand jury. he might as
we'll cut in and. if possible, by feign-
ing sincerity, receive the plaudits of
the Christian Citizenship league. II
the Olympic was to be closed, 1t is
said, he wanted the credit. and If ali
investigation was made and the place
allowed to remain open, it would be
good politics to cite his efforts in be-
half of reform" later on. But Chief
Goss, whatever his aim, has failed, it
is said, in convincing any of those
whom it is claimed he is attempting to
placate. as each faction Is only made
suspicious that an effort is being made
under cover to do" both sides. What
will be the outcome of the testimony
presented to the grand jury, or even
it's nature is Of course unknown.
Chief Goss was asked last evening
concerning his course in the Olympic
matter, but refused to make any state
ment further than to say that the re-
port of the grand jury would furnish
every explanation necessary.