The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-30
WAS A FAITHFUL OFFICER
Policeman Murphy Demands an
Investigation.
HIS SIDE OF THE STORY
He Insists That He Has Not Been Der
elicit in His Duty and That the
Sergeant Has Had 1t in for
Him for Some Time.

The supervision of Police Officer James
j. Murphy promises to develop an in
teresting controversy. Mr.. Murphy
insists that he is being made the victim
of an unjust discrimination on the part
Of Sergeant Buchanan. while the heads
of the police department maintain that
he Is being treated as any other officer
would be under similar circumstances.
Mr.. Murphy claims that for some rea-
son unknown to him. Sergeant Buchan-
an has been bounding him for a long
time as though he had some special
grudge against him, while Sergeant
Buchanan states that the impression
is erroneous and that he is only dis
charging his duty as he sees it and that
there is no desire on his part to perse-
cute any officer. He claims To hive
shown much leniency toward officer
Murphy, and only reported him when
he felt he could no longer overlook his
delinquencies. The case will be Off
cialy investigated by the police com
mittee of the board of aldermen and
there are evidences that the hearing
Will be of an exceedingly interesting
character from the fact that Chief of
Police Mulholland side with Sergeant
Buchanan and upholds him in his
course, while Officer Murphy claims he
viii be able to put long list of Wit
HtSStS pIl tHc III ttSlIly tilal ne
has always been conscientious in the
discharge of his duties and that the
proceedings against him are prompted
by desire to prosecute.
Chief Mulholland yesterday recalled
his statement of the night before which
was TO the effect that Mr.. Murphy had
not been suspended and that no trouble
existed in the department concerning
him, and said 1t was true that Mr.. Muir
ply was under suspension pending an
investigation of the case. Chief Null
holland expressed the opinion that Ser
geant Buchanan was in the right, and
said charges will be filed against Off
Ger Murphy and a full investigation of
his case will be made by the police COM
mittee. The hearing will probably take
place next Monday evening.
Officer Murphy gave the Standard a
statement of his side of the controversy
yesterday He said: The first time
was reported as being off my beat, /
was away to supper. and there was no
occasion to report me. The second time
was the night of the flremens ball.
Thursday evening. | took three ladies
to the ball and arranged to have a
friend take them home. ] was not off
my beat more than 20 or 80 minutes at
that time, and went back to work. |
met my partner. officer Sterthy, who
told me Buchanan had been rapping and
had told him not TO leave our meeting
place at Main and Quartz. That made
me angry. as it appeared plain to me
Buchanan was merely laying to make
trouble for me. and | was so mad that
when he raped again ] refused TO re-
ply although ] was on duty and heard
him. OF course he reported me. The
whole gist of the matter is, Buchanan
has got IL in for me, and has been
bounding me ever since | have been on
the night shift / have worked with
than dozen mariners the
night shift. and everyone of them will
tell you | have always been a faithful
officer and a gentleman"
Sergeant Buchanan declined to
make any statement of his side of tho
controversy beyond saying that he had
been very lenient toward officer Muir
ply and eharacteriZiug as too ridicu-
lous to require any REPUTATION from
him. the charge that he had bounded
Mr.. Murphy or treated him otherwise
than he would any other member of
the force.