Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-29
SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY
Officers Accused Of Cowardice ant
Incompetence Laid OFF Pending Trial.
HEARINGS WILL COME ON NEXT WEEK
Board Hears the Formal Charges
Filed by Chief White and Fixes
the Date for 1nvestigation-Rou-
time Work Of the Session.

Captain w. W. Cox and Detectives A. Key
sor. J. II. Savage, M. f. Dempsey and NJ. ].
Sullivan have been suspended from the police
force without pay until the charges preferred
against them by Chief White have been
heard and acted uoon. This action was
taken last night by the Board OF Fire and
Police Commissioners and Is the outgrowth
Of the action Of these officers two weeks ago
in their attempted capture Of George Won
Halter and Royal Geppner at Forty-sixth and
Cass streets.
There was a large turnout Of spectators at
the meeting Of the board, as 1t was expected
some action In this case would be taken. In
a measure, the visitors were disappointed,
for aside from the suspension Of the officers
the board only set a day for trial. which
was fixed for Tuesday Of next week at 2
O'Clock in the afternoon, when the trial OF
Captain Cox will be first called, to be fol-
lowed by the others.
The charges filed against the officers en-
braced two counts and specifications. one al
leging cowardice and the other inefhciency
and neglect Of duty, and the specifications
are q brief recital Of the incidents connected
with the assault upon and retreat from the
desperadoes named. The charges are alike
in each case except that Of Savage, and a
change was made there to fit his connection
with the ARRAY. 1t Is charged that he APP
preached the scene Of conflict on a street
car and. alighting from 1t upon the approach
of tho desperadoes, allowed himself to be in
undated by them into returning to the car
without attempting to make any arrests. In
each case the charges allege that the con-
duct of the officers was prejudical to the
discipline Of the department and inimical to
the good order Of the city, necessitating their
discharge from the service.
All Plead Not Guilty.
Each of the officers pleaded not guilty to
the charges and with the exception OF Cox
expressed a readiness to proceed to trial at
once. The board decided to postpone the
trial to the date mentioned and suspension
was ordered in the meantime.
William Kelly Of hose company No. 5 was
charged with refusing to obey orders in de-
clining to clean windows at the hose house
on the order Of the captain. He pleaded
guilty, but sought extenuation on the ground
that the officers OF the company endeavored
to load their work upon his shoulders. He
was dismissed from the service. to take effect
at once.
The petitions OF John s. Clark, who has
sold his drug store, and William II. Moore
house, who has sold his saloon, asking to be
reviewed LTOm tHelT u III vi lHt cuS .
sued, were denied until the purchasers Of the
property have filed satisfactory bonds.
The chief Of police was ordered to replace
the patrol box at Thirteenth and Vinton
streets.
The bond of Oficer r. A. Wilbur was ap-
proved.
Harry Woodbridge was appointed to the po-
lice force and his bond was filed and APP
proved.
The petition Of 8. L.. Morris to be rein
stated on the police force was referred.
The application Of II. M. Warning to be
made the Official stenographer of the board
in protested liquor license cases was laid
J. over Tor one week.
The complaint Of Anna McGavock that
Onacer ]. Shevlek had refused to pay his
house rent was referred for Investigation.
Charles H. Kubat. who Is chief clerk to
the chief OF police. will be notified that his
services will be dispensed with after Decem-
Der I.
The question Of continuing the fire depart
ment service at the exposition grounds re-
ceived some attention and was referred to
the finance committee for further recon-
mendatlons.