The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-19
MURPHY TAKING A lAY-OEf.
He Isn't Taking 1t Because Bill O'Rourke
Licked Him, Either.

He Isn't Taking 1t Because Bill O'Rourke
Licked Him, Either.
Police officer Con Murphy is taking
10 days vacation to recuperate from
the effects of the mauling he received
last Sunday morning at the hands OF
Bill O'Rourke, the man with the pen
chant for licking policemen. Ofhcer
Murphy is not laying off entirely be-
cause of the trouncing O'Rourke gave
him, neither is he resting voluntarily.
but for a stronger and more potent rea-
son. He was requested to take a rest
by his chief at the suggestion of Mayor
Mccarthy, who is the head of the police
department. And connected there
with is the true story of the trouble be-
tween Officer Murphy and O'Rourke.
At the time Murphy received his
drubbing from O'Rourke it was given
out that O'Rourke was all in the fault
and attacked Murphy out of pure dew
ilishness and love of licking Police
man; but the other side of the story
leaked out yesterday. Murphy has
been on big bender for over a week,
and that is the reason he is laying off
and also the reason he got thrashing
from O'Rourke. officer Murphy has
only been on the force since the present
administration took hold. but he has
succeeded in getting into his share Of
difficulties. None of them has been of a
serious nature, but they have had the
effect of drawing attention 70 him
from his superiors. On one occasion
Police Magistrate Sullivan felt called
upon to comment rather caustically
upon one of his arrests. Evidently
thinking it a huge joke, he threw am
monia on a man in a downtown Sa-
loon and because the fellow resented it
in a rather forcible manner Officer
Murphy arrested him. When the case
N~1t ntrf,f Ia,
facts came out. Judge Sullivan ex-
pressed his mind very freely on the
manner of some policemen in interpret
ing the duties laid down for them.
OF late Officer Murphy has been
drinking pretty heavily and he was
warned last week that he would have
to change his ways or he would be
brought up on the carpet. When it
was seen that he had failed to observe
the warning he was called up last Sun
day morning and informed he would
take his choice between charges being
filed and an investigation by the police
committee being had, or accepting a
Suspension of 10 days. Officer Murphy
concluded he preferred to accept the
suspension, without questioning the
authority of the head of the depart,
ment to impose it, than take his
chances on an investigation which
might result worse. And this is the
reason why Officer Murphy is taking a
rest.
After Murphy was laid off he con-
tinued on his spree, and it was during
the course of it that he ran up against
'O'Rourke, and not while he was going
peaceably on his way home, as was at
first given out.
Officer Murphy's case may furnish
another opportunity for the council to
discuss the question as to whether the
chief of police has the power to sus-
pend a man without referring the mat
ter to the police committee. such as
arose in the case of ex-Officer Torpey
when that officer was laid off for 80
days by the chief, and the council
found itself of the necessity of paying
his salary. If Officer Murphy chooses
to raise the question he will doubtless
be able to collect pay for his enforced
idIeneSS