The San Francisco call., 1899-04-20
Says He Will Resign
From Police.
WAS NOT ALLOWED A HEARING
CHINATOWN SQUAD WILL BE
REMOVED FROM DISTRICT.
Commissioners Sustain Charges Of
Inefhciency and Neglect of Duty
Against the Patrolmen
Composing It.

'"The judgment of the board is that for
not maintaining the efficiency Of the Po-
lice Department in Chinatown it is or
Cered tlat the squad be removed at once
and others detailed TO take their places,
and that Lieutenant William Price be
Telegared to the duties OF a sergeant"
The foregoing is the result of the in
qUiry institution some weeks since by the
Board of Police Commissioners on an in
tangible charge of corruption in China
town. The action of the board was taken
on the ground that ineficiency and neg
lect of duty had been proved against
Lieutenant Price and his squad. The
charges, by implication, that some of the
immense corruption fund raised in China
town had been taken by the men charged
with the suppression of gambling and
other vices in the district was not
brought home TO them.
The action Of the Commissioners was
taken at an executive meeting held last
night The entire proceedings were held
examined was Harry l. Fisher, re-
porter. He wrote the original story on the
corruption fund raised by the Chinese. 1t
was based on TumOr, ana he was never
able 10 learn how the money was dis
tTbuted. For over TWO hours the Com
missioners discussed the evidence sub
mitted to them. At the end Of that time
they announced their findings in the case.
Commissioners TObin, AlVord and
Guust and Chief Of Police Lees voted TO
remove the squad now on duty at once.
Chief Lees alone voted against reducing
Price from q lieutenant to a sergeant.
When the matter was first broached
Commissioner GUnst moved he be dis
missed the service. Commissioner Alvord
Gemurred to this. GUnSI then moved
he be reduced TO the ranks. This also
met with opposition from Alvord. AS a
last resource Gunst moved he be reduced
TO sergeant. This motion prevailed,
Chief Lees alone voting against it,
THE charges upon winch our action
was based were those of inefficiency and
neglect of duty" said Commissioner To-
bin after the meeting. The charges OF
corruption We're not sustained
"I voted with the Commissioners on the
removal Of the squad from Chinatown
because I knew its usefulness had been
impaired by the newspaper stories re-
EaIdiug corruption in Chinatown said
CLit- Lees after the meeting. "On the
question Of reducing Lieutenant Price TO
q sergeant / voted no on the dictates of
my conscience. believe the Commis-
siouers voted as they did COnscientiOusly.
i did not think there had been neglect of
duty on the part Of Price. / will appoint
the new squad as soon as possible. 1
have given rs makeup some COnsidera-
1ion: tdt nave not fully determined who
shall compose it."
Lieutenant Price and the men under
him requested the privilege OF appearing
before the board aud presenting their de-
fense. This was not accorded them, nor
were they permitted representation at the
was being received. Price was at police
headquarters during the session of the
board last night. After the meeting he
said 81 VIII present my resignation at
once. They may have my star, as l have
no desire to be connected with the depart
ment any longer. L blame COmm ssiOner
Gunst for all this, as I believe he was
the moving spirit in the matter. l was
not allowed the hearing which is accorded
al persons ulder trial.
In Chinatown the news spread like wild
fire and on every corner excited groups
assembled to discuss the situation. Cour-
iers sped from club 10 club and explained
the situation to the managers. Many of
the clubmen belong to what may be
IS, the men who fear the highbinders and
desire police protection. These received
the news with every outward manifesto
tiOn of sorrow.
one and ali laid the whole trouble at
the doors of the hishbinders. It is stated
that since Price and his squad
have been in Chinatown the highbindcrs
fear that the old highblnder system Of
blackuailing viii be renewed. One of
them, IN explaining the situation saws:
1t does nOI count how much i man
knows about methods of highbinders; 1t is
what lnformltion he can get. Lieutenant
Price had stool pigeons in every soci-
ETY. meeting 5nd always knew Just what to
do. Now he is gone and the highbinders
VIII be happy. \ great many Of them
have left the city. but they will be back
IN short time and we will have the old
trouble over again. If a murder Is com
mltted the white men should not now
blame the Chinese-they should blame
only man who can keep the bad element
in check