The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-08-03
TROUBLE IN VIEW.
THE QUESTION OF ORTH'S DIS
CHARGE MAY CAUSE 1T.
oRTH's FRIENDS ARE AROUSED
Rumor Says That she Question Of the Dis
charge of of1cer Orth Is Far From Set
tied, and That Stirring UP Is
Likely In the Police Force

1l0r0 are rumOE6 dnu I6pO1 bS ou WIG
street, some rather vague and others
quite decidedly defnate, which indicate
that the trouble over the question of
Officer Orth's discharge is far from set-
tied and promises to precipitate the
police and even the City Council into
disputes and dissentions which bid fair
to disrupt the former and divide the
latter. The affair is by no means one
sided one. Office Orth has his sup
porters as we'll as the Mayor, and they
are inclined to make the fight warm
one, carrying the struggle into the
enemies quarters if necessary. The
question will be brought up for settle
ment at the next meeting of the
council, week from next Monday,
and unless dame rumor is wrong, some
things will develop then which will
startle certain members of the police
force as well as certain aldermen.
The instance that gave rise to the
present dispute is too we'll known to
require much repetition. Briefly it was
this: On last Sunday evening Officer
Orth was requested by the father of the
Mayor to arrest certain loafers who
were using certain property on the
edge of the city of which Mr.. German
was vitual guardian for drinking re
sort. The officer promptly obeyed the
summons and guided by Mr.. German
went directly to the scene OF the
trouble and arrested the men in ques-
ton. Shortly after their arrest one OF
them called attention to the fact that
Mr.. German was carrying a weapon
concealed upon his person and in his
turn requested the officer having him
in charge to arrest Mr.. German on the
charge of carrying concealed weapons.
In consequence the officer took the
whole outfit off to the city jail where
they we're all kept for about half an
hour and then discharged. On hearing
of the proceeding the Mayor immedi-
ately ordered the Chief of Police to-
remove the star from officer Ortiz on
the grounds that he had presumed
upon his authority to confine a peace
aDlo ClClZon WlLQOUG cause.
The action of the Mayor raised a
controversy at once. At first it did
not Sem to be clearly understood
whether Orth had arrested the loafers
or not, nor whether he had right to
arrest Mr.. German under the circum
stances. The supporters of the sus
| pended officer, however, after investl-
eating the case carefully allege that
the buns were arrested and that Mr.
German was arrested on the street
with a concealed weapon his person
and that bis arrest was therefore per-
fectly right and the duty of the officer.
They are backed in this position by the
Chief of Police. With this under
standing of the case the friends of Mr..
Orth are determined to fight the matter
to the bitter end. It is stated on good
authority that there is the belief
among the hackers of Orth that the in
stance was only used as pretext by
certain ones for the Geposing of Ortiz in
order to replace him with man of
their own choice. In case this is done
they threaten to go down the whole
line of police officials and discharge as
many of them as any charge whatever
can be found against. Moreover, it is
also rumored that aldermen who are
DESTROYS of a change in the police force
will embrace the opportunity thus
presented to put their favOrites in Office.
On the side of the supporters of the
Mayor there is no less determination.
1t is stated on good authority that the
Mayor himself threatened to resign if
his position is not supported by the
Council and his will in this matter is
not carried out.
Before they plecipitate any such a
struggle as the conditions thus present
ed are ripe to foster it would be wise on
the part of the Council to pause and
deliberate. Is the game worth the
candle? Leaving the delicate question
of right and wrong out of the question,
wouldn't it be better to sacrifice a
point and maintain the integrity and
dignity of the Council rather than
cause disgraceful muddle by sticking
to technicality? On the whole the
police department. is satisfactory. Ac
cording to all that can be learned
Orth was a competent and efficient
officer. Chief of Police O'Hare has
nothing but good to say of him. His
discharge would in all probability not
benefit the police department, but
would only introduce needless conten-
ton into the city government. Under
the circumstances it would seem that
it would be the part of wisdom for the
Mayor to withdraw his charge against
Ortiz and replace the star.
l.. A. w. Excursion to Boston.
|