Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03
LEADERS OF THE BLUECOATS
History Of the Men Who Have Directed
0mahas Police Force.
ONLY FIVE CHIEFS HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE
City's Snfekecping wns Not Entrusted
to Organized Force Previous to
Twelve Years Ago-RuIe
of the MarHhnIs.

hue as chief of police recalls the varied his
| tory of those who have held the Office befor,
him. From Marshal Guthrie who preserved
the peace in the pioneer days, down to Chic
Donahue, the list discloses an interesting
phase of the citys development. The last
chiefs commission dates from November
and was recognition of years of service
both in the ranks and as detective, sergeant
| and captain His policy will be similar
to that of his immediate predecessor, Mar
tin White, during whose service the city
was remarkably free from crime.
| Omaha has afforded the luxury OF a met.
ropolitan police force for a comparatively
short period, the first Board of Fire and
Police Commissioners taking its seat in
May, 1887 Previous to that time the guar.
dianship of the city had been ntrusted to
city marshals and after the custom of west
ern towns these preservers of the peace
were called upon to be quick of trigger and
cool OF head. When the city was incor-
porated in 1857, with Jesse Lowe as mayor
j. A. Miller was elected marshal for a term
of one year, During his incumbency mob
of citizens took two horsethieves named
Braden and Daley from the Jail and hanged
them to limb of a tree, back to back.
| The prisoners were in the custody of the
sheriff, however and Miller was not re-
! sponsible for their loss. Following Miller
! the Office of marshal was held for one year
each by John Logan, Thomas l.. Sutton,
| Thomas J. Torrey and Albert L. King
The next marshal elected was Thomas
| Riley in 1863 He served two terms Riley,
| who is said to have been a Jealous officer,
arrested on one occasion two men named
| Bouve and 1ler for a robbery and assault
upon woman living near Papillion. Dur
| ing the following night citizens broke into
| the jail, overpowered Riley and captured
his charges Her confessed his crime and
led the vigilance committee to a spot north
of the Union Pacific shops where the stolen
valuabes were unearthed. In consideration
of the fact that he had urged his comraGe
to spare the woman Her was then set at
liberty Bouve was hanged in his cell, his
feet 80 close to the floor that it was neces-
sary to remove a board to make the eXecu-
tion success.
Riley was followed by Crockett Wilson and
William P. Snowden. The latter was one
of the first settlers on the site of Omaha
and built the fourth house in the town, log
structure on Tenth street. He also dug the
first grave in the settlement to inter the
body of an Otoe squaw. Snowden served
during 1866 and again from 1874 to 1876. He
has just been elected constable. Following
him these officers were elected. most of
whom served one year each: William w.
Angel, H. L. Seward, William G. Hollins,
Richard Kimball (former proprietor of the
historic Apex saloon. Twelfth and Harvey
streets), Gilbert Rustin, John H. Butler, C.
]. Westerdahl, Daniel T. Angel, Roger c.
Guthrie and Thomas Cummings.
Cummings was known and respected as an
nSo,a III IA,
placement by the first Board of Fire and
Police Commissioners continued to make
Omaha his residence until his death about
one year ago. He owned property on Sher-
man avenue and completed his allotted span
OF years in peace. Cummings predecessor,
Marshal Guthrie, was overtaken by the
retribution of the law which he once held
up as a terror to offenders He was CON
victed and sent to the penitentiary for ac-
cepting bribes from gamblers.
First Chief is Appointed.
After the first board had been regularly
installed and had declared its authority by
virtue Of appointment by Governor Thayer
it proceeded to the selection Of a chief OF
police. The candidate chosen was Weber
s. Seavey, who remained at the head of the
force for eight years, much longer period
than the service Of any of his successors For
years Seavey's upright form and flowing
beard were familiar sight on the streets OF
Omaha and his happiest moment was when
he bestrode a prancing steed at the head OF
parade acknowledging the applause of the
throngs along the curbs.
Chief Seavey's especial pride was in the
discipline of his men and the force has
never presented more soldierly bearing
than during his reign. Patrolmen we're
drilled until they acquired the precision of
West Point cadets Smoking and drinking
were objectionable sins and sergeants were
instructed to report officers who failed to
keep their buttons FURNISHED or their shoes
blacked. The chief allowed no familiarity
on the part of his subordinatcs. and the for
malities of military post were observed.
In July, 1895, Chief Seavey rendered his
resignation to the board and left the city.
going first to Cripple Creek, Colo, where
he engaged in the insurance business. He
is now the Denver agent for the Thiel De-
tective agency. large amount of his work
nowadays consists in tracing cattle stolen
from the ranges.
Board Feels ResDOnsibiIity.
The Fire and Police Commissioners hesi-
tated in the appointment or Seavey's sue
cessor for several weeks. On June 10 a
resolution was passed that Mayor Bemis
and Commissioner Deaver should act as a
committee ito present to the board the
names of persons who would be suitable and
willing to serve the city as chief Of police"
The committee spent two weeks at its task
and at the end of that time made the follow
ing report:
This committee has had the names of
several persons under advisement and has
due consideration. It is of the opinion that
the interests of the city can best be sub