The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-12
SUSPENDED AN OFFICER
Mayor Lesser Orders Policeman
Mayhem to Discontinue Work.
CHARGES OF NEGLIGENCE
Mayor Says That Gambling Was Conduct
ed on Mayhew's Beat-Ofncer Enters
q Formal Protest and Keeps
on PatrolIing.

Mayor Lesser yesterday sent a COM
munication to Chief of Police John
White, directing that gentleman to no.
tify Police Officer H. H. Mayhem of his
suspension, pending the action of the
city council. The reasons given for the
suspension We're neglect of duty and
failure to comply with the mayors in
structions.
About a week ago Mayor Lesser caus-
ed an order to be issued, directing all
of the police officers to appear before
him a certain hour Most of the Off
GERS complied with the request They
went to the mayors business office
on Main street and were directed to
stand in the hall. The mayor then call
ed each officer into his room separately
and there gave him to understand that
he the officer would be held person.
ally and individually responsible for
any violation of the anti-gam bling law
which might occur upon the officers
beat. The officers were instructed to
arrest any and all persons engaged in
gambling.
Yesterday, so the mayor says, two
reputable citizens came to him and IN
4ol tIllil a Iol y SdilS Idd pCCL Ill
progress on Officer Mayhew's beat be-
tween the hour of 6 o'clock Friday ev-
ening and o'clock Saturday morning.
Upon this information, Mayor Lesser
issued the order suspending Officer
Mayhem
The communication of the mayor was
delivered to Officer Mayhem last even
ing. Upon it's receipt, Mayhem entered
a formal protest against his suspension
upon the charge. Last night Officer
Mayhem was still patrolling his beat as
usual and evidently does not intend to
comply with the mayors suspension Or
der. Officer Mayhem said last evening
that he had no knowledge that there
was any gambling going on on his beat
between Friday night and yesterday
morning. and that if he had been made
cognizant of such gambling he would
have a once arrested the parties en-
gagged therein.
The law requires that every officer
who has reasonable grounds to believe
that gambling is being carried on shall
make complaint, otherwise they are
guilty of misdemeanor.5 This, of
course, doe, not, apply to a mayor, but
it seems to be a very peculiar thing that
Mayor Lesser with information of the
existence of gambling at hand sufficient
to suspend one of his officers, does not
turn his information to- account and
bring, or causetto have brought, charges
against the persons who We're operating
this gambling game. The mayor stated
last evening to a reporter that one of
his informants was ready to swear I'M
|, der oath5thalt a gambling game was be-
ling conducted on the night in question,
but he did not volunteer any statement
as to whether or not this informant
would swear to a complaint against
the operators of the gambling game.
Mayor Lesser said last night that he
would prefer charges against Officer
Mayhem at the next council meeting
and would then leave the matter of the
permanent removal of the officer entire
ly in the hands of the aldermen. The
council meets next Wednesday.
Chief of Police White said last even
ing that he had no knowledge of any
gambling game going on on Friday
night. Night Chief of Police O'Brien
made a similar statement