The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-18

II
and police, Chairman Howe dissenting,
last evening found Patrolman Siegfus
not guilty of the charges of unofficer-
like conduct and deceit, preferred by
Chief of Police Hilton, and voted TO
recommend to the city council the re-
instatement of the dismissed officer.
| This decision was reached after much
hesitation, as the evidence was very
conflicting.
From the fact that neither Chief Hill
ton nor Patrolman Siegfus evinced any
bitterness of feeling toward each other,
the majority of the committee con-
cluded that the officers reinstatement
on the force would not endanger the
maintenance of police discipline. Pa
trolman Siegfus' unblemished record as
an honest, efficient and dutiful peace
officer for the past nine and a half
years weighed heavily in his favor, and
Councilmen Allen, Fernstrom, Buckle
and Robertson We're 10th to blast his
character when the evidence in the case
afforded a reasonable doubt as to his
guilt of wrongdoing or evil intentions
Overriding the Chief.
The four members also appreciated
the seriousness of overruling Chief Hill
ton, but on the conviction that there
was probably a misapprehension on. the
chiefs part of the policeman's motives,
and that the officer had acted indis-
creetly, but from good motives. the
majority of the committee resolved all
doubts in favor of the accused.
Chairman Howe took the position
that Siegfus did not tell the truth
when he declared he had information
from a stranger that an overcOat SIM
liar to the missing one was offered for
sale at the Rio Grande Western depot
The chairman expressed the belief that
the stranger was a mythical person.
and, in his opinion, the reversal of
Chief Hilton's order would impair the
standard of discipline in the police de-
partment.
More Testimony Taken.
The hearing last evening was taken
up where the committee left off Thurs
day night, the adjournment being taken
to afford Siegfus an opportunity to
prove by Desk Sergeant Smith, Pa
trolmen Davies and Simpson and De-
tective Sheets that he had reported TO
them his discovery of the Hopkins
overcoat Both Smith and Davies failed
to remember the circumstance, as al
legged by Siegfus, and Davies testimony
was contradictory in matters of de-
tail
The testimony OF Detective Sheets
was helpful to "McGinty." Sheets
stated that the accused officer told him
he had located the stolen overcOat in
Shapiro's pawnship and on this infoT-
nation the detective and the chief went
and recovered ii.
Officer Simpson corroborated Siegfus'
contention that he had also told him of
locating the fur garment.
Chief HiltOn's grievances were that
SiegfuS had withheld the information
from him of locating the coat, failed
to produce the stranger who was Civ
ing pointers on another stolen overcoat,
went to Mr.. Hopkins to inquire if he
would reimburse the pawnbroker if the
coat were offered in pawn, and that he
advised the broker 10 secure it by a
loan of money. The chief also MAIN
things with dishonest intent he is not
a fit policeman, and if his intentions
were good he is not smart enough TO
serve in the department. Previous to
this, however, he regarded Siegfus as a
capable and reliable policeman.
Siegfus justified his methods by de-
claring he wanted to make sure of re-
storing the stolen coat to the owner
and catching the thief, who is now in
Jail. He declared he looked for the
chief to report his discovery. but fail
ing to find him on the night in ques-
ton he reported the finding of the coat
in the pawnshop to four of his fellow
officers.
A Reminder of Pratt.
During the hearing a statement was
made by the chief denying that he had