Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-11

Last evenings session Of the Council
Committee on Police was enlivened by
/ the somewhat unusual business OF an
investigation into the conduct of one
of the force, Extraman Schenerlein,
who had been suspended by Chief
Clemans for drunkenness while on duty
and the fact reported to the Committee.
Before this matter was taken up.
police bills aggregating seS5.75 and
City Prison bills to the amount Of
s125.21, were audited and approved. A
new roll top desk was ordered for the
Chiefs office, and the report of police
business for the month of October,
previously published in the Register,
was read and fled
Extraman Schenerlein then appeared
and asked for an investigation of the
charges against him, made by the
Chief, the latter announcing the fact
of his suspension. Mr.. Schenerlein
plead not guilty and Captain Clemans
produced his witnesses, Mayor
Sweeney and Fire Chief Cline being
present in addition to the members of
the committee, Mr.. Chew occupying
the chair. After the Chief had stated
that the suspension was for drunken
ness while on duty and in uniform
Officer Knabe was summoned and testi-
fed that witness was intoxicated on a
certain night, while on duty in East
Wheeling, giving various details Of
what occurred, these involving some
collateral matters not included in the
specific charge. This witness was fol-
lowed by Officer McGuigan, Lieutenant
Supler and Officer Turner, the evil
dence covering two cases.
The defendant denied the charge of
intoxication, saying he could give IAN
account of every place l was, and every
drink took; don't think man could
have been very drunk. who could do
that" but then proceeded to say that
he was led of by "old men on the
force" who took me around and
bought me drinks" Defendant thought
the whole matter was a put-up job
from beginning to end, and insisted
that the Chief had never treated him
fairly, had never given him instruc-
tions not to drink, had never talked 10
! him confiidentially, etc. In reply to this
the Chief said the Evidence of wrong
doing came upon him suddenly, from
many quarters in addition to the re-
ports of officers. and in justice to him
self he could not do otherwise than
suspend the officer, and had appointed
a new man in his place.
| The discussion broadened out good
deal before the matter was ended, Mr..
Bradbury, who was called to the chair
by Mr. Chew, making, among other re-
marks, one to the effect that there were
other guilty people on the police force,
one of whom made specially of sleep
| ing in hose house, where he had TO
be awakened to report, after which he
would go to sleep again. The Chief
suggested that as Mr. Bradbury was
not only member of Council but OF
the Police Committee it was his duty
30 note and report such occurrences, but
Mr.. Bradbury thought differently, and
accused the Chief of going over my
| head in certain matters. There was
! decided evidence Of little friction
! there.
After the evidence was concluded Mr..
/ Chew said he thought the reporters
! had better skip out, and an executive
session was held, which resulted in the
action Of the Chief being confirmed,
and the nomination Of Harry Prit-
| chard, the new extraman, was favor
ably reported to Council.