The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-17
Several Good Men Named as
Likely Candidates to Fill COL
oneI Drennan'S Shoes
A CHANGE EXPECTED
IN THE POSITION
Capt. Matthews, Capt. Barrett
and D. H. Hayter All Possess
Qualifications For the Office

Candidates for the position of chief
of the Worcester police department are
appearing daily, and to date the names
most prominently mentioned in con
nectioE with the office, in addition to
that Of Col. brennan, are Capt David
A. Matthews, Capt E. G. Barrett and
David II. Hayter.
All three men have been talked of for
the office by their friends, and their
names have been put forth with the
idea that there was going to be a va
cancy In the office of chief of police
after the close of the present year.
OF course, Col. James M. brennan, the
present incumbent, is also a candidate,
and his friends are putting in some
hard work to keep him in the office.
His position, as told in another column
of The Spy is one that makes him feel
that he will not have to work very
hard for the retention of the office.
For some time rumors have been
afloat to the effect that Mayer Rufus
b. Dodge, Jr., would appoint another
man to the position at the beginning
of the new year, but as to the anthem
ITCHY of this statement the mayor has
refused to say.
Prominent men about the city have
so far assured themselves that there
was going to be a change that some
quiet work has been going on and, al
though the time for it to appear on
the surface has not arrived, consider
able talk has been heard
Capt. David A. Matthews, who has
been mentioned in connection with the
office, does not in any way intend to
1fnfr -. i
say, as he feels that Col. brennan has
first hold on the Office, and if he is to
be retained the captains friends will
not make any fight for the place. Capt.
Matthew's experience is a qualification
that his friends claim should make him
tirst-class man for the position, if
there is to be change, as he has been
in the department many years. His
ability to handle patrolmen has been
demonstrated in his present position.
On the other hand, those who have
mentioned the name of Capt. Barrett
in connection with the position Of chief
of police, claim that he is a man who
has firsr-class executive ability, and
could easily handle force of men and
also do the business that is required
of chief of police in a proper man
ner. His military record is a standing
recommendation for his fitness to the
office, they claim, and should the mayor
decide to make a change, they will
work hard for him.
In David H. Hayter, whose name has
also been mentioned in connection with
the office, the claim is made that his
experience with criminals would par
ticularly fit him for the position He
knows considerable about police bust
ness, and much work would be done
in his behalf if a change would be
made.
The majority of police officers think
that the best man for the place would
be Deputy Chief Amos Atkinson, who
has occupied almost every position in
the department, and knows what man
can do and what should be done In GER
tain cases. They say that he has
shown time and again when things
rested with him, that he was able to
cope with problems such as confront
a man at the head of the police depart
ment, and SHOULD it lie with the mem
bers of the department as to the next
chief of police, Deputy Chief Atkinson
would, without doubt, get the position |
Chief of Police James NJ brennan is
also doing some work for the position |
and expects to be re-appointed. Men
who are on the inside say that he will |
not. Mayor Dodge will not say any
thing about it just yet, but when he
does, some hard work will be put in
by the candidates and their friends