The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-06
KURTZ TELLS HIS STORY
CERTAIN SALOONS WERE NOT MO-
TESTED BEFORE THE ELECTION.



renewed. There was more interest taken
I'm the proceedings last evening than dur
Ing the first nights session of the commit
tee. The Democratic members of the
Council remained % hear the evidence Of
fered against the Police Department and
the Board Of Safety instead of hurrying
to one of the local theaters as they had
been in the habit of doing. The Repub-
lican members were also interested lis
teners. City Attorney Kern was present
with his deputy. Mr.. Bell, to represent the
board. Bert Spencer, clerk OF the Board
OF Public Works, acted as stenographer
for the board.
Mr.. Perrott, the Democratic member of
the committee, offered his usual objections
to the proceedings and before the investi-
cation began insisted upon the witnesses
being separated. This was not done. how
ever. While ex-Patrolman Jacob Kurtz
was on the stand Mr.. Perrott interrupted
the examination at frequent intervals with
questions relative to personal and private
matters concerning the witness. Kurtz was
the only witness examined during the
evening, with the exception of Superin-
tendent Quigley, who was placed on the
stand for few minutes.
KURTZ'S TESTIMONY.
Kurtz was called to the stand and he told
of his connection with the police depart
ment. He served under Superintendent Col
bert, Superintendent Powell and Superin-
tndent Quigley. When asked when he was
discharged he replied that his legal dis
missal came on Feb. 10. 1900. but he re-
a Of hfo
&C. 1899. The question was asked the witness
If he had any intimation of his dismissal
before he was formally notified He said he
had heard he was to be discharged and
then Mr.. Perrott insisted on the witness
giving the name of the person who had ap-
priced him OF his discharge Kurtz de-
clined to answer, but after a spirited ar
gument between City Attorney Kerr and
Attorney Harding on the relevarce of that
part or the testimony KurtZ said he would
answer the question and he stated that
Al Harston, the ex-councilman, had
threatened to have him removed from the
force during the State fair. The witness
said Harston used the following language:
Il got 1850 from the street-car deal and
1 will spend every cent of 1T to get your
buttons"
After further questioning Kurtz said he
had received other information regarding
his discharge. He said Patrolman
Bernauer, a brother OF Councilman Bern
auer. said to him on Dec. Is:
Il overheard Commodore Higgins say
you were to be discharged for testifying
In the street-car case"
Kurtz said there was still another person
who had warned him of his discharge, but
he declined to give his name and the COM
mittee did not insist upon 1t, although Mr.
Perrott raised strenuous objections and
insisted on knowing his informant's name
kurtz claimed he had been before Super
lntendent Quigley once and reprimanded
for drinking. He said the superintendent
told him he was a good officer Kurtz also
claimed he had received no notice of his
to his dismissal.
ABOUT SALOON KEEPERS.
kurtz then told Of his experiences with
saloon keepers. He said he noticed viola
lions of the liquor law at Broderick Bros
saloon, corner Of Missouri and South
streets. where the saloon was kept open
after legal hours. He said he made a re-
port of it and was told by the superin-
tendent to order the proprietors to remove
the screens at II o'clock p. m. Kurtz said
he gave this order and in a short time there
was partition built in the saloon for
business after legal hours.
kurtz told of reporting Albert Danke,
who operated a saloon at the corner of
Meridian and Henry streets. He said the
violation of the liquor law at Danke's sa-
loon was the same as at Broderick Bros 4,
but Danke was arrested and fined $40 and
costs Kurtz was then asked to tell of the
Pulaski saloon, at SIS Virginia avenue. He
said IL was notorious place, and when he
reported the matter TO Superintendent
Quigley he received orders TO break up the
violations. He again reported to Superin-
tendent Quigley that he had three charges
to prefer against Pulaski, and the superin-
tendent told him to swear out a warrant
on one charge and arrest Pulaski. This
was done and Pulaski was fined $40 and
costs and his place ordered closed. Kurtz
claimed Pulaski operated his saloon under
another mans license. In one week after
the conviction, the witness said, Pulaski
opened his saloon again, and the superin-
tendent issued an order for the witness not
TO enter the place.
The witness claimed he had received in
formation that owners of breweries had
patrolmen removed from their districts,
and he asked the superintendent about II
and the latter told him that he (the wit
ness) would not be removed
Kurtz then rehearsed the order issued by
Superintendent Quigley compelling patrol
men to remain away from saloons unless
called In 10 quiet a disturbance. He said
he reported to the superintendent that sa-
looms in his district were running In Viola
ton of the law, and the superintendent told
him not TO enter them until after the cleo
ton. While patrolling another district while
the order was in vogue the witness said he
had to go through alleys on Sundays TO
dodge the GROWERS" He said people car
ried beer through the streets with the
foam running over the tops of buckets and
pitchers Kurtz said he told the superin-
tendent about this and the latter said:
Those people belong down to st. John 5
Church, and must have been after mass. :
The witness then told OF the order read
at roll call by Captain Dawson notifying
several patrolmen to meet at the Union
| Station where they would be provided with
| tickets for Lebanon to testify in the Fair
banks trial. Kurtz claimed mat Dawson
added:
"These people have been our friends and
| we can AFFORD TO be theirs"
THE WONDERFUL TRIO.
| Kurtz said he only knew of three saloons
| in the city that did not keep open on Sun
| days. He then told of being ordered to
| testify before the grand jury, and after
| that he said he met the superintendent
| several times and the latter would not
| speak to him or would not return his sa-
| lutte. In regard TO the order pertaining
| to making arrests in misdemeanor cases he
/ said many fights took place in the city,
| but no arrests would be made. He said
| the order made IL necessary for the police
| men TO compel the injured party TO swear
| out a warrant before any arrests could be
| made Kurtz added that he knew the sa-
| loon order preventing patrolmen from en-
| tering saloons was in violation OF the stat
| utes of Indiana. but he had to observe the
| order TO hold his position on the police
| force.
On cross-examination. which was con
| Quoted by City Attorney Kern, Kurtz was
| asked IL he was before the Board of Safe
/ ~ during the administration of Mayor
A - 4 -. Il