The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-29
ROTH is ON THE STAND
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF
SAFETY VERY EvAsIvE.
His Views on the Order Excluding
PatrOlmen from SalOOns-WOrks
board Affairs.

ney Bell, representing the defense, engaged
in another argument last night on the con-
struction of the city charter. 1t was prin-
cipally over the meaning of the word in
spect" Mr.. Harding claiming il meant TO
observe, and the only manner in which po-
lice officers could inspect saloons and other
places under license was to go through
them and observe If there were any viola
tions of the law. Attorney Bell argued 1t
was not necessary for police officers to go
through saloons in order to inspect them.
The argument arose while Chairman
Roth, of the Board of Public Safety. was
on the witness stand. Attorney Harding
examined him at some length on the order
prohibiting patrolmen from entering sa-
looms. The order was issued Jan. %, 1899,
and reads:
"Patrolmen must not enter any saloon in
the city In uniform, whether on duty or
not, except in case they are ordered to do
so by their superior officers, or in case
there is fighting or other unlawful conduct
being committed within the saloon that re-
quires their presence in the line of their
duty"
Mr.. Roth said the Board of Public Safety
Was the author of the order, and il was
discussed for some time before the order
was issued. He said number of citizens
and one minister complained about the
policemen loafing about the saloons before
the order went into effect. He said 1t
was done for the betterment of the
police force in order to stop patrolmen
from loafing and drinking about the sa-
Icons. He claimed the order does not pro-
hibit patrolmen from entering saloons. as
there were no objections to them going into
them in the line of their duty. and if the
officer did not know his duty he had no
business TO be on the force. Roth said they
depended on detectives and sergeants to
keep young boys out of saloons
ROTH WAS EvASIvE.
During the rest of his testimony he an
swered questions reluctantly, always evad-
ing the question as much possible. At
torney Harding asked the witness II he
knew that the city charter made it neces-
sary for the patromen TO enter all saloons,
gambling houses, etc, and he answered
that he presumed So" Roth was asked
IL he did not think 1t better to call the Of
tenders in the police department before
the DOdTu anu TtDTlIIldUu lDtfll VI uiSIudl sc
them for loafing in saloons than to make
such an order.
I'VE didn't always find them OUT Roth
replied. Sometimes We can't tell where a
patrolman gets his drinks. That order is al
right and L don't see why IL should be
changed. / don't think the patromen will
stop any more and drink or read papers IN
saloons when they should be patrolling their
beats. The order is all right and not in con-
fllct with the city charter as L can see.
You have discharged men who drank
have you not?' asked Attorney Harding.
Not all of them retorted Roth
Have you any men on the force who
leaf around saloons@
IL don't know of any
Roth admitted he took an oath to en-
force the city charter but did not believe
he was violating ii when the order was
issued.
On cross-examination he claimed most
saloons were so constructed as to permit
Of parrolmen viewing the inside by opening
the door or peeping over the top of blinds
Attorney Harding then interposed a ques
ton as to gambling in saloons and asked
ii the games could be seen in that manner
Roth admitted that patrolmen would have
to catch the men playing to make an ar
rest.
Councilman Perrott, the Democratic mem
Der OF the committee, insisted on reading
reports from other cities that have thu
same kind of an order. Attorney Harding
placed his objections on record, claiming
committee, as the Board of Safety anC
police department of Indianapolis were act
ing under the charter of this city and MOI
OF other cities.
CLERK DAVIS TESTIFIES.
Edward Davis, clerk of the Board OF
Safety. was also placed on the stand, ano
said the police department was divided
equally politically being composed of sew.
enty-nine Democrats and the same number
of Republicans. This number included the
officers. detectives and patrolmen. He said
he had had no occasion lately to make out
list OF the division in the fire department
Application blanks were furnished appli
Cants for positions on either force, anC
they We're required to state their politics
but no one made affidavit as to the correct
ness of Ills statements.
At the opening Of the investigation Terry
Moore, an ex-patrolman, took the stanc
and told of a conversation he had Will
Councilman Higgins at the Grand Hote
corner in regard to running game at Den
mis- O'Briens during the Knights of Pyth
las encampment in August, 1899. Moor
claimed that Higgins said he won $50 from
a fellow, and the latter went to the police
station, and the superintendent told hin
he could do nothing in the matter. Higg1n:
also said, Moore claimed, that he had of
fered To return the money, but the mar
would not accept it.
Higgins then took the stand, and said h
wanted to deny the statement made by
Rinker at the last meeting of the inves
tigation that he (Higgins) ran gambling
game. Higgins said he met Rinker tn
Sunday morning in question, and the!
stopped at several saloons and had drinks
and parted at South and West streets. HI
said he did not believe he told Rinker an,
such story as the latter claimed. Chair
man Wheeler, of the investigation commit
tee, then suggested 10 Higgins that. judg
ing from the number of times they ha'
stopped, he might have told him. Higgin
retaliated by saying IL he had won an.
such sum as reported he would not hav
| told Ii to people like Rinker.
Sergeant Lowe was placed on the stan'
and asked about reports he had made. bu
he claimed there had been prosecutions II
most cases. He told of having investigate
the Cleveland Club gambling rooms. blu
had hard work in getting i'm. as the door
were locked. Attorney Harding asked hin
why he did not break in, and the witnes
suggested he did not carry an adze. Low
refuted statements made against him con
corning his action i'm having allowed peopl
to go after being arrested. He said In sucl
cases there was no evidence against tn
people on which to convict
The investigation will be continued thi
| evening.