The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-19
PROBING or POLICE
CITY COUNCIL ORDERS A STRICT
INVESTIGATION.
CHARGES BY CHIEF REYNOLDS
Head of the Force Makes a Written
Statement to the Aldermen, Accus-
ing Patrolman McGlynn of
Attempted Extortion.

When the city council met last night 1t
was confronted with charges against Po-
licemen Mike McGlynn which to say the
least bordered on the sensational.
Other matters of more or less import
ance We're before the city's aldermen, but
none caused a feeling which SO nearly
approached ill-nature as did the allega-
lions made against the patrolman by
Chief of Police Reynolds.
According to Mr.. Reynolds the police
man was guilty of an attempt to extort
money from Frank Alexander, mer-
chant. The charges We're contained in a
| lengthy written statement and were ac.
| companed by an affidavit made by Alex
ander.
Charges in Detail.
They set forth that October Il Nc
Glynn entered the place of business of
Alexander. claimed that gambling was
being permitted there, and ffered to
protect the merchant from the law on
! the payment of SO.
| Alexander, it was said. denied the allie
| cation that gambling was permitted on
| his premises and refused to comply with
the alleged demand made on him for
| money.
| AT this point, according to the charges
| McGlynn Informed Alexander that he
/
| latter when he pleased and break down
| the doors of the establishment.
Believes Them True.
! Chief Reynolds further sets forth that
| he had investigated the charges against
! McGlynn and had found them to his
| satisfaction to be true.
He said he had found it difficult to get
! the necessary evidence to properly pre-
| sent the matter to the council, but was
! satisfied that considerable improper con-
duct such as he alleges was perpetrated
| on Mr.. Alexander was going on at the
time of the particular ''grafting'' alleged.
The chief stated that he was reluctant
| to bring charges against any member
of his department in such a manner that
ar injustice might be done, but that
! inasmuch as his private Investigations
had satisfied him of the condition of at
fairs existing he thought it time to call
the matter to the attention of the coun-
Gil so that action could be taken toward
protecting the citizens of Butte.
| Objections by the Chief.
Continuing, Chief Reynolds, takes ex-
ception to certain methods of discipline
now in vogue. He says:
| II shall also call your attention to
what I consider improper system
for good discipline in the police depart
ment of this city. in that the officers fee
and even go so far as to openly declare
that they would not abide by the orders
OF the head of this department for the
reason that these things must be aired
in the city council of the city of Butte
and there is. they feel, a good chance
of escaping punishment at the hands OF
your honorable body.
II would be pleased if your honora bic
body would deem it wise and for the
best interests of the community to Sc
| arrange police matters that when it is
| necessary and incumbent for the heas
of the department to properly discipline
an officer, his actions and the conseGuen
evidence would not be given such wide
publicity.
"This, I believe, would be better fol
the men, in that there would be proper
respect for the official charged will
their good conduct, and it will also be
better for the men in that they would
be more careful of their actions an(
thereby the morals and efficiency of the
department would be enhanced. Respect
fully submitted"
Precipitates a Discussion.
The preferrng of the charges against
versy in which Aldermen Evans, Demp
sey, Cohen, siebenaler, Duggan and
Manchester participated.
The controversy was precipitated wher
! Evans moved that the charges should be
| referred to the police committee.
Dempsey said the council as a whole
should investigate the charges He said
the police committee had been exoner-
| ating policemen on almost every &C.
casion. and the matter had been the sub
ject Of much criticism by the press.
Cohen said the remarks Of Dempsey re-
flected great discredit on the police COM
mittee. He said it would be an insult tc
take the matter from the hands of the
committee and would be a tacit declara