The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-08-08
COUNCIL AFTER SCALPS.
Heads of Street Commissioner ana Police
Judge Drop Into the Basket.

Judge Drop Into the Basket.
The city council met in regular SEES
sion on Monday night and held the most
exciting and interesting session of the
year. The elements combining to make
it so was the peremptory dismissal of
Police Justice J. A. Taggard and Street
Commissioner Sam Chappell,
The police justice was charged with
incompetency and discrepancy in his
accounts, the charges being made ver-
bally by City Attorney Snyder. He
brought the matter up in the regular
order OF business and made some dam
aging statements to council that, if true,
would seriously compromise the official
in question. The attorney asserted that
the police Judge failed to do his duty in
many respects and did not work to the
interest OF the city, charging him in the
main with refusing to fine hobos and
others when brought before him, and
also in collecting money from gamblers
and others without making any returns
OF the same to the city. To prove this
statement A. F. Downs, who runs
gambling house with Frank jackson,
was summoned before the council and
questioned. He stated that he had paid
the police justice his fine both upon be-
ing notified by the police force and also
by the justice. The trouble with Downs
really began last week. He was told to
go and pay his fine, but refused. The
city attorney thereupon filed five charges
against him. He was taken before the
police judge and, it is alleged, the judge
would not fine him on each charge, his
reason being that on the day before
Downs had paid his fine. The city at
torney cited instances wherein the police
judge had failed to fine people for dis
obeying the ordinances. The hobos
were seldom, if ever, fined, he alleged,
but the judge contended that it was bet
ter to send them out OF the city than to
sentence them to several days in Jail
and feed them at the expense OF the
city. When Attorney Snyder had fin
ished his charges the judge was given
an opportunity to defend himself.
He refuted all the allegations of the
city attorney, and said that in all the
cases where he had refused to impose
fines he had acted for the best interests
OF the city, and at times he showed a
mercy that was just. He said the city
attorney had threatened to have him
removed by bringing these charges and
he presumed he could do it. Mr.. Tag
gard denied that he ever took a cent I'M
lawfully, and also said that the state
ment Of Mr.. Downs about paying his
fines to him was false. He asserted
that the city attorney chad it in" for
him and of course he could expect moth
ing else at his hands than persecution.
Upon hearing all the evidence Coun-
Gilman Weed made motion to declare
the Office OF police judge vacant, which
was promptly done. w. l. I.ince was
then unanimously elected to fill the va
cancy. But it is doubtful in the minds
of some whether the council can appoint
TO the office any other than a regularly
elected justice OF the peace.
Following the dismissal OF the police
justice came the attack on Street Com
missioner Chappell. A delegation OF
about twenty residents OF the southern
end OF the city We're present and clam
ored wildly for the scalp OF Mr.. Chap
pei. The onslaught was made by VIM.
Hall, who lives on south First street.
In an imprisoned speech he wanted to
know why the people of his end OF the
city could not get water. Following
him in rapid succession, and sometimes
all together, came others with the same
grievance. Wholesale charges were
made that the street commissioner was
incompetent and detriment to the Of