The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-06-26
bad man IS
| CONSINDINE E
Kills Ex-Chief Of Police Mere
dith in Seattle
THEY SHOT ON SIGHT
Bet Jack Considine's Revolver Was the
Surest Weapon, Though Wounded
by Meredith.
THEY SHOT ON SIGHT

BY Associated Press:
| Seattle, Wash, June 26.-Yesterday
evening John w. Considine shot and
killed ex.chief of police w. l.. Mere
dith. The shooting occurred in Guys
drug store in the heart of the city
Cohsidine was also wounded slightly
by ball from a shot gun in Mere
dith's hands. The men had threaten
ed to shoot each other on sight and
were both prepared for trouble.
The announcement Saturday of the
resignation of Chief of Police William
Meredith, came in the nature of a sur.
prise both to the friends and enemies
Of that gentleman.
TO his friends it came as a disap-
pointment; to his enemies it was hail.
ed with great glee and there were no
happier men in town than John Consi.
dine and his followers. 10 the great
public without any personal know
ledge of Chief Meredith the resigna-
ton seemed to be an admission of
guilt on the part of the chief. It was,
however, not intended as an admis.
sion Of any sort. Said Chief Meredith
to the Seattle Times before his death:
1T is not necessary that l should
tell my friends that my resignation
Is IN any way an admission of guilt.
Those who know me best know that
have simply been victim of a COM
bination of circumstances against
which stood out as long as could,
but before which l was finally COM
PEELED to give way. TO those people
OF Seattle who do not know me l de-
sire to say that ever since have occu-
pied the Office of Chief of Police l
have endeavored in every way to per.
form the duties of that Office to the
best of my ability and in an honest,
straightforward manner.
1T is not my fault if in the perform
ance of my duties l have made ene-
mics who have bounded me out of nv
position. In fact l believe right
minded people will say with me that
am rather to be congratulated than
otherwise upon the class of people
who have sworn to and have succeed
ed in running me out. That a chief of
police should have as his enemies the
very worst element in the community
can be no disgrace to that chief.
About this investigation: l have
nothing whatever to say against the
members of the committee, except
that do not believe they have treated
me fairly. would have much pre-
ferred an open investigation; meet
ings to which should ue admitted citi-
tizens of the city as they pleased to
come and go. When this committee
was first appointed l asked Mayor
Humes If it were not possible to ar
range for open sessions; in fact
went as far as l could in insisting
that the hearing should be public
one. But my efforts in this direction
were in vain.
Since Saturday have endeavored
to bring about a thorough investiga-
tion, at which should be represented
and at which witnesses in my behalf
should be heard. find. however, that
l have no means Of attaining this end.
The charter gives the mayor power
to dismiss me, but does not give me
the right to demand an investigation
of any charges which may lead to my
dismissal. l have not given up, how
ever, and If am able to find any way
In which l can secure a fair and i'm
partial hearing you may be assured
l will have it.
Finally. want to say that since |
have been chief Of police I have not d.
rectly or indirectly received one cent
Of money or its equivalent, excepting
that which has come to me in a proper
manner. I have not sold for a con.
sideration protection to any class of
people; l have never accepted one
cent or any amount as a bribe. Until
became chief Of police no one in this
city nor anywhere else suggested that
was other than a thoroughly honest
man.
since ! have been chief Of police
people who have attempted to buy
me and who have failed have circulat-
ed stories to the effect that have &C.
cepsed bribes. have denied and l