The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-10-17
ASHLAND'S HOT TIME
Naughty, Naughty Nvron Lvttle the
Cause of 1t All.
CHIEF OF POLICE In TROUBLE.
Mayor Williams Prefers Charges Against
Chief Tanner, and there is a Hot Time
Before the Police and Fire Commits.
sion Latter Breaks Up in Row.

There are hot times in Ashland
these nights and days, and it all
comes about through the determina-
tion Of Mayor Burt Williams to
suppress gambling in that city.
After Mr.. Williams went into office
last spring gambling was suppress
ed by the Chief of Police acting
under orders of the mayor Within
the past month or two, however, a
little game has been running, and
Messrs. Myron Lytle and Ed.
Williams, formerly of this city, are
the alleged proprietors In the ac-
counts given of the place in the Ash
land newspapers the name of Will
liams does not appear to any extent,
but Lyle seems to be pretty much
the whole affair in the controversy.
Myron's old Washburn friends are
not surprised az this, because Myron
is a real naughty boy, and has a
faculty of getting into trouble when
ever he attempts gambling. The
place has been running, according
to all accounts, for the past two
months, notwithstanding Mayor
Williams has been pounding the
Chief of Police on the back to have
the mandate of the law brought into
execution. Finally the Mayor tired
OF fooling with the chief, called
a meeting of the Fire and Police
Commission last week, and pre-
ferred charges in writing against
Chief Tannar for refusing to obey
orders, and alleging that gambling
was being allowed by the Chief.
Commissioner Garnish, who likely
feels he is too old to.ssand the racket
resigned his pos tion on the Board,
and Mayor Williams appointed
George F. Merrill. the well known
attorney, in his place. Tanner was
then suspended, temporarily, from
service, and the Investigation of the
charges came up before the Commits
sion Monday night. At the outset
the complexion of the Commission
appeared to be two for and two
against the Chief, for, of course,
politics is in it, and is cutting
considerable figure. Attorney W.
F. Shea appeared for Tanner, and
M. E. Dillon for the Commission.
Shea has no love for the Mayor, and
proceeded in his we'll Known manner
to make things unpleasant for Mayor
Williams. The charges were finally
amended, and the taking of testi-
mony was begun. The crowds in
attendance were so large that they
could not get into the room, where
the inquiry was being held. On
Tuesday evening the inquiry was re-
sumed in the Court House.
Just what occurred has not been
definitely learned here, but reports
indicate that the president of the
commission, man named MOrgeneir,
wanted to convert the inquiry into a
sort of star chamber affair, and
ordered the room cleared of all the
audience. Mayor Williams very
properly held that the people were
entitled to know what was going on,
and insisted that the room be not
cleared. After good deal of con-
troversy and talk Morgeneir insisted
that the room be cleared, whereupon
Mayor Williams ordered the acting
chief of police to See that no one was
excluded FRI the room, and de-
manded the police to protect anyone
from being elected This made Nor
geneir mad, and like the little boy
who couldn't spin the tor all the
while, vert home. The full commits
sion not b ing present the inquiry
was adjourn d for the evening, and
the n.erry fight still goes on, with
the end not yet in sight,
CO Saturday raid was made by
the police upon the Lyle rooms, and
COMPLETE gambling outfit, consist
ing of tabl s,eetc, was taken. On
Tuesday Lyle was arrested upon a
warrant sworn out by Mayor Wilt
ans, charged with gambling, and is
being held for trial under 800 bonds.
Tanner is still out, and will continne
to be, unless the commission should
re-instate him.
Mayor William is making a hard
fight % suppress gambling 10 tine
city of Ashland, and owing to the
the ridiculous operations Of the
Police and Commission law, which
takes the dismissal of Chief of
Police out of the hands of the the
mayor, who is supposed to be their
principal officer, is encountering a.