The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-20
Results of the New Police Regime
Becoming Apparent.
DIR. AMEs' VICTIMS REINsTATED
Indictments Were Not COnsider red
in Picking Out the Men
to Go.
DiSMlissnlS.

Detective Otto Wirtensohn.
Promoted.
Lieutenant George Sinclair to rank of cap
tain in command at South Side station.
Transferred.
Lieutenant Michael Mealey, to succeed Lieu
tenant Sinclair at the Central station.
New Appointees.
Patrolmen: Myron E. Johnson, Victor E.
Olsen, Henry A. Stanley, August W. WeneH
E. E. HELEN, Michael Ryan, John G. Larson
Ole Hovelsrud. David H. Derrick, John
Long, Peter Fox, Leroy Farrell, X o. Aas-
gard.
To be mounted sergeant, John c. Fay;
mounted patrolman, P. w. Linehan; driver
central patrol wagon, Charles H. Moore: DO
lice telephone operator, W. G. Barber.
Acting Mayor D. p Jones and Chief of
Police 3. F.. Waite, the main high exc
cutloners, went to work with the admins
tratlve guiilotine bright and early this
morning. The machine had been keenly
sharpened and brightly FURNISHED during
two weeks of patient preparation, and it
was IN excellent working order. The VIC
TINS were brought into the chiefs office
one by one and rapidly as the extreme
penalty could be paid, the fatal ak fell
across their official existence as members
OF the Minneapolis police department..
Before noon six heads had dropped In
the bucket Of official disgrace, and
seventh official had been permitted to re-
sign. The men behind the ak then rest ed
| from the arduous labors of removing rel
les OF the Ames administration, and an
nounced that for the present, at least.
there would be no more dismissals from
/ the force.
The men dismissed, having declined to
hand In their designations Immediately,
were promptly discharged. Both the act
I ing mayor and the chief recognized that
there were certain extenuating circum-
stances in Wirtensohn's case. He was ac-
cordingly allowed to hand in his resig-
nation with the understanding that it
would take effect Aug. 27. In the mean
time he will be allowed weeks vacation,
| which was still due him.
Without an exception the men appointed
| arc all former members of the police
| force. All were efficient officers when
removed or forced to resign for political
reasons by Mayor >Ames.
| Myron Johnson, who will be returned
| to hfs old beat on Washin gton avenue, is
the man who resigned when he discovered
that the "big mitt' men who frequented
his district were clad with more author
| ity from police headquarters than that
vested in him. His reappointment is a
complete vindication of the reasons which
he advanced for leaving the force. The
|. fact that he Is con watch again will be
bad news for the evil-doers who cross his
Beat.
VIII Please Varsity Boys.
OF the seventeen men who are now back
on the "foorce," none came to headquar-
tiers with stronger Recommendations than
Michael Ryan, who walked beat South
| east" FOR twenty-five years. Ryan was a
great favorite in university circles, and
the student body, professors and every
one in any wise connected with that insti-
tuition made stronog plea for his reap
pointment.
Another character who Is once more in
his element in again being one of the
very Finest" Is Mounted Patrolman "Pat''
| Llnehan, at the same time the most spec
! tacular and efficient officer who ever rode
with the mounted contingent. Linehafi
still owns the beautiful white horse with
which he patrolled the boulevards. Il.
II knew I'd be coming back some Gay
and the horse comes with me-" he said.
Patrolnan John Long, who entered dam
aging evidence against Colonel Fred Ames
and aCptain Coffee John Fitchette
when they were on trial. for which service
to the state he was let out, wore huge
grin OF satisfaction when informed Of the
TURN IN MS fortunes.
4 Charles H. Moore, who drove the Cen
! trail station wagon for fifteen years, will
handle the reins again, and Peter Fox
who was located at the same station for
a long term, will also go with the wagon
hereafter.
W. G. Barber, the veteran police te1e-
duty.
phone operator, will again report fol
In announcing the appointment Of Lieu
Mt oil 70 o,>4o oi,,11 l.
command Of the South Side station, Act
ing Mayor oJnes said that the promotion
was in recognition of "meritoriouos SER
vice.
elm that connection" he said, "the
point might be made at the outset thai
such merit as aCptain Sinclair has dis.
played WILL receive prompt recognition ii
all cases as long as I am in office"
"Lieutenant Mealey, who will succeed
Captain Sinclair at the Central station
has served the city long and faithful,
and am confident will discharge dutie!
Of the position which he has filled IL
past years with the utmost credit to him
self.
Indictments Not Consfdered.
'The changes made are not based upo1
Il specific charges against the officers wht
now retire from the department. I desir,
especially to say that there has been n,
CASES
pending in court against officers nov
under indictment. It has been found de-
sirable to reduce the number of detec
tives, and curtail the list of captains
1ieutenants and sergeants,e and in tn,
process of elimination some men have t,
l go. Those who go are simply not retained
| because it is believed that others can
under all the circumstances, more ac
ceptably serve the city ~.
"Other changes. when made. will b,
made on the same basis, and will no
necessarily reflect on the general clarac
ter or efficiency of the officers who ma,
be dismissed or reduced"
In retaining both Howard and Morris
sey, the acting mayor acted In line witt
his avowed intention Of not prejudicir1g
man or disnissing him simply because h,
happened to be under indictment.
The dismfssals all took effect at2$1.
O'clock m. a... . !
Fred Ames' New Policy.
Former Chief of Police Fred W.xAme
was an amused spectator of the happen
ings at headquarters this morning.
"Acting Mayor Jones and myself use,
to be sehoolmates at the Central higl
/. | he said mi NO