The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-01

Chief Of Police Fred w. sAmes has
bowed to the sovereign will of his BROTH
Or, the mayor Of Minneapolis. Notwith- 4
standing his brave show OF resistance
to the decree which went forth yesterday
from West Baden, Ind, the chief laid
down the duties of his office and retired
to the ranks OF private citizenship this
afternoon. =. . .-& =.
His action was the result Of a confer
ence between himself and Acting Mayor
Fred NJ. Powers in the office OF George
Matchan, Globe building, early in the
afternoon. AS acting mayor. Alderman
Powers informed Colonel Ames that there
was but one line Of action open-to in
sfst upon the latter's immediate resig-s
nation as CHEZ OF police AS the tenn
porafy head Of the city governnen he
explained, there; was but one course for
him., and that was to transmit and en-
force the order .telegraphed from West
Baden by. the mayor yesterday, calling
upon the former to enforce his brothers
retirement: "-~.-,,' p: - -
Far from assuming defiant attitude,
tion and bowed. his head to the blast. He
said that he had no desire to question
Alderman Powers authority to depose
him, and that while he felt be was being
made the victim of a gross injustice, he
| would make no further attempt to stand
in the. way of his brothers wishes.
| No Chance to Appeal.
He had been given to understand by
his attorneys in the morning that how
ever unfair his enforced resignation might
seem to him, no redress was possible, and
he was advised to abdicate. = ). -
With this understanding Mr.. Powers
and Colonel Ames parted company at the
| Globe building to meet. later at the may
I Or S office In the city, hail., where, in the
presence OF witnesses, the chief formally
handed in his resignation. The chic
stepped down and out of office promptly
at $3.50 p. m. =, j. ~ -".>:55::-.<
In his official capacity Alderman Pow
ers Immediately named Captain, Herr!
| Getchell of the fifth police: precinct, "a
acting chief of police, to: hold office fo1
the remainder Of the chiefs unexpiret
1 term. = ~--.. =. = = .+,.. ..:-5~"- , r.~'
i Was There Il Compromised -
While the conference between Ames ant
Powers was, a secret one was sa1d,th
Colonel Ames' decision to resign immedi
ately was reached upon a. ompromis'
basis. He explained to the acting mayo,
that II Captain Charles r.. Hll11wa made
acting chief, the natural inference Of thu
public would be that Hill had virtual!
wrested his position from him as. one Q
the fruits of the West Baden trip Hill
he said, was his enemy and out to do
him. He accordingly asked to, be .spare'
the humiliation Of having Captain Hill
, step into his shoes.
AS Alderman Powers had already decid
ed not to appoint Hill, the result woul
l have been. the same. Surprise was .ex
pressed over the action. Of. Powers il
failing. to appoint Hill acting chief. Will
Y the captain. has not yet expressed himself
It is believed that Hill will refuse to waa
the plank until Mayor Ames, who wishe
him to remain, in the capacity OF actin
chief, has been heard from. Powers
: disposition was to force his resignation
1t has been quite generally conceded afte
r the efficient manner in which Hill too
Q hold OF the demoralized police force dur
ing the chiefs vacation" that, whateve
! his faults might be, he could be ,relie
d upon to give the department safe condut
S for the remainder of the administrat1o
and incidentally bring the force up t
g a high standard Of excellence. He ha
d the situation well in hand. 49,. -.