The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-05
Unusual Transposition of Rank to
BE Il Feature of Side
ncr Inquiry.
PUBLIC TRIAL BY THE MAYOR.
Hearing of Charges Against Police
Judge Begins Friday. With
Acting CITY Counselor
Bates as Prosecutor.

George t. Sldeuer Justice of the City
Hall Police Court. officially notified
Yesterday morning hy Mayor Wells that a
charge Of misconduct in office had been
preferred against him 10y Private Secretary
NcC"ukey. and that inquiry into the
charge would begin at 80 o'clock next
Friday aft ,ruoou in the Mayors private
Office Tie SIdenor trial will be pnblic.
peculiar trauspusitiou of rank viii he
one Of III" features of the investigation in
10 the conduct Of the First District Police
Court. II Is customary for the City At
toruey 70 pEoSccut" cases IKE this for the
city. but owing to Ia" attitude of the
present city Attorney. departure from
custom is necessitated. and the cas-" VIII
to prosecuted by Acting city Counselor
Charles W. Bates
Perry Post Taylor. the City Attorney, is
exempted from prosecuting the case for the
reason that he Will appear before the
Mayor as one of the principal witnesses Tor
The relator. a daily practitioner in judge
..dener's court, City Attorney Taylor Will
testify in this proceeding for the prosecu-
tion.
The charge Of Misconduct in office is sup
ported by fifteen specifications. or allega-
tions. which embrace ramcs. dates, Incl
dents and eases. ali stated explicitly.
The specifications aege that Judge Sid
en,r accepted bail bonds without surety and
accepted bonds from persons not competent
that he released defendants improperly, I'M
perry stayed judgments, ordered cases
dismissed without consulting the City At
torney. made alterations in the docket after
adjournment Of court Improperly recalled
and reduced executions; that he showed
partiality and favoritism to certain lawyers
in his court.
The charges ard specifications were pre-
scented to Judge Sidener yesterday. In them
Mr.. McCoukey refers to certain bondsmen
belonging to a class commonly called
Srafters.
Judge Sidener said yesterday afternoon
that he will make vigorous defense. He
has engaged an attorney to take charge OF
tion. ''It is easy to make accusations" the
Judge said. but it is another thing to prove
again I'd act as L acted in the cases mem
strong defense"
Changes in Detail.
Charges and specifications thereof preferred
% s f. as bs BS James Ms g. sGSnkey Of 'hs
George B. Sidener, Justice Of the First District
Police Court of the city Of s.: Louis;
forcing forfeiture OF bali bonds. as required by
the ordinances of the city of St. Louis in this.
sDectse names the said Police Justice failed to
e y or given 5T s Ra een
ants. although said defendants and each of them.
First District Police Court in V conformity % with @
The conditions Of their said respective bonds.
having been duly directed to appear at said re-
esspe S spe 5nss t ren with dates are stated
THAT, That said Police Justice having ordened and
Of the following named defendants. at the times
set opposite their respective names. failed and
Judgment or to require the same TO be prosecuted
o the si p}ee aesn On Names T IN. duty
That having ordered and entered forfeiture os
defendants at the times set opposite their Names.
said Police Justice did wrongtulIy and without
feitures; Nine names are here presented.
following named defendants Without any surety
or sureGes as required by oTdinance at the
Specification 3. Accepting as sureties on bal
bonds persons not competent to act as sureties
and whom said police Justice was prohibited from
accepting as suretLes under the said ordinances,
Specification :. That he, the said police Justice,
eepted by, hut not approved by him. and not
spp0ysd by any hS 0hr e ayng as a
p2esented fS aRReGdve oa o0n's i"ee cases are mere
Specification s That the said Justice of the
Of court, and while he was not on the bench.
him which the said Justice had no right to do.
Eighteen instances are given, ~
Specification G. Directing Marshal to withhold
enforcement Of executions.
undertook, without warrant authority. 10 stay
executions regularly issued ard delivered 70 the
stances are here cited.
General Continue nee Orders.
tee. in numerous cases. made entries and or
instance without the consent Of the City At
torney. without any authority
the part said Police Justice do. thus
afordng the city opportunity to bring such
n hearing. punish the defendants
therein for having violated the city ordinances.
Fourteen are here cited
Specification &. That he the said Police Jus
tice. MANY occasions too numerous to be here
in detail. did order cases against de-
PENDANTS his docket 70 be dismissed for want
OF prosecution without consultation with the City
Attorney. and in many cases Notwithstanding
the fact that the city Attorney then and
there ready and anxious To prosecute the de-
PENDANTS said cases. Fifteen cases are here
cited.
That he. said Police Justice in violation Of
his duty and Of the ordinances. discharged niin-
erouz defendants proved admitted, known
To - inmates Of bawdy houses. the pay
rlent OF costs. without trial. Seventeen in
stances here cited
Specification g That he the said Police Justice.
alterations upon the docket OF his court in cases
in which orders and judgments had been en-
tered during the session Of court. Nineteen cases
here cited.
Specification 10 That he. the said Justice OF
the First District Police Court. granted con-
tinuances without any legal ground therefor. and
for the purpose Of enabling certain favored at
torneys praCtiClng in said court 10 secure fees
from defendants therein. Twenty-Five cases are
here cited.
Specification il. That he the said Police jus
tice did direct and order the Marshal of me
cItv Of ST Louis 10 release Defendants who had
been arrested by the said Marshall on execu-