The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-20
ENDS IN The AIR.
Mcfarland Police Investigation
a FiaScO.
He Refuses to Produce Testi-
mOny Before Council.
AN EXCITING TIME.
Police Insisted on Having the
Hearing Go On.
City Attorney Spencer Said It
Must Be Unofficial.
PARKER STEPS ASIDE.
To Give No Reason for Complaint
Leaves the Chair.
Attorneys Review the Case Be-
fore the Council.
City Attorney Spencer Said It
Must Be Unofficial.
STEPS ASIDE.
To Give No Reason for Complaint
Leaves the Chair.
Attorneys Review the Case Be
fore the Council.

1t was just at the close of the lin
vestigation" hasco at the city council
chamber last night. The attorney for
DR. Mcfarland had fatty refused to go
on with the investigation before the
whole council. The attorney for the po-
lice department had insisted on going
on with the investigation and refusing
to have another subcommittee to hear
the charges which would have no more
authority than the council. Excitement
ran high In the cloak room, a crowd
was watching DR.. Mcfarland put on his
overcoat and hat, and listening to him
! tell a State Journal reporter that he
hoped the investigation would proceed
in spite of the refusal of the police to
have anything further to do with it.
Suddenly a stocky man in policemans
uniform pushed his way through the
door and confronted DR.. Mcfarland.
He was pale and passionate
I want to ask you, DR.. Mcfarland"
he began in tones of deadly earnestness.
what you mean by these charges? l
want to have you say right out if you
referred to me in any of your state
Dr.. Mcfarland hesitated. This is
not the time to talk about that" he
said.
1T is the time to talk said the man,
Dr. MeFarland's nose 7 demand to
know if you know anything wrong
about me2"
What is your name?" said McFar-
land
Darby
Wen. Mr.. Darby. don't believe I
care to say anything about it,
Il ask you as a manzto answer me,
insisted Darby. Il have a family. l
rest under these accusations. If you
have any charges against me, I demand
to know it
There's nothing personal in this mat
ter said Mcfarland.
I'm a member of the Methodist
church. I've been member just as
long as you have L wanted to see if
you were man enough to come right out
and face me with these charges. Will
you do it2"
I'm do as I please retorted DR.. Nc
Farland.
Meantime Mayor Parker had come I'D
at the edge of the crowd, and was
shouting excitedly to Darby, and reach
/ ing over the heads of the crowd to at
tract his attention
Stop this talking" he was saying to
Darby Quit your talking and go
home. We don't want any trouble here
We are law and order people, and we
don't want any smashing. You quit this
and get out"
I'm not on duty" said Darby dog
gedly.
Then take off your star" suggested
/ someone IN the crowd
Il don't care" insisted the mayor
You stop your talking. One word will
bring on another and you'll make trou-
Bile yet
'-An right" said Darby, as he turned
to go Then he gave DR.. Mcfarland a
parting shot:
I thought you were a coward and
afraid to face me with your charges 1
thought you were not man enough to
come out and tell the truth. and now
know you are not
Very soon the friends of DR.. McFar-
land commenced to start a fire" under
Policeman Darby. A prominent reIi-
gious worker of the city said:
IT is reported to me on good author
ity that this man Darby gets drunk al
most every night and abuses his
That's a good story for us to tell
around" assented a minister who was
present, but I'm afraid it would not
do to print it. It might not be true.
And SO the conflict goes. So far, the
police investigation has accomplished
nothing. The hatred is intensified. No
one knows the truth. The charges ii
investigated at all, may be investigated
in a star chamber session of the COM
mittee. AS far as the city council is
concerned. the Investigation has ad-
journed without date.
WHAT WAS DONE LAST NIGHT.
There was a big crowd present to lis
ten to the evidence which it was sup
posed would be presented to the cOun-
ell Thursday night in support of the
sensational charges which DR.. J. T
Mcfarland made on January II against
the police department from the pulpit
of the First Methodist church.
Attorneys were present to represent
both sides of the controversy T F.
Doran was there on behalf of the police
officers and men. T. r Carver repre-
scented DR.. Mcfarland. DR.. Mcfarland
was present. as were also all of the
police officers and about half Of the po-
lice force. Six women were in the audi
ence.
Mayor Parker called the meeting to
order. He said:
L believe that I could preside over
this investigation with impartiality and
fairness. But since the Rev. Mr. Nc
Farland thinks am prejudiced and to
avoid all suspicion OF unfairness, I will
decline to serve as chairman, and will
call Mr.. Bergundthal chairman of the
council. to the chair
Councilman Bergundthal made a short
talk and while he protested against as
Stunning the responsibilities of the posi-
ton, said that he would to the best Of
his ability act with fairness.
To open the proceedings. Councilman
what authority the council had for pro-
cedure. Mr.. Spencer was well prepared
to answer the question, and said in
part:
CITY ATTORNEYS OPINION.
at your last meeting you passed a
resolution to 60 ahead and investigate
these charges. The powers of this cOun-
Gil to make an unofficial investigation
are unlimited. You have the power to
investigate in any way you desire and
make any report you please. As TO the
force and effect of this investigation,
will simply say that you have no power
to swear witnesses, to issue subpoenas,
! to render judgments or to remove any
! officers You can only recommend to