The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-10-07

by as an audience, Is what the SO
called Burns trial and investigation
amounted to this morning. Once in
q while one of the commissioners
would brace up and interject mild
opinion that it wasn't just yet a
trial, but in the main they leaned
back and overlooked the fact that
they were there to try a police
man under charges Of incompe-
tency and improper conduct, and
listened unjoyously to the verball-
ties of his honor and his honor's
official thorn-Mr. Burns. -
II there was any evidence given
based on facts to be proven, 1t was
80 mixed up in the unpublished gen.
eralities that no one could segregate
the items. Mr.. Burns told how he
happened to become an impression
list with impressions about Dutch
Jake" and the latter's control Of
the mayor. Then the mayor would
climb into the discussion and tell
what he thought or what he intend
ed other people should think.
Summed up briefly, Mr.. Burns de-
clared himself impressed with the
idea that he would get into trouble
II he arrested Tom Smith or any
body hanging about the Coeur
d'Alene. The mayor declared him.
self controlled by no one man, went
on record as favoring box rustling
under police regulations and the
mild enforcement Of the barmaid
act, and the non-enforcement of the
Sunday closing law as questions of
public policy for which he would
hold himself responsible without
troubling police officers to assist
him in determining how strict or
how lax the administration policy
shall be.
The session was replete with
thrilling and dramatic scenes-that
is, II one likes thrilling and dram
attic scenes. Once in a great while
Detective Burns would be on trial.
At other frequent times the mayor
would be on trial, then Dutch
jake" then Captain Coverly, and
when the noon adjournment was
taken, Sergeant Sullivan was de-
claring himself out Of the running
and not cited to appear for trial
or to tell anything which would get
him into trouble.
At one time it looked as If bloody
Tragedy would mark the thrills. 1t
was when the mayor referred to the
lAct that the officer had his gun on.
That tragedy was averted, though,
when the officer said he wouldn't
shoot the mayor, and the mayor
said he didn't think SO, and wasn't
afraid.
When they got through with the
Impressions and the policy busi-
hess, 1t was noon, no evidence had
been taken and an adjournment was
Faken until Officer bill" Shannon
could be brought to tell that he
had been ordered not to arrest
bimps.
II was after 10 o'clock when
Everybody got seats in the board
DOM and the signal was given for
he launching of what so far proves
o Be farcical affair. When Police
commissioner Handley called for
rider there were many to listen to-
he reading OF the charges by Com
missioner ONO.
Mayor Boyd got in early and
voided the rush, while three stem
graphers crowded into position
longside of the newspaper report
re-. Corporation Counsel Dudley
lev in with q. gust Of wind just
fter former Chief of Police e. M.
Voydt slid through under an en-
rgency cover and unfolded his lank
mbs from the bottom Of an easy
hair in uncomfortable proximity
, the originator of emergencies.
Councilman Fred Pearson tiptoed
cross the few feet of room with a
euthy look which sent the cold
Hills down the backs Of those who
ere there Just as politicians. and
no happened to know that Conn
Imam Fred was pasturing In de-
ctive fields. Sergeant Sullivan
lied In and placed himself under
paper weight, between !. II. Boyd
"a his old friend Woydt, while
Aief Waller enveloped his ele-
lantine proportions with q CHEEKY
bile which indicated that he was
X in trouble and knew the policy
the administration by heart, as a
od chief should.
When the curtain went up on the
medy, Detective Burns arose to
We his frat cue. II was q series
objections furrowed with de-
and that the show be put OF until
ut Monday at Q O'Clock, owing to
fact that some Of the police
bn wanted as witnesses were busy
th the fair and the carnival.
is bunch of Webster typewriter
,bons waS consigned to oblivion
the suggestion Of Mr.. Handley
Il the witnesses employed by the
> could be brought In under or
rs. Mr.. Handley then asked
hat witnesses were desired. \
Mr.. Burns stated that William
IcKiernan had been served with q
ubpoena but refused to come.
)ther witnesses we're liable to for
ct, and show up.
Commissioner Weymouth asked
Burns was ready to plead to the
barges. Burns answered that he
p ready to plead not guilty to the
Arges Of incompetency and i'm
Oper conduct. Some of the other
legations In the complaint, he
ID were not true. and showed
at he had been misquoted.
The Mayor: There we're 800 or
DO people there. II Is easy enough
b determine whether the other
harges are true by calling some oi
hose who heard the statements"
Commissioner ONO moved to take
sp the investigation and Burns Gig.
lined his willingness to proceed.
Put In your answer" said Ser
cant John Sullivan, In Q stage
blspey.