The San Francisco call., 1904-11-12

delay in settling the present situation.
I have here" said President McEl-
roy, displaying four pencil written COM
municatlons on the stationery of Chief
HOdgkins' office, the designations, as
handed to me by the Chief of Police, OF
Patrolmen J. F. Stahl, c. w. Hamer-
ton, L. E. Andrews and Sergeant OF
Police c. E. Clark. These designations
are before the board for action. What
is your pleasure?"
Il move that the designations be not
accepted" said Mayor Olney.
Second the notion ADDED Commis-
sioner f. c. Turner.
The vote was unanimous in favor of
the motion.
Il move that the men be summarily
dismissed from the department" saio
Mayor Olney.
"Dishonorably," suggested Commits
sioner Turner.
No, 1 think it should stand, sum
marily,'" replied the Mayor.
"All right, 1 second the notion" ac-
quiesced Turner.
The motion prevailed again by unan-
imous vote.
What further action. If any, does
the board desire to take in this mat
ter?" inquired President McElroy.
Il move" responded Mayor Olney,
that the Chief of Police lay all of the
evidence in regard to these mems mis-
doings before the proper prosecuting
officer TO take such action as he may
be advised to take"
Turner again seconded and this mo-
tion, which, stripped or formality,
meant the step toward criminal pros
ecution, was unanimously carried.
McELROY LEADS.
After the board had completed its
work President McElroy, in an extend
ed interview, made public an explana-
tIon of his position with relation to the
exposures He said:
I speak for the board when say that we
fully appreciate the enormity Of this state Of
affairs. That these men, and perhaps others,
should have stopped TO such petty steaings,
shielded they were by the uniforms of their
positions as sworn guardians of life and
property. is simply beyond comment. My mind
Is fully made up that there is no halfway
and we have their confessions. written,
some verbal. they should be treated as des-
perate criminals. Indeed, they are worse than
common thieves. thief In his professional
career win often times take chance. Pro-
tected Dy thelr onlIornl5 tnese men old not
have to take a chance. There was hardly any
danger Of detection Fortunate circumstances,
however, brought them, evidently, to account
Believing that no favors should be shown,
l dire ted the Chief Of Police this morning
to arrest these men and take them to the City
Hall pending the examination of the evi-
have been dismissed from the department We
have confessions of wrongdoing from every
one OF the four men. Two of those confes-
sions verbal and two are written To
what extent these, coupled with other evidence
can be used in court for purposes Of prosecu-
ton is a matter that the attorneys must take
up and decide. Chief Hodgkins has been in
structed 10 lose time in further procedure
both TO the men now accused OF in the
line OF a sweeping investigation of every
member Of the department who may be under
suspicion
1t has come to my knowledge to-day that
these pilferings have been going on for sev-
eral years. The more / of this disgrace
ful AFFAIR the more ] shocked. AS a citi-
zen and q member of the Board of Police
and Fire Commissioners I purpose to ferret
out the whole thing. and far as I. am con-
cerned not a man shall escape the disgrace
that he has justly earned II he be found
guilty.
Commissioner Turner was of the
same opinion as the president of the
board. Mayor Olney gave assurance
that the administration would not rest
until the air had been cleared.
Amazing as were yesterdays devel-
opments they were paralleled to-day,
when it became known that Chief
Hodgkins had at least one definite and
specific case to fasten upon two of the