The San Francisco call., 1905-02-21
Police Board Sets Forth in
Specific Form Charges of
Incompetency and Neglect
OF Duty Against Chief
CONGRESSMAN KAHN
TO BE HIS ATTORNEY
Accused Is Eager for Trial
Friday Night, but Secre-
tary Boyne Thinks Case
Cannot Be Reached Then

The Police Commissioners required
much time to deliberate on formulat-
ing the charges against Chief of Police
Whitman of incompetency and neglect
of duty and not till 8 o'clock last night
were they ready for service The sus-
pended Chief was found at his home,
1921 Taylor street, at 10 o'clock, and
the chatting of impatience to know just
what allegations he must answer was
at last relieved when the papers were
served.
1t was Wednesday night that the
commission resolved to make accusa-
tion against Whitman because he had
failed to suppress gambling in China
town, but he was kept waiting for the
charges in specified form as long as
was allowed the board without invad-
ing his charter right to five days in
which to prepare his defense, the trial
being set for next Friday night.
Chief Whitman expressed eagerness
yesterday to see the charges. He has
called at headquarters every day since
Wednesday night, asking Secretary
Boyne whether the charges were ready.
L should like to have the charges
served as early as possible declared
Whitman yesterday, so l can find out
just where / am at and what 1 must
~
trial as soon as possible. / am ready
now and at no time shall ask for a
continuance. Even if the board does
not serve in time to allow me the five
days 1 am entitled to, shall waive
any right to a delay. / want to go
ahead Friday night Congressman
julius Kahn is the chiefs attorney.
But Secretary Boyne said he could
not see how the board could take up
n nv1 aUQn1nR
because of the large amount of busi-
ness on the calendar ahead of it.
AS to the report that the commission
could not dismiss Whitman from the
department. but had only the authority
to oust him from the command of the
force, the Chief gave it as his opinion
that the board has full authority to
sever his connection with the force
altogether.
"It is true that 1 was simply taken
from the rank of captain and made
chief" he explained without any
resignation or other formal action that
would put me outside the pale of the
regulations as to permanency of SER
vice. But the Commissioners certainly
have the right to dismiss me alto
gether under the charges of incom-
potency, if they choose to do so.'
The following are the charges of the
commission against Chief Whitman:
INCOMPETENCE ALLEGED.
Now comes j George Boyne, secretary Of
the Board of Police Commissioners of the city
and county of San Francisco, and charges that
George w. Whitman, Chief of Police of said
city and county of San Francisco is and at
all the times hereinafter mentioned was in
competent to perform the duties of the office
of Chief of Police of said city and county
and specifies the following acts and conduct as
the basis of such charge of incompetency. to
wit:
That during all the times herein mentioned
said George W. Whitman and still is the
duly elected qualified Chief of Police of the
city and county of San Francisco and such
Chief of Police had sole and exclusive control
and direction of the police officers and mem
bers of the police department assigned to duty
in that part of the city and county of San
Francisco known Chinatown, which is more
particularly bounded and described as follows
On the north by Pacific street. on the south
by Sacramento street, the west by Stockton
street, and on the east by Kearny street
And more particularly that he was in the
sole and exclusive control of a certain squad
OF police consisting of five police officers and
one sergeant OF police specially detailed in
said Chinatown to prevent and to suppress
unlawful gambling in Chinatown and especially
game of fantan and other gambling games
That said squad of police including said
officers and sergeant operated under the ex-
elusive, sole and direct authority. control and
direction of said George w. Whitman. Chief
of Police.
GAMES RAN FREELY.