The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-12
SUPT. OF HAHA
PARK ACCUSED
!.
sERGT. JOHN E. O'BRIEN FACES
GRAVE CHARGES.
And Admits Some Of Them at Park
Board Committee Investigation =
Participated in an Unlawful Beer
Party; LOANED Park Stone; Neg
lected Park. Animals De-
ferred,

John +: O,Brien,. police sergeant IN
charge of Minnehaha {park, has been
management, cruelty to animals, graft
ing, embezzlement, blackmail and de-
bauchery while on duty. Evidence in
the case was heard by the park board
investigating committee last night.
No recommendation will be made before
the end Of the week.
O'Brien, in response to careful CUES
tioning, by his attorney, H., H. Wads-
worth, denied most Of the charges but
beer party given in the historic Stevens
house in Minnehaha park. He admitted
that there were women and keg OF
beer present, altho he vowed he was ig-
norant Of how they we're procured.
"Did you know at the time you took
part in this orgy that it wal! against
the law to have Intoxicating liquors in
the park9' asked Plat Walker.
IT did," replied the officer, after
The defendant also admitted that;
without. permission, he had "loanedp
the park board building stone to j.; l..
| Robinson, contractor for the pavilion
! built in the park two years ago: He
afterwards received present OF $lo
by the grateful contractor.
Neglected the Animals.
He said that he had allowed ship
ment Of deer and elk to remain Grated
up until at least two died from the
confinement. He also stated that he
shot a deer with broken leg, but did
not use or give any of the venison to
his friends.
% ns Park isnssS t fes his
had ever taken any Of the feed; he
admitted that some of the employees
might have fed his COWS while he was
away from home; he further stated
that he had not bought any feed, but
fed his COWS on grass, presumably all
the year round.
The hearing was Of an informal ma
ture. P. D. Boutell is chairman Of the
committee and presided. Platt Walker
took leading part in bringing out the
evidence against Mr.. O'Brien.
A. s. Adams, former alderman and
president Of the park board, is respon
sible for the charges against 0 ,Brie1
and was the first witness. E. F. Burns
park policeman under O'Brien for fou1
his former chief. John Mcclure, la
forer in the park, corroborated Burn!
land Adams. J. L. Robinson was called
and corroborated o 'Brien g story about
lending stone. Superintendent Berry
was questioned, but showed surprising
lack Of knowledge as to what had hap
pened at the park.
| Burns Seven Charges.
| Former Policeman Burns charged
|O'Brien with:
! Lying in wait to catch people in com
promising positions and releasing then
on payment Of money. a box Of cigars O
} something equally valuable. These fax
arrests were said to have been made il
the outlying portions Of the park an,
/ sometimes outside of the park properly.
Allowing a peanut vender to ply hi
trade on park property, without a. license
Selling park stone to J. L. Robinson an
pocketing the money.
Threatening and carrying out hi
threats to have employees discharged VIII
, worked for the reelection Of Alderna
, A. s. Adams.
, Treating the animals cruelty, a1lowin
deer to escape and using park deer 70
: venison.
: Stealing park board feed for his COW
> and telling his assistant to get COW
: as he could have all the feed he wanted
. Sleeping during working hours and
!, general neglect Of duty
I Having a beer and woman party in tn
Q historic Stevens house.
' The witness said that he had to a.
D sist O 'Brien in his nefarious work i
r order to hold his job, as O'Brie
claimed to have "pull" on Superb
t tendent Berry.
2; "He told me-" said MI. Burns, "tha
h him, - The witness volunteered t
+ 20 on and tell what O'Brien said h;
,, hold was, but the committee decide
= that they were not trying Mr.. Berry.
: Plat Walker moved to recommen
O'Brien's immediate discharge, br
other members Of the committee cou1
seled deliberation and an adjournme1
foI