The San Francisco call., 1905-03-25
Poheinn Casts
a Negative
Ballot.
President of
the Board
DiSSentS.
New Official
Is Not Yet
Named.

George W. Whitman was relieved of
duty as Chief of Police by majority
vote of the Board of Police Commits
sioners last night. The verdict of Com
missioners Drinkhouse and Reagan
was that he was guilty of neglect of
duty in not suppressing gambling with
in the confines of Chinatown, also that
he was incompetent as head of the mu-
nicipaI criminal bureau. President of
the Board Poheim votes in the deposed
Chiefs favor.
With Whitman went Sergeant
Thomas Ellis and Patrolmen Henry
Heinz and Richard r. O'Brien. Ellis
was in charge of the Chinatown squad
at the time gambling Is alleged to have
been conducted in an open and notori-
Gus manner. Heinz and O'Brien were
subject TO his orders. All three con-
fessed to the Grand Jury that they had
accepted bribes to neglect their duty,
although this fact was not brought out
during the trial of their cases before
the Police Commissioners. Policemen
William Doran. Charles Mum and
Henry 7. McGrath. who were the other
members of Ellis squad. but who en-
phaticaIly denied that they had ever
received money from any corruption
fund, were given the benefit OF the
doubt" but fined 800 apiece on general
principles.
After the meeting the Commissioners
said that the election of new Chief of
Police had not yet been discussed.
There have been many rumors, and the
names of several possible candidates
have been mentioned from time to
time.
The verdict rendered in the case of
Whitman last night did not come as a
surprise, and discussions as to who
would fill the vacant chair have been
frequent. From what one of the Com
missioners said last evening ii is likely
that no appointment will be made until
missioner to succeed Henry Hutton, re-
Gently ousted.
NO PLAN OUTLINED.
Neither Whitman nor his attorney.
C6ngressman-elect Kahn. would state
positively what course will be taken. 1t
is certain. however, that Whitman Will
make strong fight to regain the posi-
ton. During the trial Of the case
which dragged along for many days
the defense had a stenographer. and
the indications are that legal battle
viii follow. Whitman will contend that
he was not accorded a fair and impair
tial trial and that the evidence in no
respect sustains the verdict. Commits
sioner Poheim Is OF the same opinion
in the latter respect, and thinks that
the charges against the Chief were not
proved.
Whitman took his defeat gracefully.
He thanked President Poheirn for his
vote, declared his innocence. and re-
lated his efforts to make the San Fran
cisco Police Department outshine those
Of other cities In the United States. His
work had reaped its reward. he said.
and he could leave the department with
a clear conscience. During the process
of dismissal Commissioners Drinkhouse
and Reagan remained silent, except to
answer when the secretary called the
roll. Their findings in the case were
typewriter and the paper was handed
to the secretary to read.
When the meeting was called to order
the three Commissioners retired to the
ante-room and remained In consulta-
ton some time. When they again took
their seats the case of Whitman was
called, and Reagan handed the follow
ing to Secretary George Boyne to read:
FINDINGS ARE READ.
I'm the matter of George w. witt
man, Chief of Police, on trial before
this board for incompetency and neg
lect of duty:
I'VE find that from the 7th 10 tbe
18th day Of November. 1904. gambling
was carried on openly and notoriousIv
in that section of the city known as
the Chinese quarter, situate and living
within the following boundaries. Sac
ramento street on the south. Pacific
street on the north, Stockton street on
the west and Kearny street on the
east.
And we further find that gambling
in the above named quarter can be
suppressed, and 1t has been suppressed
from December 1. 1904. up to the pres
ent time, and that for the ten wears
last past it has been suppressed at in