The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-13
WAS CARELESS.
That is PurpOrt Of Report on
Chief Goodwin.
Didn't Exercise Due Diligence
in Protecting Girl.
AN EXCITING SESSION.
eel Didn't Know White Was
Drunk" Says Chief.
Mayor Davis Doesn't Know What
He Will Do About 1t.
AN EXCITING SESSION.

"The committee. appointed to fnvesti-
gate the alleged charges of misconduct
on the night of September % on the
part of the chief Of police do not find
from any direct evidence that he is
guilty Of any intentional wrong doing;
we do, however. believe that he did not
use due diligence in the performance
Of his duty, in not protecting the young
girl against the criminal purposes of
drunken subordinate officer. We also
find that this subordinate officer remain
ed in the service after the occurrence
which should not have been allowed
and that this occurrence was not re-
ported which should have been done at
once
The above is the report of the special
committee appointed from the council
by Mayor W. H. Davis at the council
meeting Of October 2 to go into the
charges against Chief of Police A q.
Goodwin. The committee formulated
it's report at a meeting held last even
ing in the council committee room at
the city building. Present at that
meeting were Mayor W. H. Davis,
Chief of Police A G. Goodwin and
COuncilmen S. A. SWendsOn, Joseph
Griley, r. =. Nipps and s. 5. Rice,
constituting the committee. Q. W.
Horn, the remaining member of the
Gilman s. A. SwendsOn acted as chair
man OF the committee.
VIII A. G. Goodwin be requested TO
resign? The mayor hasn't decided He
said: Il haven't made up my mind
vet. I have had several names sug-
Eested to me as possible material Tor
the place but none Of them have sat
isded me that they would MI the posi-
tion. I shall have to think this over
for a few days before can announce
what I will do.
Chairman S. A. Swendson said: Il am
fairly we'll satisfied with the report I
certainly think that the mayor should
remove Goodwin and put someone else
in his place. We have found that he
has not exercised due diligence The
mayor asked US to discover this ana
The investigation was based partly on
this. 1t now seems to me that the
only thing that the mayor can do is to
force Goodwin to resign. don't know
what action the council may take Mon
day evening
The mayor in asking for an investi-
cation had it based on the following:
Wherein it is alleged that the chief
of police conducted himself in a man
ner indiscreet and unbeeOming an officer
and as to his diligence in performance
of his duty on this occasion.
Witnesses Do Not Testify.
Because of the refusal Of County At
torney Hungate to permit any of the
witnesses in the White case to testify
at the Investigations the only testimony
introduced last evening was the afhda-
Wits of W. c. White, the patrolman,
and Mabel Scott which were taken be-
fore the county attorney. The commit
tee had been given the permission to
make copies from these two affidavits
under the understanding that their
contents were to be considered in ex-
ecutive session. The newspaper repor-
ters were requested to leave the COM
mittee room while the afhdavits were
being considered in star chamber
session.
The andavit of White was weak in
8 number OF instances and this had its
effect upon the committee. At one
place in the affidavit he states that he
and the chief OF police went down
Jackson street to Fourth to meet the
girls. In another he says that he isn't
sure but whaE they cut down the alley
between Jackson and Van Buren and
met the girls at the mouth of the alley,
In one place he claims that the chief
of police nudged him and attracted his
attention to the girls as they We're
passing in front of police station. Right
on the heels of this he states that he
called the attention of the chief to that
fact. Other items of apparent contra
dfctiOn appeared.
The affidavit of Mabel Scott had an
influential bearing Miss Scott states
that she heard a scream coming pre-
sumably from the alley after White
and the Main girl had started away
and asked, Whats that2" He is re-
ported to have said, ooh, nothing, just
a child I guess.
The Main giNl in the afidavit which
the county attorney possesses stated
q that she had cried out when White
roughly handled her
Chief of Police Goodwin denied that
ne had heard anything or that he had
answered any anestiOn Of Miss ScOtt's
which related to a scream. He also
denied the statement of Miss Scott's ir
which she states that when she asked
Goodwin where White was taking the
Main girl ne had replied that he pre-.
sumed that White was taking hel
home.
Following the reading of these af
ndaVlts an impromptu discussion tool
place. At several places the contro-
Versy became exciting The committe,
was divided. s. A. Swendson favored
the idea that the ahidavits incrimiuateC
the chief Of police and that he haC
been placed in compromising situa
ton. f. 2. Nipps held that the chic
had been guilty Of negligence in per
mltung White who was under the in
nuence of LIQUOR at the time to 90 III
the alley with a young girl. S. S. Ric
and Joseph Griley took exception +,
both of these positions
Since Goodwin claimed to be un
aware that White had been drinkfne
they claimed that he was not guilty o
neghgence They felt though HI
should have reported the matter t,
Mayor w. II. Davis as soon as it hap
pened and secured the discharge. o
White from the force as soon as Good
win found that White had been drink
ing.
Goodwin Didn't Know.
Do you think that it is conduct be
coming an officer to permit drunken
man 10 go uD an alley with a girl p
queried MT Swendson of Goodwin.
dln't know at the time that Whit
was drunk. Tt was as much White
DUTY as an officer to protect her as my
SELF said Goodwin.
can't feel that you are in tn
clear retorted MIR. Swendson. q