The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-13
CENTRAL FALLS
MAYOR AND CHIEF
IN ANOTHER CLASH

IU WvU IuIu OIIIOu
| There was another clash last night be-
tween Mayor McNally and Chief of Po-
! lice Lambert, and 1t grew out OF the
| charges which the latter had made
against william III Elderkin 10 the board
of license commissioners, in which IL was
| alleged that Elderkin had transgressed
the laws relating 10 liquor selling TO
| such an extent that ris license should be
cancelled.
There was TO have been hearing be-
| fore the license commissioners on these
! charges and when IL was opened John j.
Fitzgerald the counsel for Elderkin'
| stated that the mayor had been making
| an investigation into the charges ana hau
! come TO the conclusion that there was
nothing TO substantiate them ana had or
| dered that the chieef OF police withdraw.
Chief Lambert admitted that he had re-
! ceived such a letter and the mayor stated
that after fully investigating the matter
he had taken the ground that the charges
should no have been made and had or
dered the chief To move no further In the
matter.
License Commissioner Travers stated
that while he was ready TO respect the
wishes of the mayor of the cisy, still ne
| entanglements between the mayor ana
the chief of police and so long as the
charges were before the board there was
| nothing to do but TO hear the evidence.
City Solicitor Butman declared that the
| chief had a good case against Elderkih
! and that the evidence ought 10 be put IN
There was n tilt between Mr.. Butman
| and Mr. Fitzgerald the latter taking the
| ground that il as not for the city solic-
| itor To undertake 10 direct the affairs OF
| the police department.
Mr. Butman resented this insnuation
| saying: II am here TO give advice under
| the laws of the state, and II the mayor
| should tell the chief to shut MS eyes 10
| a case of murder II does not necessarily
| follow that the chief should obey such an
! order When these charges were brought
| the chief of police had full control or the
police department and acted In good falth
| i'm the steps which he took. IL Is peyhu
the province OF the mayor to direct inc
| chief to withdraw the charges now as
much as 1t would be for the chief execu-
tive 10 come into a court and order case
dismissed"
Clerk Marcoux OF the license board
| stated that In his opinion the case was
very plain and that so long as me cnlel
| refused TO withdraw the charges theh the
board should hear the evidence.
Commissioner Travers thought me mat
| ter was a serious one and one tnat IN
| VOlyed considerable tApeiiSS ph 'hN ~
/" aI have always been taught TO recog-
nize the mayor OF the head OF the ponce
department, and think that ne shourq rhaoe ee
charges should have been brought IN reg
ular form, but they were not, anu az
though / respect both men l VIII feiuSe aHis
to vote on the question under the coha-
MIR. Fitzgerald asked the chief If he
was willing 10 Withdraw the charses any ~
| ad would
the mayor would assume all responsibility
| for such action. -, 80,
After a little more discussion the poaru
went into executive session ana on reas-
! sembling the clerk stated that the cnarsts
had been withdrawn and there was MOTH
ing before the board to act on oao that
| The announcement was then mace that
| the board had sustained the charges
brought against Anthony Pytel, on whic1
hearing was given some tlme ago. anu
The controversy regarding the Elderkln
| affair caused a lot OF discussion ABOUT
town and both sides were severely cru. .
clsed In different quarters. 1t Is said that
| the next move may be 10 bring case
against Elderkin in the district court, al
though in view of the action OF the eI ehiel
i'm following the orders of Mayor McNally
IL is hardly likely that he at least VIII
! go any further.
The letter which Chief Lambert re-
, ceived from Mayor McNally reads as fol-
, Central Falls. r. l.. June s. 1905.
! "Mr. Napoleon Lambert, Chief OF Police
Dear Sir--I have Investigated the cir
. cumstances attending the visit OF th'
police to the saloon Of William II. Elder
kin at 672 GA and 67S Pine street, on th'
, 18th day OF May 1906, and find that Mr.
F,lderkin was not in his saloon at tina
time for the purpose of doing any bust
ness but merely for the purpose OF max
ing certain repairs and he did not trans
: act or attempt to transact any business
Of ks
facts. l feel IL my duty TO direct yot
, to withdraw the charges which you have
preferred against him before the license
board. Although l believe in strictly en-
forcing the law. do not believe In per
scouting or prosecuting a man withou
Just cause for what at most is but 6
{ technical violation OF the law. Although
: | propose that the law shall be strictl!
obeyed. yet without feeling that there Il
:, any blame on the part of the police wht
| were endeavoring to do their duty a
i that time. l cannot see my way clear with
Il justice TO put a man whom l believe Z
Il be innocent to any further trouble or ex
Il pense. Therefore. you will withdraw th'
| charges preferred against William II
| Flderkin now pending before the boart
Y OF license commissioners
Respectfully.
THOMAS HENRY McNALLY, NJ. D.,
, Mayor"
: REGISTRATION STILL BOOMING.
$ According TO reports from City Clerl
: c. Fred Crawford. registration in thi,
] city Is booming, and IL is said that ther,
: are considerably more names on tho reg
: istry list at the present time than wa,
the case a year ago
3 There is also every reason TO believ,
c that the Democrats have the best of tn,
: registration thus far There are severa
= reasons for this opinion and one OF thes,
is that the leaders OF that party are mucl
I more active in their efforts to make voters
h than are their Republican opponents
: Meetings are being continually held II
. different parts OF the city and the inter
: est has thus far been maintained withou
any very great difficulty
There Is also considerable apathy on tn.
/. part OF the Republicans There was
time when that party I'm this city had al