The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-03
ACTION BY COUNCIL
IN SHEETS CASE
Investigation Ordered and 1t
viii Begin at 2 This
Afternoon.
FERNSTR0M OFFERS AN
INSULT TO THE CHIEF
His UncalIed for Remark Is
Resented Most Vigorously
By Councilman Mulyey.

! The following communication from
Chief Of Police George n. Sheets to the
Mayor and City Council was read before
the Council at the meeting Tuesday
might:
TO the Mayor and Council OF Salt Lake
City Two newspapers In Salt Lake, the salt
Lake Herald and the Iptcrmountalu ReDub-
Chef OF police. and the police department OF
salt Lake City. Personally, derounce The
accusations as malicious and untrue, VIII
ful and deliberate falsehod, and l defy the
newspapers mentioned 10 prove the truth OF
their assertions.
In view OF the published statements I re-
spectfully ask aud demand that you order a
Inost rigid Inquiry into the charges alleged.
] am confident that such inquiry will show
Shc absolute falsity o. the charges alleged,
as ] also believe that Il will dtsclosc that
political aniunus is behind tac allegations.
This Inquiry ! demand at once. and ask
you 10 demand OF the papers mentioned that
they produce what they regard as tho proof
OF their charge. Very truly
GEORGE 4. SHEETS. Chief Of Police.
salt Lake City, Utah, October 1, 1905.
On motion of Mr.. Crabtree, seconded
by Mr.. HOLIDAY. the communication was
received and fled, and it was decided
that the Council viii meet at . o'clock
this afternoon in the Council chamber,
as committee of the whole, for the
purpose of holding an investigation
into the charges that have been made
against the Chief This motion was not
passed. however, until after a very heat
ed discussion pf the matter, IN which
amendments were made from the
church Democratic side of the house
that Chief Sheets be suspended from
Office pending the investigation and
also TO postpone the timo for starting
the Investigation, some of the church
Democratic members claiming that q
pressure of personal business would pre-
vent them from being present this after
noon.
Orsbtree Moves Investigation.
When the communication from Chief
Sheets had been read, Mr.. Crabtree
made the motion for the investigation
10 begin this afternoon. He stated that
when he had heard some of the charges
that were being made against Chief
Sheets, and had seen the articles printed
in two of the morning papers, he de-
cided TO call meeting of the Commit
tee on Police, of which he is chairman,
and to request Mayor Thompson 10 be
present. The meeting was held in the
Office Of Chief Sheets Tuesday after
noon, Mr.. Crabtree stated, and the mat
ter was discussed at considerable length,
and the committee found that nothing
could be accomplished by the commit
tee without having some charges pre-
ferred against the Chief or having some
of the newspaper representatives pres.
ept to offer what they consider the
proof of the published statements. 1t
was therefore decided by the Committee
on Police TO recommend to the Council
The meeting of the committee OF the
whole for Wednesday afternoon.
Ny. Crabtree also embodied in his mo-
tion that the Recorder extend 10 the
Herald and Inter Mountain Republican
and 10 the McWhirter brothers special
invitations TO be present at the lnves-
1ipation and tell what they know of the
affair which has resulted in the state
mepts that have been printed about the
Chief of Police.
Mr.. Fernstrom secured the floor after
Mr.. Crabtree had stated his motion.
He said that he was IN favor OF an
investigation, but was opposed to haV-
ing it Wednesday afternoon. urging
as his objection that it would interfere
with his private business. Mr., Fern
strom then made the declaration that
the only way in which a fair and
impartial investigation could be Sc
cured would be by suspending Chief
Sheets pending the investigation. lie
stated that the men of the police
department. who would no doubt be
important witnesses In the investlga-
tion, would be under the orders of the
thlef, and Would De dIrald 10 say any
thing against him or which would not
be in his favor, and that the Chief
would suppress and control much of the
evidence wanted. Fernstrom also sug
gested that Sheriff Emery and the
County Attorney be requested TO be
present at the investigation.
No Charges Yet Preferred.
Mr.. Crabtree secured the floor again,
and stated that he wished to impress
upon the members Of the Council the
fact that no charges have been pre-
ferred against the Chief Of Police, and
that therefore there is no reason for
suspending him. The investigation
Mr.. Crabtree said. would be at the
Chief's own request because of the re-
ports that have been printed about
him.
Mr. Mulvey stated that when he first
saw his picture published in the Re-
-y ymn ~ ~YY-