The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-04

wells suggested II the chief wanted TO
De heard that he be given a chance to
make statement.
Black suggested that the newspapers be
given official notice through the office of
say that they were not invited to partici-
pate in the hearing.
Calls 1t Horseplay.
Holiday said that at the meeting Tues
DAY night the newspapers were especially
ent at the meeting. 1.-The newspapers
know that the investigation is on he
said. If they don't take enough interest
In the affair to make charge, If they
haven't the nerve and hide behind their
rag-they have made a dirty charge
against the chief. They are the people
responsible for the charge. The people
responsible for the publication of the
newspapers should be men enough TO
come up and substantiate their charges.
If we can't get anyone to make a charge
now we will hear them at any time. If
the chief his been derelict in his duty,
throw him out Of office. Let him have a
chance TO get back at them. If he's in the
right, exonerate him. If he's wrong con-
demn him. This is all horseplay: we
did not know who was responsible for the
charges. All Of the papers are repre-
sented here that printed the stories. If
those responsible are here and do
want to substantiate the charges. let
them speak"
Ferry moved as a substitute motion that
lit is the sense of this committee that
the newspapers that have preferred
the police department be required TO come
before the council in committee of the
whole and submit evidence"
Fernstrom said that the idea carried
cut at the council meeting Tuesday night
was faulty. 1t was all horseplay. News
paper articles had been published damag-
ing the city. He said that the papers
could be requested to step up and explain
their IF the cni1npiI NIT un
not get out and dig. or examine the chief
the committee might as well adjourn. II
do not believe the papers will take any
notice Of this kind of action" he said.
Fernstrom renewed his motion that Chief
Sheets be heard and that he be given the
privilege of the floor.
Chief Sheets then stepped UP to the rail-
ing dividing the area reserved for the
cCuncilmen from that reserved for the
spectators and said:
''All I can say is this. 1 have filed an
application for what | want. / want some
redress from the insinuations that have
been published If L can get It,"
Asks for the Facts.
AS Chief Sheets took his seat, Fern
strom asked if the chief would object to
stating the facts bearing on the case He
said that the mere statement by Chief
Sheets that the newspaper articles were
false or the mere statement that he was
no, guilty bore no weight. If that was
al the council cspmittee wanted it had
better quit.
Il believe that the chief will admit that
strued adversely TO him. said Council
man Wells. Does he object to being
catechised? He has not asked the news
papers to make charges. He has asked us
if he does not tell us what he wants in
vestigated? Sheets is here The police de-
partment is here. | presume they would
be able to answer every question we
iOht OH iS nl1r- faI1If We
not compel the newspapers and the Nc
Winters to be here. ! wish we could.
We can, however, demand the testimony
of Chief Sheets and the department The
are such as he coUld recite
and explain away, perhaps.
Holley said that the first step should be
TO put Sheets on the stand and question
him concerning the case. He said the en-
tire committee seemed to be at sea.
Ferry declared that there was no use
in trying to clog the issue at the COM
irresponsible source he said have
charged the head of the police depart
ment with a very grave offenSe. Reports
have been published in two newspapers
with wide circulation, and the chief has
taken cogniZance of the newspaper at
tacks. He has sent communication ask
ing us to investigate conditions. Who
ever has accused him. whether the news
papers or some one through the newspa-
perS, or whether they are the men beaten
out of their money. they are the accusers.
They are the complaining witnesses and
the chief is the defendant. He is sup
posed to be innocent, and to have con-
Quoted his office in a proper manner. until
he is proven guilty. 1t seems the height
of absurdity for Sheets to come IN here
and make q defense before a charge is
made. ! renew the motion made a few
moments ago, that The Herald and the
Intermountain Republican be required to
be present by their representatives at the
adjourned meeting TO be held Thursday
afternoon al 2 o'clock and there file their
charges against the chief of police and
introduce such evidence as they have. I
ask that the papers be notified through
their managers"
"There are no charges" said Holley.
HE asks to be eXonerated." said Ferry
as Holiday went to the chair and Black
took mis- seat among the cOuncilmen.
Up to Sheets.
I'm surprised at these dilIy-dally tao
tics ali the time" said Fernstrom land
tigation after all. The newspapers have
not brought charges and won't do it. They
have their own way of doing business.
They'll not take up your bluff. All we
have is Sheets own communication. He
made the challenge. Let me read II to
you he said. as he advanced to the presi-
Here # is: I have IT for you. said
Black at his own desk. handing the letter
to FernStrom-
HE makes a challenge" reiterated
InStrOm. II Inc CITY COullcll Hdu
passed a resolution accusing Sheets of
wrongdoing it would have been the duty
of the council to call witnesses. He
brought in the papers and he must estab-
Iisi his case. He brings an accusation
AGAINST the newspapers that they have
accused him Of wrongdoing. Let him
show that the accusations are false. IL is
easy for him to bring charges. Let him
show his case"
For that reason. n we have not the
right to call on the police department
if they are not willing to tell what led
up to the articles we will never get an
If he had been wrongly
accused he had the courts to go before
Wells said: HE can demand the pres
ence of the newspapers in the courts of
law. He has a recourse at law for libel
if they are wrong. He demands an inves-
tigation of such q character that we have
not the power TO give ii to him. If he is
not willing to go on the stand, if this is
not the kind of an investigation he wants,
we ought to notify him that it is the only
kind we can enforce, and refer him to the
courts
Act Like sWooden Men,"
Black said that Sheets is entitled to a
request to be put to the newspapers, and
they are entitled to ii as well. 1T lays
with them, he said, whether they are
men enough to come in and substantiate
II