Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-27
Gov. MICKEY DEFERS ACTION
Rats Of ssuth Omaha Polio. Board Awaits
New HearinS.
HAS LONG CONFERENCE WITH soASE
Listsns 20 Evidence of Two VIE
nesses and Then AdjOurns
Hesring 60 once In
LiacoIn.


spent three hours hearing evidence and con-
suiting with the members OF the South
, Omaha Board Of Fire ana Police Commits
.sioners Saturday afternoon at the Willard
Intel In sn investigation OF the charges
made by Joseph spelts that the commission
permitted saloons to remain open Sunday
IN violation Of the law. At the conclusion
Of the conference none OF those who partic-
ipated was very laxative. Governor
Mickey said he had not heard ali OF the wit
nesses and would not discuss the confer
ence until he had. The remaining wit
nesscs he said would appear before him III
his ONCE In lincoln. He declined to make
any statement until then.
The conference IL the result OF demand
by Mr.. Spells that the commission be re-
moved because Of It's failure TO enforce the
Sunday closing law. Attorney General
Brown has Just given the governor an
opinion 20 the effect that he has the power
TO remove the members OF the commits
sion provided II II shown they have failed
TO require the saloons to obey the law.
The governors decision. II r. believed. will
determine whether or not the I'D WIN be
clapped down in Omaha and South Omaha,
though the attorney generals decision as
20 the power OF the governor did not apply
to Omaha.
Those at Conference.
Those who attended the conference were
Governor Mickey and A. B. Allen, the gov
ernor's secretary, Chief Briggs Of the South
Omaha police, and the members of the
commission. Mr. Spells appeared at the
request OF the governor and renewed his
charges that the commission was permitting
saloons to remain open on Sunday He
said he had purchased drinks on Sunday
and to substantiate his charges called upon
George Bradeen. who was the principal wit
ness against Grief Briggs before the grand
Jury last spring. After Brsdeen had come
out OF the conference room he said:
II told the governor I had bought drinks
on Sunday and expected 10 buy more TO-
morrow. He asked me II did not think I
was co-partner In the crime and therefore
In a bad position to testify. l answered
had taken an oath to tell the truth and had
told H." .".
After SPELLS and Bradeon had left the
room the commissioners end the governor
remained In conference for an hour. Al
the conclusion OF the meeting GovernC
Mickey declined TO discuss the evidence he
had listened to.
1T will hear some more witnesses in my
once at Lincoln next week" he said.
land viii not decide anything until then
do not care to discuss the evidence now. -
Statement of Nolan.
Thomas Nolan a member Of the COM
mission, said:
- The hearing was q farce. Spells, who
made the charge, admitted he had pilotec
stockmen from his restaurant to disorderiy
houses and had been stopped by the CHIEF
OF police. He seemed TO have more of 0
grievencs against Chief Briggs thar
against the members of the board. There
was no evidence that an ordinary person
would give much weight. think the whole
thing IL over.p.. . 500 u st'
Mr.. Nolan said the members OF tht
board neither admitted nor denied that tn,
South Omaha saloons have been running
on Sunday. Who the witnesses are tha
will 60 TO IAncoln to testify was mo-
stated. Governor Mickey said there woult
probably be some on both sides.
Bradeen and his wife. It Is charged
formerly ran a disreputable place in souti
Omaha and were closed out by the board
The members accuse him Of trying TO sc
revenge now by testifying against them
1t was on his testimony and that Of hi
former wife. now Mrs. Beck. that the In
diotment against Chief Briggs was re
turned by the grand jury last spring.
Governor Mickey visited friends In Dun
dee last night. returning to IAncoln on
late train.
Saloons Ordered to Close.
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