Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-12-15


 patroman liar. but the word was kept back by his coolness. Parnell was as forceful in his statements to the effect that he did give him such orders and at times it looked as if the patrOlman and chief would come 1 to blows. Chief Stewart asked Pa 1 Itrolman 3Reidnger if he had ever giv- | ell him any such order and he re- piled that he had never done so but 1 on the other had had ordered hin
 to arrest any and all saloonists who violated the law. It was during his statement that :, ,Reidinger and Par nell nearly camesto blows, but Chief Stewart avoided =afA fisticuff between l the men by ordering Reidinger to Union Station to walk his beat. Par nell exclaimed that he was willing to start the ball to rolling for an in- vestigation and offered to let the chips fall where they may
 The Chief Resigns.
 ChleH Stewart said that he had nev- CT given any such orders and that rather than have any hard feelings in the police department, he would re- l sign. Ee asked Mayor Toncy to get another man in his place, but the mayor declined to do so. telling the ] chief that he was acting too hasty tn do hot r;yI and all of you but l will no longer l tolerate the circulation of stories by l patrolmen or any members of the 1 department he said. Chief Stewart l insisted on being permitted to re- , sign, declaring that he had good
 name and a family whom he wanted lrespected and that he did not want | any such charges made against him and would not permit himself to be l slandered. His brother, Constable
 Frank Stewart, was present and he
 urged his brother to resign, telling
 him that he thought 1t would be the
 best thing he could do under the cir
 cumstances. Chief Stewart told
 Mayor Toney that it would be the best
 thing for the department for him to
 retire from the service in view of the
 feeling that seemed to exist against
 him by Parnell and others.
 He said he thought all of
 the differences were over when Par
 nell was reinstated. Constable Stew
 art said 1t would be the best thing
 for the department if his brother re-
 signed and the Parnells were also
 suspended. Chief Stewart was ad-
 vised by friends to reconsider his i resignation and he did so.
 Police Committee to Act.
 The dismissal of the two patrol men yesterday morning and the ex- citing incidents which followed at headquarters have been reported to the members of the Police Commit tee of the City Council and there will probably be an investigation with some startling results. The police department has been in a dsordered state ever since Mayor Toney failed to name Evan Parnell as chief of po- lice some eight months ago, naming Stewart instead. The ill feeling is reported 10 have originated there. Alderman C. r. Dunnington an inti- mate friend of the Parnells, is said to have been working recently to se- cure the advancement of Night Chief Parnell and he is reported to have urged Parnell to insist on being given a public hearing before the po- lice committee
 Aldermen in the Dark.
 One of the members of the Police Committee stated yesterday that he had no idea that there was so mcuh ill feeling and disorder among tue members of the Department and thar there would probably be a thorough cleaning out at headquarters. He talked as if he regretted the fact that an open session was not held Friday, when they would have been permit ted to get at the core of the apple. {, The committeeman was much arous- ed over developments and Mayor Toney also declares that there must be order and harmony among the DO lice under his administration.