The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-26

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During The nineteen months served BY
Ine Ii The employ Of the city Of Az
toria 1 have endeavored 10 the best Of
|my ability To comply With the oath of
office \ took on appointment,
"5ome time ID the month of July,
1901, ! was requested as an officer. to
trace piece of lost baggage, viz.: \
trunk which had been Iost III the city
| Of Oakland, California. | complied with
the request and secured delivery of said
trunk 70 its proper owner III this city
"a September s, 1901. The owner of
said trunk happened to be an inmate Of
one Of the houses on Astor street and
the fact that I should 20 far forget as
| To TAKE any notice Of Iost property bel
longing to a woman Of that class Of UNI
fortunates appears to have very much
offended the moral conscience of one of
iyour common patrolmcn, who preferred
! The charge before the farcical meeting
Of your board ii secret session, that ]
was unduly intimate with this particular
woman. Written documents, by The WY,
proving what business had, as On Of
fcer, with the woman, among which
were two letters from the chief Of police
of Oakland, California, were refused Az
evidence BY the President Of your board
and not allowed to be submitted for in
corporation In tho minutes Of said farci-
cal trial In secret session. On \ few
different occasions, during my service a. 4
police officer Of this city, / have been
called on by different outside officers
for assistance On cases they have been
working on. Several times, while rend-
ering such assistance as was requested
Of me, as an officer, / have been COM
PEELED to 60 On Astor street and its
side streets, and also to enter, on NUM-
erous occasions, the houses situated
thereon, in order to secure the informa-
tion desired. This also appears to have
mortaIly offended the finer sentiments Of
one Or two Of yonr patrolmen. and their
views on such matters we're taken with
out question. or substantiating evidence,
| while documentary evidence Of my bust.
ness at such times and places was re-
fused admission, as evidence in my be-
hall. BY the President Of your very
honorable board, at the little secret ses-
sion meeting held on the afternoon oi
the 2lst. inst.
Probably had ! consulted one or two
of your patrolmen, and taken them into
lmy confidence In these matters, things
would be far different than they are now
but as was requested to either attend
to the matters referred to in person. oi
have the chief Of police do 80, ! endea-
vored on all occasions to comply with
such requests to the best Of my ability
during the absence Of. and IN the man
ner In which I considered would be ap-
proved by my superior officer, the cniel
Of police, regardless Of the likes Or dis
likes Of one Or two of your fayorite
lpatrolmen. have probably been over
jealous in my endeavor to comply with
lmy oath Of Office, and in the carrying
out Of the duties Of police officer al
II interpreted them to be, and have
probably unconciously trod on the ten
der corns Of at least one Of the very
honorable board in 80 doing.
\, Gentlemen, in view Of foregone events
especially the manner in which your
star chamber farce was conducted on the
AFTERNOON Of the 2l, inst, 1t would give
me the greatest pleasure to sever any
and all connection with the present man
agement Of the Astoria police depart
ment, and regret very much that cir
cnmstances are such that / must positi-
vely refuse to comply with your request.