Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-05
CHICAGO OFFICIALS INDICTED
Former Chief Of Police Collins CHARGED
with hutilAtiAg ReosrdI
SILLs AGAINST FIVE OTHER MEN
Members of Democratic Committee
Connected with City Adn,InIHtra-
tiOn Accused of Corrupt
Practices.

CHICAGO, May 1.-THE grand jury today
returned four joint indictments against
former Chief of Police John M. Collins ana
Eve other police and city oficials In connec-
ton With alleged corruption In the city po-
lice department. The action follows an in
vestigation by the civil service commission
Of charges that the city police force had
been used during the recent mayoralty
campaign to further the interest of former
Mayor Edward F. Dunno.
Those indicted are:
John M. Collins, former chief of police
William l.. O'Connefi, former Commissioned
ocratic city committee Edmund II. Roche,
city purchasing agent and member of the
democratic city committee; Frank ID. Com
erfordi former police attorney, and Detec-
tives James McGrath and Patrick McNulty.
In Its report the grand jury stated that
while the evidence has caused us TO hold
the former chief Of police and his associ-
ates in the unlawful transactions chiefly re-
sponsible for the transgressions we CON
| slider the inspectors, captains and lieuten-
ants guilty OF reprehensible conduct and
deserving Of severe censure"
e Charges in indictments.
The indictments are follows: q,
! L Against John NJ. Collins, for mutilation
| Of ofncial records Of the police department
ton ZIG of the criminal code.
2 Against John M. Collins and Frank ID.
for conspiracy T6 s to 40 an p6ea
! offioeT and directing him on special work
in behalf of the democratic party.
g. Against John NJ. Collins, Edmund II.
Roche and William l. OConnell, for con-
spiracy 20 do an illegal act In violation of
the civil service laws.
4 Against Detectives James McGrath and
Patrick McNulty, for conspiracy in solicit
ing and receiving brides for political work
The penalty for the "mptilation OF ON
cial records" as charged against Collins,
is Imprisonment for from one 20 five
years, while that for the offense charged
against Collins and Comerford is a fine
not to exceed 81 900, or imprisonment from
\ one TO flvs years, or both. ---
4 The bonds of the higher officials were
placed at 5000 on each indictment. This
\ makes the bond OF former Chief Of Police
4 Collins $4,000. The bonds OF oConnell
4 Roche and Comertord 5000 each and thai
OF the two. detectives 5000 each, -.
Busse Removes Commissioner.
Mayor .Busse today formally asked FOL
the designations OF Joseph Powell, William
/ Prentlss and Frank Wsnter, who consti
1 tute the civil Service commission Of Chi
i caRo. The commissioners refused to com
ply with the mayors request, and IN theii
i letter OF refusal asserted that the mayol
is without authority under existing cir
/ cumstances to ask them TO resign. Thii
\ action OF the mayor has caused consider
able stir Mayor Busse refused TO assign
any reason for his action.
After the commissioners refusal 70 re
sign Mayor Busse decided that he hai
authority 20 remove the commissioners
Consequently he declared the offices va
cant and appointed three new members e
the board The new appointments viii b
submitted TO the city council. tomorrow
night
The deposed ofiicials declare that tbs
courts will be asked to intervene.