Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-01
Chief OF POLICE
B|GGY DROWNED.
Was Crossing from Oakland to
San Francisco, and How it
Occurred Nc One Knows.
BODY HAS NOT BEEN FOUND.
Since Haas, Suicide Has Been Mucl,
Feeling Between Buggy and
Prosecution III Rucf Case.

san francisco, Dec. William j.
Biggy, for over a year chief of police
Of this city. Was drowned in the bay
last night and his body has not been
recovered. Chief Buggy was returning
to the city from Bclvedere in the po-
lice launch Patrol and when the boat
arrived it was discovered that he was
missing, though Engineer William Mur-
nhv. the only other occupant OF the
hoat, did not see him fail overheard.
According 10 Murphy's story, Bggy
entered the launch on this side of the
hay about o'clock in the evening and
made the trip to Belvrdcre, where he
went to the home of Police Commits
siner l<eil, a resident of the suburb,
and spent some time i'll conference
II o'clock when he returned to the
launch and the return trip was started
Tho chief came to Murphy in the CHI
CINE room ana complained of feeling i'll
from the motion of the boat. which
was very noticeable. The engineer
advised him to go to the cabin at
the stern, where it was cooler, and
Buggy presumably followed this advice
a little later Murphy looked toward
the stern Of the boat and saw the chief
leaning over the side vomiting. The
engineer did not again look in that
direction until they were close TO the
city, as his attention was occupied with
the handling OF the boat. He then
went to the stern to inform Buggy of
the reason of u slight delay occasioned
by the passage of a ferry boat and
discovered that the chief had disap-
peared
Murphy hurried to his berth near
the harbor station and reported that
the chief had fallen overheard and
was lost. party at once set out to
search the bay and this was kept
up all night without result.
Buggy was appointed to his position
in September. 1907. by Mayor Taylor
At that time Buggy, who had held
several political Offices including that
of state senator from San Francisco
and later president OF the police COM
{,nfssion of this city. was elisor In
charge OF the person Of Abraham Ruef,
Z the ex- political boss Of the city, who
was under arrestsfn connection WI IN ~
graft Investigation. FIX,
MUCH ILL FEELING.
Since the suicide of Morris Haas, tne
assailant of Asst. Dist-Atty. II. j..
Herey, and WHO shot himself III ms cell
ut the county Jail the day after his at
tempt to kill Hency in Judge Lawlors
court room, during the present II. OF
Ruef there has been great, hard leei-
ing between Bggy and the prosecution.
Out of this has grown charges show
.inr the feeling of the anti-graft forces
toward Buggy. and charges against
lyiggy for failure to properly protect his
prisoner.
Blesy replied with similar charges
against Capt. of Police Duke. who, With
Detective Burns, searched Haas in the
courtroom and Detective Sergeant
Thomas Burke, who was III charge or
the prisoner at the Jail; but none OF
the charges has yet been investigated.
cher Biggy is survived by his second
wife, from whom he was estranged,
and q daughter. His first wife died
many years ago.
BODY NOT FOUND.
The police commissioners met at 6
o'clock this morning and appointed
one of their number, A. D. Cutler. chief
of police to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of William Buggy, who was
drowned last night in the bay off Al
catraz Island. 1t is understood that
the appointment is only temporary,
pending the choice of permanent
chief.
The waters or the bay and the shore
lines are being thoroughly searched but
the body Of Chief Big6y has not yet
been recovered.
Police Commissioner kiel issued a
signed statement today relating to the
circumstances connected with the visit
of Chief Bigsy last night, to his Belvi-
dere home. The commissioner had been
notified by telephone to expect WISH
tor, but no name was given in the mes
sage.
When the chief arrived he complained
of feeling cold and was given slim
ulant. He was very despondeut and
complained bitterly of being bounded
by the newspapers. He refusedEan in
vitaton to remain all night, and in
sisted on returning to the city in the
launch.
------------------
HARRY RARNATO LEAVES