Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-07
POLICE CALLED TO EXPLAIN
On the Carpet for PermittinE the
ReOpentng of Some of the
RECONSTRUCTED Criba.

Following the discovery that many Of
the made-over buildings IN the red light
district we're opened and operated for
some time during September before the
fact came to the notice of Police Cap
tains Mostyn and Dunn, who closed the
questionable houses and made about
forty arrests as soon as they heard Of
their occupation by women of ill-repute,
the Board of Fire and Police Commits
sioners at its meeting Monday evening
decided to make a full Investigation Of
the case and place the blame for the
tardy action OF the police. IL IL be found
hat any blame exists.
Somebody is clearly to blame" said
Commissioner Robert Cowell, but
whether the responsible person be patrol
man. sergeant or captain is not clear"
Statements by Captains Mostyn and
Dunn and Sergeants Sigwart, Samuelson,
Cook. Vanous and Hayes we're read to the
board, n a letter from Chief Donahue
to the captains was also presented to
show that orders for the closing of all
cribs" and reconstructed cribs" were
issued by the chief on instructions from
the board.
In order to straighten out the matter
and have 1t fully explained, the board at
next Monday evenings session will have
all patrolmen and police officers who are
connected with the matter appear before
the commissioners.
On orders Of the board for the inspection
of the theaters of the city, Fire chief
Salter, Assistant Simpson and City Elec-
trician Nicholson reported their find
ings after examining the various play
houses and moving picture theaters with
respect to their compliance with city
fire nrdtaanrac Tho nAva nrpho,sua
Krug and Burwood theaters were found
to have satisfactory exits. wiring, gas
lights, boiler rooms and so forth, and to
be in good condition as regards cleanli-
ness. All the moving picture houses,
except the Favorite, at 1909 Vinton
street, were reported as being in salts
factory condition also. The statement Of
the inspectors said that with the inn
provements proposed by the manager of
the Favorite. that theater would also be
complying with the requirements. and the
matter of ordering tho place closed until
the suggested changes were made was
laid over one week to give the manager
time to meet the necessary conditions.
In the case of Charles NJ. SteKeman,
who is charged with falsely answering
questions put to him when he was being
examined for the police service recently,
nv jail uCCluEu 10 EubLhln Ine CnaTReS
and dismiss the man from the force.
after he had twice failed to appear and
stand trial, and had also admitted the
truth of the charges. Hts resignation
filed recently was not accepted.
Chief of Police Donahue reported that
in response to a request from the chief
Of police OF Kansas City, Detective Henry
Heitfeld OF the Omaha police department
had been sent to the Missouri city to
assist In the detection Of criminals and
suspicious characters during a carnival
being held at Kansas City this week.
The chiefs action was approved. such
loaning OF men for carnivals and fairs
being customary among the metropolitan
forces.
With the consent of the board. Chief
Donahue will give a number of policemen
permission to be absent from duty for
two days at different times, in order
that they may register for the South
Dakota land drawings.
The following leaves of absence wsra
granted; c. NJ. Chapman, ten days an
nual leave with pay; ]. A.. He'll. ten days
annual leave with pay; j. F. Burns, ten
days annual leave with pay; r. FLYNN
five days balance annual leave with nav:
A. N. Glover and j. T. Murphy, ten and
rive days, respectively, without pay; to
tiremen, Assistant Chief John w. Simp-
son. rive days with pay; Captain John
Coyle' three days without pay; c. w.
Graves, six days without pay.
Patrick McElligott. Michael Heman and
Nels johnson, three days each without pay.
Walter Bernhard was appointed to the
reserve list of the fire department.
AS a license board the commissioners
voted to extend the time one more week
In the Theodore johnson license revocation
case. This case has been before the board
for a rehearIng ever since last May.