Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-07-28
Special Committ29 Eram Council on Police Affair5
 Wants Further Orders.
SORRELLS' TROUBLES
Police Judge Stewart Refuses t0 >un. mon Witnesses 10 Testify Against
 Chicf-MayOr Wants to know.

The special investigation into tho official conduct and acts of Chief Of Police X. !. Stewart, against whom charges have been orally filed by City Attorney W. B. Sorrells. which was to have begun yesterday, wal postponed by the committee, pending further orders from the city council. Chairman Fred Fox, of the committee. made this announcement, after lengthy conference at the city hall yesterday morning. which was attend ed by the other two members of tho committee, J. A. Clement and J. r. Hut, and at which City Attorney Sorrells was also requested to tB present
 Before the conference was held Mayor Toney, City Attorney Sorrelt. and Chief of Police Stewart wrangled before the committee and some ques- tions that will probably have to be decided by the council were raised. City Attorney Sorrells complained that Police Judge J. K. Stewart had refused absolutely to summon wit nesses to appear before the special committee. City Attorney SorrelLs presented a long list of witnesses 70 the police court judge. with the re- quest that he subpoena them to ap- pear Tuesday morning. when the spe- cial committee session was to have been held. Sorrells says that Judge Stewart declared that he did not have the authority to summon the witness es and that he would not do so. The men sought by Attorney Sorrells arc said to have much evidence of con- victing nature against the head of the police department. Sorrells intimates that somebody is trying to block the investigation. fearing the result. Chief Stewart declares that he is anxious for an immediate trial and that he will stand on his official record.
 While this discussion was on by Attorney Sorrells, who was arguing as to the authority of the police judge in summoning witnesses for the spe-
 cial committee, Mayor TOney asked to be shown the charges filed against the chief. He was informed by MT. Sorrells that no written charges had been filed; that it was merely an inr vestigation into the official acts of tho police department head and that ha
 would file written charges against Chief Stewart at the proper time
 Attorney Sorrells said there had 1 been no request by the special com mittee for the mayors presence and that he doubted whether or not she mayor had a voice at the session. NOE 1 had Chief Stewart, Attorney SorreAts contended, been invited to be present ! on that occasion. He argued that
 when the committee saw fit 1t Woaid send for the chief to defend himself.
 Mayor Toney replied that, as chief
 
 know what Chief Stewart was ac- cused of He demanded to know the charges and said that he did not know just what action to take relative to the chief unless he was given some information to guide him officially. Attorney Sorrells said that he did not propose to play his cards to suit Mayor Toney or Chief Stewart; that he would not divulge the evidence that he has gathered against the po lice department. He said he would be a fool to do so. Chief Stewart has engaged the services of Attorney s. M. Taylor, but the latter was not pres- ent at the brief session of the com-