The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-23
GRAFT IS CHARGED BY
CITY ATTORNEY
POLICE COMMISSION TAKES
coGNIZANcE OF THE
MATTER.

~ speClaI NHeetnR Of the board
Of police commissioners held Satur-
day afternoon. with Chairman Foard
absent, the following resolution was
adopted;
Whereas, G. n. Abercrombie, CITY
attorney, has made public state
ment that certain officers Of tie police
force had been guilty Of extorting or
soliciting money from dissolute
women but has thus far failed to
bring any charges before the commits
SION in relation to said Offices. Re-
solved, That the clerk Of the com
mission be and he Is hereby instruct
ed to communicate with the city at.
torney and request him TO bring
charges against these officers in or
der that they may be tried at the
earliest possible opportunity. Signed,
IS. S. Gordon and w. c. Logan"
For several weeks there has been
rnmor current in regard to this mat
ter, and as far as can be ascertained
the facts seem to be about as follows:
About month ago City Attorney
Abercrombie, in the Office Of the city
auditor stated to Acting Chief OF
Police Oberg and City Auditor An
derson that certain Of the officers,
mentioning three OF them by name,
were "grafters," II is said that the
statement was not made casually, but
with emphasis, and as a direct charge.
II is also understood that Mr.. Aber-
crombie said the three officers had
been getting money from the joint
keepers and fallen women. After de-
liberating upon the matter, it seems
Chief Oberg repeated the charges to
the two members of the police COM
mission, Messrs. Gordon and Logan.
and in due time the matter became
known about the city and was heard
BY the three officers
Il is also stated that Mr.. Aber-
crombie presented the matter to Mr..
Tongue, the prosecuting attorney, but
Nhat he refused to act, at least not
until the matter had been first
threshed out by the city authorities.
Meantime the three police officers
denied the allegations with indigna-
ton and force. They retained an at
torney and sought to have warrant
issued for the arrest of the city attor-
ney on the charge Of criminal SLAM
der, and they expected to push the
matter hotly. but they were notified
by their attorney that under the laws
Of the State Of Oregon no slanderous
words may be made the basis of
criminal action; only libelous words,
that is, printed or written words, are
actionable. Then it was stated there
was probability OF civil suit, which
was, however, to wait until the mat
ter was first brought up and acted |
upon by the police commission, 1t is
known that the police officers de-
that the question be brought |
before the commissioners, although |
it is quite probable that Mr.. Aber-
crombie intended to prefer the
charges anyway.
At all events it seems to be a pretty
fight between the city, attorney and
the police officers. If they are guilty
The whole community will doubtless
thank the city attorney for bringing
up the matter. Meantime the officers
aver they are going to fight back
harder than they are being fought
and they profess to laugh at the
charges as being ridiculous.
Last night it was stated on the
street that the city attorney, Mr.
Abercrombie, was expected to with
lraw his charges against one and
perhaps two Of the three police Off
,ers alleged to have been mentioned
n the first instance, but that he would
n all probability press the charges
against the third man. 1t was also
'tated that fourth police officer, who
lad not been mentioned in the first
Instance, has been implicated by
woman coming forward and stating 1
hat she gave 50 bill to this officer
1t Christmas time, and it is said the
,fficer admits receiving the money, II
tut AYERS she offered it voluntarily as
Christmas gift and that she forced h
on him as gift Of the season.
These are rumors which the Astorian
las not endeavored to authenticate
rom the persons in interest, and are
siven as an example Of the talk which
he question has originated,
Piano Recital.