The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-11-14
Is FOUND GUILTY

The Pres has won it's fight for decency in Spokane.
Captain of Police and ex-Acting Chief John Sullivan
found guilty by the council this afternoon charges
preferred by H Elliott and backed up by The Spokane
Press OF maeasance in office and was ordered sus
Pended for six MONTHS and at the time grand jury
investigation demanded which investigation, If
red out will show up the entire rottenness of the whole
municipal system of the city Of Spokane. Sullivan 9
guilt declared by the council only after nearly five
hours of earnest argument in which every possible political
pull brought to bear by those interested in saving the
administration of Mayor Pratt from the gnomy which
would be attached to it by the stigma Of Suvans guilt
It clearly shown by the evidence aduced before the
council that Sullivan had known Of the rotten conditions
which existed both in regard to the Of the under
world and to the acceptance Of graft by the police OF this
city, and despite the efforts of Sullivan and his attorney
to make it apparent that they refused to recognize the
jurisdiction Of the council that body exerted its
der the charter and acted chief executive this
sion and declared the ex-acting chief guilty
In returning it's verdict the council said:
The council therefore finds that the board Of police
commissioners be ordered that John + Sullivan be sus
pended from office at for period Of not exceeding
six months and that the record in this matter be submitted
to court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose Of the
ealing of special grand jury for the purpose of nvesgat
ing the entire conduct of all officers of the city, and if the
four finds from the evidence justification for such special
grand jury that special attorney be appointed to prose-
cute the case"
he report of the council adopted by of eight
for and two against Councmen Beshaw and Mohr voting
against the report.
Charge No. /, the Elliott case, was sustained.
Charge No. 2 relating to the Chinese bond case sus
tanned.
Charge No. g. relating to the alleged conspiracy against
The Press dealt with in this way: The council found
that there had been conspiracy but that it had not been
shown that Sullivan concerned in it. this charge
not sustained against Sullivan
Charge No. relating to Sullivan excluding Press report
from the police records and stations 1t found that
he had done this the advice of the corporation
but that all newspaper reporters should have free
to the police records.
Charge No. s. relating to houses of prosution 1t was
found that the mayor and police board equally
sponsibe with Sullivan for not having them conducted
properly.
~.
1t found that the rules had been grossly violated
Regarding the appointment and term of office of Sullivan
as acting chief it found that Mayor Pratt had dsre
garded the charter in not appointing actual chief and
allowing Sullivan to continue acting chief
Sullva censured for refusing to make an answer
before the council to the charges
The police board was ordered to suspend Officers
Downey and Hogan pending investigation that the
board ordered to make of charges uttered against these
officers