Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-19
Council Bluffs
RICHMOND WRITES OF TRIAL
Former Chief of Police Discusses
Prosecution in Report.
DEFENDS HIS PAST COURSE
Declares Himself Victim of Political
Conspiracy which was UIti-
mRteIy Doomed, He says,
TO Defeat.

In the printed volume of annual reports
Of the city departments, which is soon to be
Issued, is the report of Major George H.
Richmond, former head OF the police de-
partment II was written during the stress
Of the custer proceedings brought by At
torney General Byers, which resulted in his
removal for technical violations OF the
state laws governing municipal administra-
lions.
A portion of the report shows the per-
sonal feelings Of Major Richmond, not
only in relation to his duties as one Of the
chief executive officers of the city, but
the singing sense Of injustice of which he
felt he was being made the victim. This
portion OF the report follows;
Permit me to call your attention to some
recommendations made in my last annual
report. 1 think thSy are Ot sufficient i'm
pOrtance to emDody-them IN TINS one also.
The growth OF our city and the outlying
districts which are East being built up
makes an increase of the police force one
OF vital Importance. / would, therefore,
recommend an addition OF five patrolmen
to the present force. In order to give our
citizens ample and proper police protec-
ton IL Is absolutely necessary that this
number of additional patrolmen be author
lied as soon as possible.
1 would recommend that there be installed
at least five more patrol boxes at differ
ent points throughout the city,
l recommend the purchase of a motor
cycle for the police department. Quick
arrival at the scene of disturbances is es-
sential, and in checking scorching auto
mobiists aud mOtorcy clBts, Is n necessity,
and its need Is we'll known.
1 would recommend that this department
become a member of the National Bureau
OF Criminal Identification, Washington, ID.
Q. This would only cost 5000 per year and
would enable us to obtain the photographs
of noted criminals arrested elsewhere from
time to time, and who at some future date
are liable to visit this section.
At this writing your chief of police Is
being tried under the Cosson law for non
! compliance OF the criminal laws of the
state.
The city of Council Bluffs through its
| chief executives and law making bodies,
has for years sanctioned the practices and
system" which i, as chief of police, car
lried out and for which am now placed
Fon trial. The conditions referred TO were
known to the attorney general for years.
The system II not endorsed, was sane
toned by the Ministerial association
through committee which met with rep
resentative citizens in the office Of the
| secretary OF the Commercial club.
The system" Was known of all men;
there was no sneaking grating or under
For years the city was permitted to de-
eide for itself whether or not the matters
referred to should be tolerated, and the
chief OF police was simply shaping affairs
and systematizing the city's efforts in the
regulation and control of vices which no
sane man will claim can be completely
eradicated.
this prosecution are not interested in a
clean" city. They themselves are not
clean, and the people know It; but some
thing must be done The attorney general
is a candidate for congress; Council Bluffs
is the chief city in the Ninth congressional
district, and Richmond is persona non
grata; hence the conspiracy.
| It is said / will resign. This is not true.
II were to retract of my own account 1t
would imply that /, myself thought the
system wrong and that I had acted without
| the reflection which the gravity Of the
| situation demanded, but did not. acted
| with full elaboration and upon the certain
conviction that II wac a measure right and
| necessary, and think so still
| If the judge holds to a strict interpre-
tation of the law, II there is no red blood in
| his veins; II ! SSlst be sacrificed to satisfy
the lends of justice" am ready.
| I make no reference to the other phases
of the prosecution for the reason they are
perjured and misapplied statements
/ will predict that a sullen gloom at the
defeat and discontinue of their plans to
elevate into power the chief prosecuting Of
| ficer in this case will settle down on the
countenance OF the BUNCH" from which NO
ray of hope can be reflected. when the re-
| turns come in.