Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-09
Council Bluffs
BUSINESS MEN TAKE STAND
Number Defend Acts of Mayor Rich.
mond as Chief Of Police.
FINE SYSTEM CoUNTENANCED
Former Mayor Macrae Testifies Regu-
IRtiOn Was Necessary by COun-
ciI-ChIef to Testify
Today,

but / cannot afford to be even suspected
Of perjury. When l go upon the stand l
shall tell the truth. Everything in connec-
ton with my official actions as chief OF
the police department Of the city Of Council
Bluffs will be told without any reserva-
ton, " declared Major George II. Richmond,
who viii take the stand today in the hear
ing before Judge Woodruff in the district
court in the action brought by the attorney
general OF Iowa to remove him from the
office Of chief OF police.
Attorney General Byers closed the evil
dence for the state early yesterday after
noon, when the defense began the intro
duction OF its witnesses. Many Of the lead
ing business men of the city took the stand
yesterday afternoon and testified on behalf
OF the accused officer. These witnesses,
without exception, testified that in their
opinion conditions in Council Bluffs had
greatly improved during the administration
of Major Richmond as head Of the police
department OF the city.
Frank T.. True, treasurer of the city Of
Council Bluffs, was an important witness
introduced by the defense yesterday after
noon. Mr.. True, upon whose figures and
calculations the city council for a number
OF years past has based its appropriations
for maintenance Of the several municipal
departments for the fiscal year. showed
that it had been absolutely necessary to
figure on the revenue derived from ques-
tionable sources in order TO run the NUM-
cipal machinery each year.
Policy Long in Vogue.
The policy of collecting fines from the
gambling houses, the houses of ill-fame and
the women of the town, Mr.. True testified,
had been in vogue many years before Major
Richmond assumed the duties of chief Of
police.
During the first -four years of Major Rich
mond's term as chief Of police there had
been turned into the city treasury from
what is known as the police fund" as
much as $4,000 a year, Mr.. True said, but
that in the last two years, since the agita-
ton against these conditions had increased,
the revenue from these questionable sources
had been materially reduced.
A statement prepared by the city treas
urer showed that $271.OOO had been received
by the city during the last twenty years
from these questionable sources. Mr.. True
was the last witness for the day. The
business men who testified on behalf OF
the accused officer during the Afternoon
were: Charles w. Mcdonald, local man,
ager Of the Sandwich Manufacturing com,
PNAAN 'AAS hSN ~ - Wv NAAAA 80 " ~
Der Of the city council; o. p. wickham, g
leading contractor, who has been a resi-
dent of the city for fifty-two years: e. H
Merriam, vice president and treasurer Of
David Bradley s. Co., one of the leading
implement firms of the city; A. T. Flick
niger. a leading attorney and member Of
the local bar since 1876; II. A.. Quinn, sec.
rotary and manager OF the Quinn Lum.
Der company; William Groneweg, formel
state senator, and senior member of tn,
Groneweg & Schoentgen Wholesale Grocer
company. who has resided in Council Bluff
for f%orty-nine years, been mayor of the
city, member of the school board, member
Of the Board OF County Supervisors, treas.
urer of the school district and at present
is a member Of the Board of Fire and Pc
lice Commissioners; Thomas Z. Metcalf
president and treasurer OF the Metcali
company, clothiers, and w. A.. Maurer
wholesale dealer in china.
Louis Zurmuehlen and B.. NJ. Sargent
members Of the Fire and Police board
were also witnesses for the defense. Mr.
zurmuehlen was city clerk in 1892 and AGAR
under Mayor Macrae, and his testimony
showed that the same system OF COLLECTING
fines prevailed in 1892.
Mr.. Zurmeuhlen was closely examined nv
the attorney general as to whether he was
not aware of the fact that there had beer
continual complaint and criticism Of Mato,
Richmond's administration. That such had
been the case Mr.. zurmuehlen refused 10
admit, but said there had been some criti.
cism.
Il saw some criticism in the press" said
Mr.. Zurmuehlen.
us 1t not a fact" asked counsel for the
defense, that the only criticism was In
the local official Organ of the attorney gen.
eTal and only since the attorney genera
began his campaign against Judge Smith
for the congressional nomination in this dis.
trict?"
MI. Zurmuehlen did not reply to thu
question of counsel for the defense and
was excused.
Gambling Under Regulation,
DR.. Donald Macrae, mayor for four years
and who first appointed Major Richmond
chief Of police, was a strong witness 70,
the defense. He told of the open tour
when he went into office and his effort,
to improve conditions. He said that he wa,
adverse to permitting gambling houses tc
run, but after a conference with the mem.
bers Of the city council and the financ,
committee of the city council. OF which
Robert B. Wallace was then chairman. bs
had been given to understand that it wa,
absolutely essential that the city should
obtain the revenue from these auestionabl,
sources. Such being the case. DR.. Macra,
testified, he had finally decided that a
these elements could not be entirely elm
mated it would be best to place then
under strict regulation. and this he snc
his chief OF police had done.
The actions of Major Richmond as CHIEF
OF police during my two terms of offic,
were under the Instructions OF myself an,
the city council" declared DE-. Macrae.
c.. L. Sparks, secretary of the West Coun
ell Bluffs Improvement club, was the frs
witness called by the state yesterday morn
ing. His testimony related to complaint
about a roadhouse in the western part o
the city.
Several mem bers OF the police force VIII
had testified were recalled. their evidenO.
being cumulative and tending to amplify
what had already been covered.
Assistant County Attorney Ross testifie,
to indictments returned in the state cour
against John c. Mabray and other mem
bers OF the swindling syndicate.
Frank Blank. cashier OF E E. Hart, ties
titled TO the renting by Mabray OF a safet
deposit box in the bank,
10 the following:
FOR MEDICAL AND FAMILY UsI
81