Evening journal., 1911-03-22
NOW FOR The
POLICE PROBE
Commission Fixes Next We'd
neSday as Time for Hear
ing Charges against
Chief
DEFENSE FAILS TO
GET BILL OF PARTICULARS

The Board of Police Commissioners
will hear testimony In support Of
Henry c. Whites charges against
Chief Of Police George Black begin
ming Wednesday afternoon. This was
decided on at a meeting of the COM
mission yesterday afternoon.
II was not expected that any evil
dence would be heard at the meeting
yesterday afternoon. as no arrange
ments had been made for subpoenaing
witness. Consequently nothing could
be done except fix time and arrange
the preliminaries for the hearings.
which, from what was said, will cover
a period of at least three sessions
from to s o'clock. II will take that
long, so Reuben Satterthwaite, coun-
sci for Mr.. White, said for him to
produce his side of the investigation.
After this it is presumed that J.
Frank Ball. counsel for Chief Black,
will ask for time to make a reply
to the charges and prepare a proper
defense.
AT the hearing yesterday were
present, aside from the members Of
the commission, the counsel for Mr.
White and Chief Black. Daniel p.
DuRoss, chairman OF the police com
mittee of City Council; City Solicitor
John w. Brady and one spectator.
This was George w. Crawford. Mr..
Brady was present at the invitation OF
the Police Commissioners.
The meeting was held in the board
rooms and was opened by the chiefs
clerk. reading the charges against
Chief Black.
Mr.. Ball then announced that he
would like to appear as counsel for
Chief Black.
Admit Counsel for Chief.
President Clarkson said he had that
permission and added that one Of the
rules of the board prohibited a mem
Der of the department being repre-
sented by counsel but the board had
suspended the rule, as It had done Ina
other cases. Mr.. Clarkson asked Mr.
Satterthwaite IL he had any objection
to this course and the latter replied
that he was perfectly willing Tor
Chief Black 10 have courNel.
Mr.. Ball then read two letters. ore
Of which he had sent TO Mr.. Satterth-
waite. requesting him to submit a
bill of particulars against Chief Black
inasmuch as the charges made, were
vague. and the other was an answer
10 this communication, stating that
Mr.. Satterthwaite could not comply
with the request.
No Bill of Particulars.
MIR. Ball expressed the opinion tina
I the commissioners should insist ol
Mr.. Satterthwaite filing bill OF par
ticulars In order that Chief Blac
might be apprised Of the specin
charges made against him. He sal
the charges as now set forth wer
sort Of anonymous, vague and un
certain" With one exceptions he said
none Of the charges set forth in tn
list filed with the board, set fort
anything specific and he thought hi
client should know what he mus
meet ANY defendant I'm the Gen
eral Sessions Court" he said. 1T
granted this" Judge Ball said th'
Chief certainly should be apprised o
what he is to answer, to properly pre-
pare his defense.
The exception made by Mr.. Ball wal
the charge that Chief Black did know
ingly swear falsely in the Genera
Session Court in the case OF the Stat
VS.. Marie Brown. The charge, h,
said, was the only one in the lis
submitted that specifically set fortl
anything.
Charges Are Serious, Ball Says.
"The charges are Of a serious ma
ture said Judge Ball and It is the dut,
Of the person to present them In sucl
a way that Chief Black may kno1
what they are" Mr. Ball again ex
pressed the opinion that the commits
sioners would insist on a bill Of par
ticulars being filed.
Mr.. Satterthwaite, in reply sal,
that the present case was entirel
different from a criminal proceedin
in the courts and he said It was prac
tically impossible for him to file
bill OF particulars such as was wanted
without giving all the evidence hi
side had, and making public the name
OF his witnesses, which if done, Nigh
be the means of keeping those livin
without the jurisdiction Of the boar
away from the hearing to escape tn
notoriety. He said he would give Chic
Black as much time as he wanted {
prepare his defense. I'VE couldn
file a bill Of particulars" said Nj
Satterthwaite without giving on
whole case"
Don't Want the Evidence.
Mr.. Ball said he saw no differenc
between the present case and the on
in the General Sessions Court "Seriou