Evening journal., 1912-03-08
POLICE
CHIEF FOR
CLEAN CITY
Would ROut LawleSS Element
if COmpIaiRantS Would Give.
Him Testimony
No FGVORS FOR
ANYONE He SAYS

ANfUNE III SATS
City Council last night received a
letter attacking Chief of Police Black
and the Police Commission, addressed
TO the members Of that body and
turned over TO Chairman White, Of
the police committee, by Clerk of
Council McManus. Mr.. White pre-
senting it to be read
Mr.. White was undecided whether
to present the letter, as il contained
only the supposed name of the writer
and no address. The name signed
10 the communication is Frank &.
Simpson" Who he is and where he
lives. nobody in Council seemed 20
know. For this reason it was decid-
ed to refer it to the Police Commits
sion.
Members Of the Police Commission
and Chief Black when spoken to
about the matter today, at first we're
inclined to ignore it, the same rs
was done with an anonymous COM
munication received at their meet
ing last Tuesday. containing practic-
ally the same language. The Police
Commissioners expressed the belief
that the name Simpson is fictitious
and that certain persons were re-
sponsible for sending it to Council.
The letter sent to Council follows
I've been much amused over the
efforts Of our noble Chief of Police to
shift the responsibility for conditions
at Turn Hall and various other places
from his own shoulders to the subor-
dinate officers. Is It possible that Mr..
Black in his official capacity as chief
of police has been about the city for
years and yet remained ignorant Of
these conditions. If such is the case
then there is a wOeful lack of efiici-
ency.
Does the chief of police know Of
the many houses of i'll fame that -four
ish openly within few squares Of the
police station? Docs he know of the
gambling which is going on every
day of the week in the majority Of the
pool rooms of the city, and that the
pool rooms are frequented by boys un-
der the age of is years? Does he know
anything regarding the open betting
on the races which has been going on
for a long time?
DO the members of the Police Com
mission know anything Of these con-
diuons? am charitable enough to
assume that they do not. W they do
know of these and many O.hcr things
which arc allowed to exist in this city
and do not take steps to correct these
offenses, then the Police Commission
ors are absolutely not fitted for the
position they occupy and Council
should take some action on these de-
or rff ~ a
/ right TO expect their representatives
in Council to look after the welfare
Of the city, no matter what official or
! officials may be affected thereby
1--WE need reforms IN our city and
lot us have them quickly but let it
be a fair and square deal without
singing out certain individuals and
letting worse offenders so unmolested,
and not permit persons to take ad-
vantage Of their official positions To
get square with any who may be IN
disfayor.
Yours truly,
Frank c. simpson
/ Chief Black, in the presence of
three members of Police Commission
today. stated that for several years
/ he has been trying 10 get Council to
pass an ordinance regulating pool
rooms so that the police could pro-
ceed' against them. Even as late as
| February II of last year, the Chief
said he wrote to the then chairman
Of the law committee. John j.. Nc
/ Govern, asking that something he
done. and calling attention to the
state law requiring pool rooms to be
licensed. excluding Wilmington. the
power to regulate such places in this
city being conferred on the City
Council. lie said that nothing was
ever done, but he believed that an
4 ordinance was presented and that il
never came to q vote. The Chief said
he was i'm full acord with the views
of many citizens that something
should be done relative to pool rooms
but in the absence of any law. he says
he is powerloss to proceed.
In speaking of the houses of i'll
rcpute menti ed in the communities
ton, the Chief remarked that they
too. would be compelled to stop tho
practice of selling Intoxicating
liquors. They will receive no more
consideration than anybody else. he
said. These houses were closed on
ono occasion. he added, by the police
and the Law and Order Society work.
ing together, but again opened.
So far as betting on races i'm poo
rooms is concerned, Chief Black SAT-
that under the police manual of rule
the captains must report such viola
tions to him, but no such reports hat
as yet been received in his Office. Ii
said that if Simpson had evidence O
any OF the violations he speaks O
he. the Chief, will be glad to NEE
him i'm his Office and take up the sub
iect with him, and if he desired Il
use him as a witness in such cases.
II have no friends to grant specia
privileges to-" said Chief Black. ANY
body with evidence of violations O
the law will receive my hearty co