Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-01-31
City Commission Has CON-
menCed Court Of Inquiry
as to Chief Of Police
Testimony So Far Offered
is Disappointing to Sca:Ch.
y.
erS for Sensation

At the special meeting of the city
commissioners Thursday morning,
which convened at $50, F. L. Watkins
of the state enforcement league, pre-
ferred charges Of malfeasance and
noM-feasance in office and conduct
unbecoming an officer against Chief
of Police Mcdonald OF this city.
Only two witnesses were heard at
the trial w to the time of adjourn.
ment. These witnesses were high
school students who had worked in
the Breslow drug store here, and their
testimony did not prove that the chief
of police had drank whiskey in the
store as charged by Rev. Watkins.
Attorney J.. NJ. Hanley of Mandan
appeared in behalf of Mr.. Mcdonald
and City Attorney F. H. Register APP
peared as legal adviser to the board
of city commissioners.
Attorney Hanley said that the
charges brought by Mr.. Watkins were
perhaps criminal in their nature, but
that it was remarkable that every
statement in Mr.. Watkins affidavit
was filed on information and belief.
He said that his client demurred to
the alleged charges, and suggested
that the charges should be specific
and positive; that the charges In
themselves were nothing al all.
Mr.. Watkins said that he hal con
suited the city attorney and that
Mr.. Register had said that he did not
know just what should be done. Ho
said that he did not claim to be an
attorney himself and that he would
like to be represented by an attorney;
that he had consulted his attorney and
that the latter had said that he was
very busy and could not be prepared
TO represent him without being given
time to prepare his case. He request
ed that the commission postpone the
hearing Of the charges until Tuesday,
and concluded by stating that he had
his affidavits ready and that he could
be ready with his witnesses any time.
He also admitted that the charges
were not specific and that he had not
named any certain date in his affidav-
it's as to when Chief of Police Melon
aid was guilty of what he accused the
chief of being guilty OF. Mr.. Watkins
said that there were other citizens
besides himself who are interested in
this matter, but that he inferred that
the commissioners wished him to pre-
sent his case without an attorney.
Commissioner Jackson said that he
did not care for technicalities; de-
handed that Mr.. Watkins get his wit
nesses; that Mr.. Watkins, or any other
citizen, should be given fair treat
ment at the hands Of the commission
ers and that he was in favor and
wanted to 20 on record as being In
favor Of having the city pay all ex-
penses on this trial. He said that he
was as anxious as anyone to proceed
with the trial without delay, but that
Mr.. Watkins should be given time to
obtain legal assistance.
City Attorney Register was asked
for his opinion as to how the trial
was to be conducted. He said that
the commissioners could use their
own discretion as to how the trial was
to be conducted; that he was willing
to go according to their wishes, but
that he could not appear as an adj
wiser to the board and prosecute the
chief at the same time. The matter
was finally decided by City Attorney
Register appearing with MIR. Watkins
to examine witnesses for the prosecu.
| ton, and the board of city commits
sioners unanimously agreeing to pro.
coed with the trial. (.
The suggestion was made that a
shorthand reporter be employed by
the city to take a verbatum report Of
the trial and that G. G. Wattam, dis
trict court reporter, be employed fol-
that purpose. All of the commission
ers voted aye on the proposition, and