Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-13
May Have
a TOrriid
Session
City Council or Part Of It
Would Name Officers but
Chief ShedeCk Insists on
Naming the Men under Him

The storm which has been brewing
for several days now in relation to the
recommendations made by Chief Of
Police Shedeck of men whom he de-
sires to act under him as patrolmen,
will break this evening when the city
council convenes to hear the report Of
the special committee elected last
Monday night to investigate charges
Of serious nature which have been
placed against one of Chief Shedecks
men, officer Wilbur Gains.
viii Clear Himself.
That Officer Gains will refute any
statement which might have been
made against him by opposing parties
to his appointment was assured today
when former District Attorney Nc
Nary declared he is in a position to
state that insofar as Gains is con-
cerned he has no knowledge Of any
thing wrong on his part whatsoever.
1t is alleged by the police committee
ION hearsay only, however) that Off
Ger Gains was hailed before the grand
jury of Polk county several years ago
on the charge Of being boot-legger.
Mr.. McNary states that he tried almost
every case of this character in Polk
county, but to his knowledge, Gains
has never once been u defendant.
Where these rumors came from as to
officer Gains connection with the al
legged boot-legging cases, is question
in the minds of both the officer and
Chief Of Police Shedeck. The only po-
sitive information which could be
gained by the defendant officer, was
that a member Of the special police
committee declared that "he heard 1t
said that Gains was party to a blind
pig prosecution in Polk county and
that he was also connected with other
actions not becoming to an officer"
The Mayor to Intercede.
According to the program outlined
today, Mayor Sleeves will read the
communication which Is to eXonerate
officer Gains from all connection with
the charges in question. 1t Is well
known fact that Mayor Sleeves is in
sympathy with Chief Of Police Shedeck
and will be active in opposing any at
tempt to prevent the new chief from
selecting his own men for police duty.
Chief of Police Determined.
Unless the special committee ap-
pointed to investigate the men whom
| have recommended for police officers
show positive proof that they are un-
fit for the positions by reason Of mis-
conduct, | will stand by my choice to
the last ditch and then some," said
Chief of Police Shedeck today IL
am chief Of police of Salem; the peo-
pie elected me-not the city council
and | don't intend to allow the police
committee or any other council COM
mittee to force men upon me whom |
don't want. They evidently want me
10 accept their choice Of patrolmen
and me run the risk of the whole
transaction. ! won't do 1t. If the
council wants to appoint their men,
let them be responsible for their ac-
tions. | won't"
Chief Receives announcement.
That Chief Of Police Shedeck's stand
in the matter Is sanctioned by the
business men and the majority OF tho
council cannot be question according
TO the statements being made on every
hand today, IT Is declared that the
chief Is perfectly justified in remon-
strating against the members of the
council selecting the men who are to
work under the head Of the executive
officer and that in view Of the fact the
chief Of police Is required to tender a
large bond, he should be made respon-
siblc for the actions Of his men.
Many Of the COuncimcn will not
commit themselves one way or the
other on the police sQuabble, but It is
rumored that unless the special police
committee can subslantIate any charge
of gross misconduct against the men
the new chief has recommended. they