The Sentinel=record., 1914-06-02
CHIEF ELLISON IS RESTORED
 HEAD OF POLICE DEPARTMENT


 Who were about to leave. He said he saw a man there as special police officer. He said he would have made arrests, but there seemed to be noth- ing doing at the time. He also said he reported the matter to the chief and to the mayor.
 Sigman-What was done about it?
 Bailey-I got free.
 Sigman-What did the chief say?
 Bailey-ISaid close 'em up.
 Sigman-What did the mayor say
 Bailey-Said l seemed to be impos- ing on his friends
 Mayor McClendon here interrupted to state that he had no interest what ever in the Indiana Club or any such institutions, and he asked Bailey this pointed question: Didn't l say to you to treat them all alike?'
 Bailey-l had treated all alike.
 Mayor you collect fines from girls during the state fair and not turn them in?
 Bailey-I did not.
 Mayor McClendon then told of the case of the seventeen negroes who | had been arrested in raid. He said that Tobe Robinson, one of the negroes, came to him after the arrest and told him about it, and asked him to do what he could for them. and that he did not know whether he u Ledgerwood to do what he could for them.
 ''I never have interfered in that way" said the mayor, "and l did not regard this as such. 1 expected the court to fine them if they were guilty
 Alderman Billy Borman here made motion recommending to Chief El- lison the reinstatement of Bob Bailey, 1 which motion passed by a unanimous vote of the council.
 The resignation of Chief of Police John Akin came early in the pro ceedings. Mir. Akin merely set up that he had been appointed by the mayor and that he understood there was no opposition to his appointment, and therefore he rendered his resig- nation to the council to he either ac- Scepted or rejected. He announced in l the communication that while he would like to hold a place with such a salary, that he was first for peace and harmony and the upbuilding of Hot Springs. The rcsisnataon was accepted by the unanimous vote of council.
 Soon thereafter came the matter of the removal by Mayor McClendon of Chief of Police Ellison. Attorney Judge Huff had been retained by the mayor to present the matter to the council. Judge Huff said that no for nal charges were necessary to be made against Ellison by dhe mayor There was no personal feeling on the part of the mayor against Ellison, he lsaid that the status, after the resig- 1 the mayor must act for the efficiency of the police department. Judge Huff said thata the status, after the rcsig nation of Akin had been accepted unanimously, was there was no chief or police, and the mayor, to show his 1 interest in peace and harmony would let the council select a chief, and he would appoint whoever the council selected.
 Judgo Huff went on to recite that Ellison had never been qualified for chief of police. The office required special qualities that Ellison did not possess. It had been mistake, Judge Huff said the mayor now be- lieved, to have appointed Ellison chief. He wanted the cooperation of ,ne police department and all other branches of the administration.
 Attorney Sawyer represented Chief Ellison, and stated that Ellison be- Heved if he was guilty of anything for which he should have been sus- pended or discharged, he wanted such matters prepared in charges to be heard in a regular way. He said El- lison had served as chief for fourteen months after appointment by the 1 mayor, and it was q late date for the mayor to decide that Ellison was in- efficient He said also that Mir. Eli son was willing the whole matter should be left with the council to de- termine whether he should be rein stated or some other should be | chosen.
 "I want to know more about why this suspension took place. said Al derman Rigsbee. If Ellison has de- served suspension 1 want to vote to sustain the mayor and if he has not, 1T want to vote to reinstate Ellison v
 Huff argued that it seemed like the mayor and the city council could be able to get together on some chief who would be acceptable to both and who would he a guarantee of con tinued cooperation in the city admin istration.
 Alderman Williamson said that he did not believe in washing dirty linon