Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-07
DECLARE MAYOR
FEARED FRAME
Commissioners Lynch, Bowman
and Taylor Say This Is Real
Point of Controversy

sistent objection to granting Patrol
man Andrew E. Murphy a hearing on
charges of drinking on duty, insobor-
dination. ETC.. is the fear that the move
may really be "frame-up" to retain
the officer according to City Commits
sioners Lynch, Taylor and Bowman.
After the effort to have the Mayor
grant Murphy a hearing Monday fail
ed, we-Messrs. Lynch and Bowman
and myself-went In /and conferred
with Mr.. Royal. and tried to urge him
again to give the officer a chance to be
heard in his own defense" declared
Commissioner M. Harvey Taylor in the
presence of Messrs- Lynch and Bow
man.
I'VE asked him frankly why he
wouldn't give Murphy hearing and
he told us that he believed we-the
three of us-were planning a frame
up
What Do You Mean, Frame-up?
What do you mean by frame
lup?' we asked him"
Why he said, I thought this was
a scheme to keep Murphy on to please
the committee of Moose and Eagles
who came to see you about it, We
told him. went on Mr.. Taylor, that
we had not been visited by any COM
mittees and had not been consulted
with in any way at all and we asked
the Mayor why he declared these
committees came to see U.S."
| Why said he. I just surmised
that they did"
| 'Whv? we insisted"
Because said he, they came, too,
to see me-.
| Conn rntseionarS Rompoap
who heard Mr.. Taylor's talk corro-
borated this statement.
The Possible Developments
Just what will develop at the meet
ling of council Tuesday when Mayor
Royals report in writing of the results
of his investigation relative to the con-
duct of Murphy and the officers de-
tense, Will be received has municipal
circles on tip toe with expectancy.
That Commissioners Lynch, Bow
man and Taylor are perfectly willing
to support the Mayor in his desire
to dismiss Murphy, has been indicated
by each of them repeatedly from time
to time since the question was first
opened in council All they have in
sisted upon, however. is that Murphy
be given a chance to defend himself
lon the charge in question.
Why? Mr.. Mayor, Why?
The Mayor declares he has heard
| Murphy on previous occasions and
that part of his punishment was the
threat that if he committed the Of
fense again. he would be dismissed.
On the floor of council yesterday aft
ernoon Commissioner Taylor hinted at
some other reason.
why don't you really tell why you
don't want to give this man hearing,
Mayor" asked the park head. What
is the REAL reason?'
why shouldn't l be permitted to
conduct the affairs of the department
of which I am head?" demanded the
my department then ] might just as
we'll quit The chief of police recon-
mends for the good of the service the
dismissal of a man for drinking on
duty. for INSTRUMENTATION, etc. If coun-
ell is not going to back this up of what
use would there be to try to maintain
discipline.
The chief doesn't enter into this, -
replied Mr.. Lynch. You do. All that
we ask is that you give this man a
hearing. For us to do so is irregular,
and you know this"
The Voice of Council
In order to settle the question that
had frequently come up as to the
right of council in handling the Muir
ply situation, Commissioner Taylor
called attention to the section of the
Clark act which provides for the ap-
pointment and dismissal of city Off
cials
Council, if you will notice by the
law" said Mr.. Taylor. has the power
of appointment and dismissal"
Mayor Royal says he doesn't know
what he will do about the councilmanic
action directing him to investigate
and report in writing. However"
said he. II don't believe council can
direct me to do anything. I'm not a
creature of council. However. 1 don't
know what l shall do"
And in the meantime Murphy is un-
der suspension, Jacob Kinleys name
has not been acted up and pprobably
never will-Kinley is the Mayors ap-
pointee-and the department still
lacks a policeman.