South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-20
CASE OF PATRoLMAN Maddox.

CASE OF PATROLNI.AN Maddox.
People who have been regarding the
investigation OF Patrolman Fred 9.
Madick with reference 20 the recent
death OF Dan Medic. as more political
than justified. are bound to consider
their position at least a trifle better
than half warranted. since the decision
OF the board of safety yesterday
An investigation in which straws
are grasped at and converted into an
excuse for dismissing an official from
service. is quite as reprehensible as
where undisputably damaging evil
dence Is overlooked in the application
OF the white wash In either case the
investigation is proven a farce. The
Maddox probe is proven a decided
farce-a mere formality for purpose.
Maddox was brought before the
board charged with conduct unbe-
coming an officer" IL was alleged
that he had had row with Dan Medic
in his home; had forcibly elected him
from a rear door, and had left him ly-
ing for an unreasonable time in the
sweltering sun out in the back yard,
with supplemental inhuman treat
ment, including failure to send in a
sufficiently hurried call for an ambu-
lance. The inference was that the
patrolman had in some way con-
tributed to the cause Of Dan Medic's
death.
Politics or no politics. this. sure
enough. would be grounds for an in
vestigatiOn. An officer guilty Of the
charges laid against Fred Maddox sure
" ought not be retained. and to those
who wish to call it politics, cur an
swer is that ii would be good politics,
and the best OF politics. to get rid of
such an official. But Fred Maddox
was not proven guilty at the hearing.
The boards report SHES clear or
claiming that he was. The charges
fell decidedly flat. No jury under the
sun would have rendered a verdict or
conviction upon such evidence. not
withstanding the contradictory stories
toll by the officer and his boarder.
themselves.
The investigation justified nothing
save a possible further investigation,
but evidently the board could not see
the excuse for taking that additional
trouble. Because Patrolman Madick
had knowledge that Dan Medic had
the measles. and did not shut him up
in a ''bull-pen' until the health au-
thorities could be notified TO come and
quarantine him-'isolate" him. they
called it,-he was pronounced short
on the qualifications to comprehend
the duties of an officer" and given his
passports.
In other words Maddox went TO trial
charged with conduct unbecoming an
officer" and came out convicted of a
lack OF intelligence" This is the in
depreciation placed upon it by Com
missioner SmOger one of the members
OF the board. while temporarily oppos-
ing the order, and il outlines the stu
alton very clearly. one had only 70
witness the performance to see the
rawness in il. The reasons given for
the finding were not reasons at all,
but excuses. and in the light Of the
facts, poor excuses at that
So far as the measles count. Dan
Medic after being told by the patrol
man what allied him. and that he
ought TO keep off the streets for few
days. said. "all right. I Will go home
and do that" Why should anyone cOn>
cIude that he wouldn't, and detain
him, et cetera. as the board would call
necessary? 1t is very flimsy cloth so
flimsy that without much question
now. he is discharged. not for con
duct unbecoming an officer" nor for
lacking qualifications OF comprehen-
sion." but because of his anti-citizen
political faith during the last mGnici-
pal campaign.
That Maddox has been slated for dis
missal at the first opportunity has
been known for months. 1t has been
known that the Reed Detective agen-
cy. attached TO the police department
through the acquisition of Chief of
Detectives Kuespert. has been hot on
his trail for weeks. IL was poor case
they made. but il appears 20 have
worked The mayor and members or
the board can deny the politics in it
IL they want to- but if they are wise
they will not. The case is Sc raw that
to deny the politics is TO plead guilty
10 lacking the qualifications 60 COM
prehend the duties" of members OF
the board of safety. which aptly
speaking. calls or mere Intelligent
judgment
TIE BOY AND THE BIRD.