Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-10
To DECIDE FATE OF
PATROLMAN JONES
Sharp Session of Council; Mem
bers Call Each Other
Names

Whether or not clinton Jones, the
patrolman over whom there has been
much controversy in SteeIton's coun-
Gil recently, shall be retained as a
member or the police force, Will In all
probability be definitely decided this
evening when the police committee OF
council will meet to investigate ad-
ditional charges of misconduct against
the officer.
These new charges against Patrol
man Jones were preferred at last eve
ning's meeting OF council Tney con-
Sist OF two amdavits signed Dy Benja-
min +. Lipp. a special officer employed
by the Pennsylvania steel Company
and Steve Pop, a watchman at NO. D
watch box OF the Steel Works. The
affidavits corroborate each other
and make the specific charge that
Patrolman Jones, on the night of
August and the morning of August
I, just two days ago, was seen in a
Vislbly intoxicated condition while on
duty, and that he spent a greater part
OF that night sleeping on porch op-
posite No. watch box near the Mer-
chant Mill of the Pennsylvania Steel
Company.
The production of these afidavits
by Mr.. Wagenbach, the councilman
from the Third Ward in which, by
the way, the officer lives, started one
of the bitterest clashes ever seen on
the floor of Steelton's council. Only
six members of council - bare
quorum-were present and time and
again Mr.. Nelley or Mr.. Wagenbach
left their place at the council table,
breaking the quorum.
Bitter Words Pass
Bitter words passed between Messrs.
Wagenbach and Nelley and Messrs.
Reisch and Sellers and the direct
charge was made by Mr.. Wagenbach
that politics and not the merits of the
case were being considered in the re-
tention of Patrolman Jones, VINO has
come unscathed through two investi-
cations and an involuntary resignation.
The counter charge that politics had
something to do with the rnarges was
flashed back by Mr.. Nelley. In trlce
both men were on their feet hurting
bitter personalities across the council
table at each other.
That something out of the ordinary
was scheduled, was made evident
shortly after council convened. AS
the meeting came to order, Messrs.
Reisch and Wagenbach handed two
affidavits to Charles r. Holton, assist
ant secretary to council. In few Sec
onds there was buzz around the
council table and some or the mem
bers were noticeably not paying much
attention to the routine business
AfIidavits Passed
The affidavitS were passed around to
the councilmen who knew nothing OF
the. charges. A few second later MIR.
Nelley. chairman of the police COM
mittee left his chair and slipped down
stairs to the police headquarters. This
broke the quorum but business went
on just the same and number of i'm
portant questions were discussed. a
few minutes later the police commit
tee chairman returned and engaged in
a whispered consultation with Acting
President Sellers at the head OF the
table. Business Jagged ana the coun-
cilmen sat idly around the table.
Suddenly the few spectators and
newspapermen sat up with a jerk. AS
Mr.. Reisch, councilman from the Fifth
Ward rose to his feet, they realized
that a fight was on.
Mr.. President inquired the Fifth
Ward man, what is the deIay? Why
don't we go on with our business =?
Can three members of this council tie
up everything Let's go ahead"
"Yes, Mr.. President" added Mr..
Wagenbach with fine sarcasm, II don't
think this whispering here is In order.
We are all representatives of the peo-
pie and have right to know what Is
going on
why we are just having a little
recess" answered Mr.. Sellers from the
chair.
"But this is out of order insisted
Mr.. Wagenbach, there should be no
whispering in council"
Perhaps this doesn't concern you,"
angrily returned Mr.. Sellers.
'Yes 1t does" shot back Mr.. Reisch,
I'VE are all representing the people
and everything here should be above
board"
AS the debate was waxing personal,
it was ended abruptly by Mar. Hender-
son, chairman of the Highway COM
mittee, who asked that he be permit
ted to go ahead with his committee
report. For forty-five minutes MIR.
bers of council regained their COM
posure.
While the highway committee chair
man delivered his report, the quorum
was repeatedly broken. Mr. Nelley
again left the room to visit the police
headquarters. Returning he whisper
ed with Borough Secretary Charles P.
Feidt who then slipped out of the room
and returned with a note which ne
handed to Mr.. Henderson while he
was speaking.
John A. Parthemore, chairman of
the Clover Club committee, was then
given the privilege of the floor to ask
that his committee be exonerated from
paying a license fee for its carnival
which is exhibiting this week. While
Mr. Parthemore spoke Secretary Feldt
again tip-toed out of the room, re-
turned in a few seconds and held q
whispered consultation with Mr.. Nell
ley. Then a salesman wa5 permitted
to speak. But no one heard what he
was saying. The tension of the I'M
pending fight was growing acute.
AS someone moved to refer the
salesman's offer to committee to
clear the decks for action a telephone
tinkled in a far corner of the room.
Borough Secretary Feidt answered it
with muff1ed voice. Then ne gllded
over to Mr.. Nelley and whispered some
more. Again Nelley went out.
AS the police committee chairman
left the room dense quiet ensued. For
a few minutes no one spoke and the
tension became acute. Councilmen
suuirfned in their chairs, toyed with
books on the table in front of them
Leininger, of the Department of State
has returned to the Office after a short