Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-10
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and otherwise showed their nervous

and otherwise showed their nervous
ness.
Then someone coughed.
The tension was broken. A second
later Mr.. Wagenbach rose to his feet
and the battle opened anew.
While things are at q standstill, +"
slowly began the Fifth Ward man in
his strongly accented tones, II would
IKE TO know something about the
legality of the reinstatement or reap
pointment of Patrolman Jones'"
A lengthy discussion. a forerunner to
the bitterness which followed. ensued
and ended in a resolution asking
Borough Solicitor f. b. Wickersham
for another opinion on the status of
Mr.. Jones in regard to councils action
last month, when he was placed back
on the force by Mr.. Sellers, acting
president, casting vote breaking a
tie. The solicitor has already ruled
that the action was legal.
At the close OF this discussion MIR.
Nelley resumed his seat. In a few
seconds he was in the discussion with
Mr.. Wagenbach, who mace the sug-
gestion that I'VE had better purn our
ordinance books If that action was
legal"
The affidavits were then read at the
suggestion of Mr.. Nelley. AS Assist
ant Secretary Holton competed read
ing of the documents, Mr.. Nelley
moved that they be referred to the
police committee for an investigation.
The debate then opened.
Wagenbach VS.. Nelley
Mr.. Wagenbach sprang to his feet
before Mr.. Nelley's motion was second
ed. He demanded that Officer Jones
be dismissed Immediately ana uncon-
ditionally.
This council" shouted he, has
been smuggling with this case for a
year and eight months. We are here
to do the best for the people of this
town. Are we doing it We have to
pay that man for doing his duty. is
he doing it?"
Here the Third Ward councilman
swung into the best oratorical effort
heard in Steeltons council chamber
since P. S. Blackwells famous Swan
song"
At the height of his speech he
shouted: This Jones retention is a
dirty political scheme"
In flash Mr.. Nelley was on his
feet to defend the actions or his COM
mittee.
He bitterly scored Mr.. Wagenbach
for forming his conclusions without
investigation and demanded to know
whether or not he had any further
evidence. Mr.. Wagenbacn admitted
conducted any investigation of the cir
cumstances surrounding the making
of the affidavits.
Then raising his voice the police
committee chairman countercnarged
to Mr., Wagenbach But 1t is politi-
cal matter with you."
Springing to his feet and leaning
far across the table, the Third Ward
member shouted directly into the face
of Mr. KELLEY, 1T is not"
"It Isl" thundered Mr.. Nelley.
"It isn't!" shrieked Mr.. Wagon
bach.
Then the two men stood facing
each other across the narrow table
pounded the wood with their fists and
glared at each other. For an Instant
1t looked as though blows would pass
Another pause broke the tension -
then:
well my veracity is az good as
yours" belligerently shouted Nelley.
And mine as yours returned Was-
enbach.
Mr. Nelley as he steadily thumped the
table with his fist, that these prior
charges were tried before tne police
committee, and politics or no politics
the case was judged solely upon the
evidence that came in here
Further personalities were cut shor1
by Mr.. Henderson VINO ODtalneu tne
floor and in a quiet speech, restored
order. He carefully reviewed the en-
tire Jones incident and declared that
if the new charges can be sustained he
will vote to dismiss the officer Mr
Henderson cautioned sober, calm ac-
ton and cut matters short py second
ing the motion to have special meet
ing of the police COMMITTEES ana urged
that it be held this evening.
Have to Go After Wagenbach
After some further DEBATE during
which Mr.. Sellers turned over the
chair to Mr.. Nelley and took the floor
himself the question was nnaIIy put
and carried. AS the question carried
Mr.. Wagenbaugh who voted for inn
mediate action, left his chair angrily
and started to leave the room. This
broke the quorum-and no bllls had
been paid. He was persuaded to re-
turn by Mr.. Henderson until the ses-
sion ended. He hurried marLers along
so fast, however that several i'm
portant matters were left not acted
upon.
ordered paid. The borough solicitor
was instructed to draw a petition for
the adoption of a street In the Buser
plot into the borough. A contract to
repair the houses at 26S-7O Main srreeI
was let to ]. G. Keller ana b. e.
Bloser. Little else was done on ac-
count of the police incident.
Early in the meeting the nnance
committee was authorized 70 borrow
$4,000 "as it may be neeoeo 10 carry
on the affairs of the borough
vxy0uRAAY