Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-12-12
ASK DOVER COP
TO RESIGN JOB
One of Five Charges Against
John W. Baker is
Sustained
COLLECTED FINES
WITHOUT ARRESTS
special % THE EvENING JOURNAL.

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del. Dec. i2.-At q special
meeting OF Council last evening charges
I preferred against Assistant Chief Of
Police John W. Baker were heard
The charges as presented to Council
by the Police Commission on which Of
iiccr Baker was tried were.
f-Chargo OF arrcsting four men, Civ
Ing them a hearing and imposing and
collecting fines.
2-That Baker was absent from duty
on October IS, i9i7 without permls-
sion.
3-That Baker has wrongfully OBJ
for automobile hire
4-That Baker had To his possession a
valuable bird dos not belonging TO him.
5-Ihat Baker retained moneys col
lecied by him and did not remit same 20
proper authorities Of the town.
James NJ. satterneld, attorney for the
town conducted the hearing for the
town.
As TO ule nrst charge, two colored
men. Harry Manlove and Edward Carson
testified that Omcer Baker had caught
them az a game Of crap In house on
KirkwOod street Dover. and had told
them what their lines and cost would be
without their going before the town al
dtrman. amounting 90 $3.50, which was
paid by the men,
Alderman Wharton was called by the
defense. said he had given Baker in
structions 10 collect Ones and costs
against offenders Of the ordinances
without bringing such offenders before
him He further stated that II had been
The practice for some time 10 issue
warrants 90 the town officers for Of
lenses against the town and fines col
lecled without a hearing before him
The docket OF the alderman was then
produced 20 show dates Of arrests Of
offenders and dates when fines had
been marked paid. which showed some
variance. but the discrepancies were ac-
counted for by Wharton by stating that
the date Of issuance OF warrant was
ono record and the date Of actual pay
ment Of tho fine and costs was another
record
Mr. saiterneld asked 0nicer Baker II
De did not know 10 was irregular and
unlawful 90 collect such fines. 90 which
Onlcor Baker replied that the same
|
In many instances.
The second charge. that Of absence
from Dover and duty ON October 4
without permission from mayor or po
lice committee. was easily disposed o.
by u being shown that the ONCE
went 10 Middletown as a witness In al
automobile case before a Middletowl
magistrate. lie had obtained leave q
absence from the chairman of the pa
lice committee
The third charge was also dispose
. hof by proof that Baker hired an aut'
mobile to catch auto 'speeders throue
, Dover from persons living IN an
around Dover. The owner Of the auts
mobile testifying 60 such transaction
which was not centradicted.
The fourth charge, while discusse
at some length was also disposed o
without any wrong doing being show
on the part OF the officer.
The NTH charge was quickly dis
/ posed OF by the production OF the Al
/ dcrmans docket. showing that whill
the dates OF lines imposed did not cor
I respond 10 dates ON which the fine.
were alleged to nave been paid, such
fines had not been paid BY the onon
ders at one time, which accounted fol
/ the entries on the docket.
After concluding the evidence, Coun-
ell went into executive session 20 act
on the charges.
The lrsl motion FOR removal Of
Baker was lost. as il required a two
third vote 10 remove.
A second motion. that for The good OF
the community and because OF di.
vision Of sentiment Onlcer Baker be
asked 90 resign. was carried.