Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-02
TO INVESTIGATE
LATER EVIDENCE
City Fathers Told Defense Of
Four Officers Strengthened
BY New Evidence.
TO BE BACK IN SPRING
Mayor and Commissioners Are
Petitioned to Keep Town
send on Police Force.

Following the hurrlcdlv called mass
meeting held IN the office Of the traf-
fic association yesterday morning. a
delegation composed largely Of those
Present M the dinner given by j. II
Evans at the Hotel Kctchum Tuesday
evening placed in the hands Of Mayor
John II Simmons resolution asking
that II. II Townsend and three other
accused members Of the police force
be retained on the department intll
an Investigation had been made Of
tho recent evidence which the dGfcnso
claims 10 have discovered, concerning
their part In the staying of Vernon
Hatfield, the young taXicab driver,
some weeks ago
Mayor Simmons ana Commissioners
ffiuk ana walker were invited 20 al
tend the meeting. which was pre-
sided over bv Mr. Evans. and during
tho conference the city officials were
asked 10 express their attitude with
reference 70 retaining the men on tho
force pending an Investigation.
Mayor Agreeable.
The mayor declared that he saw no
reason why such action should not be
taken iu tho face of the additional
evidence which the defense OF the four
police officers Is said 10 have secured.
alihO the commissioners are under
stood 10 have opposed tho retention Of
The officers.
Later, however. Mr.. Walker de
clarcd that aS he long since had
washed his hands Of the city's police
affairs. he was agreed that he would
make no protest ~ the men were
kept llo stated that he had enough
duties to perform in Keeping the
property Of his department In condi-
tion and that he did not intend to
interfere with the work OF the police
department. the commissioner of
which is out OF the city.
Mr.. Brink was of the same view
ana 1t is not likely that opposition
To the acceptance of the resolution
viii develop at the meeting of the
board of commissioners this morning
when IL Is brought up for discussion.
An invitation was extended to Com
missioner Nounkman to be present
at the meeting held by Mr. Evans
and his party. but he sent his re
grcts. sayinr that he had matters in
connection with his department which
u"ccssltatcd a trip TO the pump sta
ton.
Petition Presented.
The petition which was presented
To the mayor and board of city com
missioncrs was signed 10y II persons.
all OF whom were present at the din
ncr gwen earlier iu the week 10y Mr..
Evans. The list of signatures does
not however. include Judge Cavitt.
VI. NJ. Doau, George Reeves or several
others who were among the invited
guests AT the dinner Tuesday night.
Mayor simmons declared after re-
cchiug the petition for the board of
city commissioners that he was in
Clucl 90 believe that nothing could
hc gained for the good of the police
department by firing the officers
Immediately.
"Just and Fair"
"Wc want to bo just and fair" the
mayor continued. "1nd i'm view of the
fact that the defense claims TO have
secured additional evidence which
viii Dee of benefit 90 the Officers. IL
seems 90 mo that I'm all fairness the
men should be- kept ON the depart
meut until "a thoro investigation has
been made"
The mayor said that every effort
would be made To bring the police de-
partmcnt up To its highest state Of
efficiency ana that this would he
done within the very near future.
II would not like to say that Il
VIII hc done with Mr. Lucas as chief.
tinurJ ..Lut ,ro v.nnt hnttcr roiino
.Jrpnrt'm,nt AND ,,c ,ro soirr rgm rrim6,
to ,sork on tbc p,,ttor " h''"s 'N'''
,.,'
'"''N return ia'hed.
The return of Mr.. Funk is not eX-
pocted 10y the mayor for several weeks
and the changes To he carried out