Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-02-07
ASK COUNCIL TO
GUST MARSHAL
ROBERTSON
COMMITTEE APPEARS WITH Pc.
TITIONS SIGNED BY MORE
THAN 200 PERSONS.
FULL EVIDENCE NOT GIVEN
City Dads Insist Specific Instance of
Neglect of Duty on Part of Police
Chief be Cited.

Charging that the law is not being
: inforced in Grangeville, that boot
logging is going on, that drunken mel
are seen in the streets, that minors are
permitted to enter pool halls in Grange
vile and to smoke cigarets, q commit
tee composed of six women appeared be-
fore the Grangeville city council at its
regular meeting Monday night and pre-
sented a petition, signed by more than
200 persons, asking the removal from
the position of city marshal of Van V.
Robertson. Mr.. Robertson was charged
with neglect of duty. At the same
time, another petition was presented,
urging the appointment Of Sidney King
as marshal i'll place of Mr.. Robertson.
The petitions were presented to the
council by Fred Erskine, acting in be-
half of the committee.
Calls for Specific Charges.
Immediately the petitions reciting
the grievances were presented to the
council, Mayor Edmundson asked Mr..
Erskine whether he was in a position
to make any specific charges. Mr.. Frs
kline replied that he was acting purely
at the request of the committee of
women. He said that he didn I hold
any ill-will toward Marshal Robertson,
but that he thought he was not the
man for the place
The mayor insisted upon an early set
Element of the affair, and again re
quested specific instances of neglect of
duty be cited.
IF Mr.. Robertson has neglected his
dnfr n oh
said the mayor.
Moves to Lay on Table.
Councilman Smith moved that the
petitions be laid on the table, and the
motion was seconded by Councilman
VanDeventer.
Here City Clerk Taylor interrupted,
saying that he had been requested to
tell the law, as it applies to the removal
of an appointive municipal officer. He
said it was wholly within the power of
the mayor to remove an official, but
the council could not remove him.
Mayor Edmundson gave each member
Of the council opportunity to express
himself on the matter
Councilman Smith insisted that the
charges Of neglect of duty on the part
of Officer Robertson be substantiated |
if action looking toward his removal be |
taken.
Councilman VanDeventer, who was
the next speaker said he knew that
there had recently been whiskey in
Grangeville. 81 have been trying to
locate the source for five weeks" he
remarked, "and if I had faint idea
where it comes from, couldn u prove
It, 1 havel been working with the
sheriff s office and the chief of police
IN an effort to locate the booze.
Councilman Riutcel, who was the next
speaker, demanded more evidence, be-
fore voting for Mr.. Robertson IS re-
moval
It's a Difficult Proposition.
@ 1t is a hard proposition to get at, "
|said Councilman Wiley. Mr.. Wiley
said he hash t seen in GrangevilIe a
man whom he could prove was drunk.
don t see how the mar nal can catch
them. he said.
Councilman Dyer said that, while a
plumber of signatures appeared on the
petitions, the charges had not beer
gone into fully.
Councilman Hattabaugh declared
s'hat the committee in its petition had
.made 10 specific charges The chief
III police has a difficult place in COM
FIunty, he said. eff young men are
obtaining tobacco and smoking it
against the wishes of their parents,
PROBABLY Mr.. Robertson didn t know of
r. Mr.. Hattabaugh remarked cit
r unfair to the officer if the parent
fnows an offense has been committed
fnd does not aid the Official
Mayor Guided by Council Ii
When the members of the council v
had concluded their remarks, Mayor u
Fdmundson said his action must be I
tulded by the council, and that he
you'd not differ with them.
MIS- Henry Telcher here spoke. She
e I'm conditions are had in Grange r
ne. She said she knew Of drunken
- having been in the streets of /
4
me women told the council of dis S
uer which occurred in restaurant in h
Il angeville on New Year IS eve, said
III iiquor has been brought to Grange Z
le IN sntcases by travellers and that
~ grips were so heavy that those
Ei1ymg them were obliged to stop and n
SS' while ON the way downtown from S
railroad station. The discussion at lp
q mes became lively. d
-. was decided that action on the Fl
Nj ''Nohs should 90 over until the March I'll