Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-04
PATROLMEN TO BE
GIVEN HEARINGS
ON FEBRUARY 13
Council TO Take Up Mayors
Charges Against Three
Suspended Men
MAGNELLI GETS COUNSEL
City Solicitor Probably Will
Cross-Examine Coppers
Who Fight Dismissal

Mayor Daniel L. Keister. at the
regular council meeting today pre-
ferred charges against Patrolmen
Theodore 4. Magnelli and Edward y.
Schmehl, accusing them of receiving
thirty Gently from y. s. Meyer, Twen-
tieth and Brookwood streets, for the
return of strayed horse, and against
Patrolman Victor b. Bihl. alleging
misconduct at police headquarters.
The commissioners Immediately fixed
February 13 to hear the charges
against the men. Mayor Keister said
he will ask for the dismissal Of all
of them.
His statement in which he brings
the charges against the men for
thirty cent graft" follows:
The Mayors Charge
81 hereby prefer the following
charges against Police Constables
Edward E. Schmehl and Theodore y
Magnelli
THAT about June, 1918, they and
each of them, while on duty as police
constables did ask and demand from
one Noah S. Meyer, of Twentieth and
Brookwood streets, this city, the
sum of So for the performance of of
fetal services in returning a strayed
hOlSt ptlOHSlub ~ MI. lONtT, ltu9u
by them; and did then and there re-
ceive in response to their demand.
from said Meyer, the sum of thirty
cents each. for the performance OF
such official services contrary u the
provisions of Section 6. of Article
VII, of the Act of June 2Ith, 1918.
Bill Included
II also hereby prefer charges of
1nisqnnAttOf or haa
or about Jnauary %, 1919, against
Police Constable Victor H. Bill.
Pending action by city council up
on the above charges I have suspend
ed Officers Schmehl and Magnelli and
therefore suggest that an ,arly date
be fixed for the hearing of testi-
mony."
Upon motion OF Commissioner c. W.
BURNETT, seconded by Commissioner
;. +, Hassler, the following motion
was passed unanimously
Il move that February IS, 1919, at
10 o'clock a. m, be fixed as the time,
and the Council Chamber as the place
for hearing the charges preferred
against Police Constables Schmehl,
Magnelli and Bihl, by the superintea-
dent of public affairs, of which hear
ing prompt notice shall be given by
the city clerk to each OF the accused
officers by letters mailed to their last
address: such notice shall specify tile
charge made against each officer and
advise them that they. their witnesses
and their counsel will be fully uCard
at such hearing"
1t is understood City Solicitor John
u. Fox, who has been given all the
facts in the case. will conduct :he On
a aD1inntiOn ~ ytif r,
at the council session a week from
Thursday. Robert Sucker has been
retained as counsel for Officer Mag
nelli, the latter said.
No Probe Likely
Members of council said that un-
less specific charges are made by
Magnelli or Schmehl agains other
members or officers of the force no in
vestigation will be made of the
charge by them of rotten" condi-
tions. Mayor Keister said he would
welcome such charges before council.
so that the commissioners and he
could investigate them. Magncllf.
who came into the council chamber
today few minutes after tie
charges by Mayor Keister were read.
said he will not have anything to say
about conditions on the force until
his own case is decided.
City Treasurer c.. Z. Weber re-
ported balance February /, of s1Ss.
1885; receipts last month. s43.25I.-
a; expenditures $51,S9O62. Upon the
recommendation of the city solicitor
the commissioners agreed To settle
an appeal from viewers awards 10
George Hahn, made after Greenwood
street was graded. The action will
be settled for $3.50 without court
trial.
Investigation Pending
Pending an investigation of legal
requirements about loan ordinances
the measure introduced by Commits
sioner w. Fl. Lynch asking for a vite
on s5O,00O bond issue for street pay
ing work, was not passed finally
Ordinances which were passed fin
ally provided for the purchase OF
new auto truck for the city mecban-
ician; purchase of $500 feet Of cable
for underground extensions and plac-
ing of additional lights
Commissioner E. u. Gross was ai-
rected to advertise for bids for fur
nishing gasoline to the city. He said
a large refining company submitted
the same price for supply as last
year, but the councilmen decided IL
was necessary to advertise for hi1s
and award a contract