Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-31
EbERS I Elm
OPPOSED TO.
WH|TEWASH
Attempt Of Mayor and CON-
missioners Ringer and Zim-
man to Clear Sutton and
StoIIey Halted Temporarily.
Department CRISIS ,
is NEARING CLIMAX
Vote on Charges Will Deter
mine Forces Supporting Dis
graceful Invasions Of Omaha
Homes by Police Squads.

Homes by Police Squads.
Police Chief Marshall Eberstein
yesterday Afternoon locked horns
with Commissioner J.. Dean Ringer
and certain other members of the
city commission in all attempt to
whitewash Detectives Paul Sutton
and L. H. Stolley for the part the
officers played in the unwarranted
and disgraceful invasion, December
s, of the Nels A. Nehleen home, 35Z3
Patrick avenue.
In direct and emphatic antagonism
to the plans of Mayor Smith and
Commissioner Ringer, supported by
Commissioner Zimman, the chief
took the witness stand and declared
in 70 uncertain terms that Sutton
and Stolley were guilty of thrustlng
themselves into the Nehleen home
without a warrant, and of humill-
atng and embarrassing the members
Of the household.
"They did this in fragrant viola
ton of their specific instructions,
declared Chief Eberstein to the utter
CONSERVATION of Commissioner
Ringer and Mayor Smith, whose
scheme, they indicated. did not con-
template the chief taking the wit
ness stand. "They exceeded their
authority and manifested plainly
their incompetence he continued.
"As chief of police I do not hesi-
tate to say that have no use for
either of them on the force"
Zinnian Asks Dismissal.
Chief Eberstein was called to the
witness stand after all attempt had
been made by Commissioner Zim-
man, supported by Mayor Smith and
Commissioner Ringer, to have the
charges against the police officers
dismissed.
Mr.. Zimman's motion came after
Mr.. aud Mrs. Nehleen testified to
the unlawful actions of the police
officers, who thrust themselves upon
the privacy of their home, without
warrant or provocation, forced Mrs.
Nehleen, who was taking a bath in
the room into which the officers
bolted, to flee in shame to another
room and hide in tile draperies of
a curtain; searching the house from
top to bottom and committing a
nuisance in the cellar.
The mayor and Commissioner
Ringer declared the case should be
dismissed because the Nehleens as
serted they were willing to forgive
and forget"
Mayor Lectures Bee.
Mayor Smith had concluded to
submit the motion for a vote, when
he took occasion to administer a
lecture to The Bee reporter, who
occupied 4 seat at the press table.
Perhaps The Bee man would be
willing to explain some of the ac-
counts of the affair about which he
has been writing SO many reports"
the mayor suggested, pursuant to
bitter attack on this paper by
Attorney Clinton Bronze, who rep
resented Sutton and Stolley.
Despite the fact the mayor had
repeatedly reminded the attorney
that The Bee was not being tried
and taken him to task for not con-
fning his efforts to the case, the
city's chief executive seized the OPP
portunity to aim a shaft at this
paper.
charges" was the reply Of the. re-
porter. Chief Eberstein filed Me
charges during the absence Of Mr..
Ringer. Why do you not cali the
chief to the stand and learn the re-
suit of his Investigations"
Call for Chief.
Commissioner Butler was on his
feet in a moment demanding that
the police chief be given an oppor-
tunity to be heard.
"The police commissioner does
not want the chief to testify" ex-
planned Commissioner Zimman. In
spite of the efforts to keep the chief
from making a statement, Mayor
Smith was mcrced to allow him to
take the stand.
In emphatic words Eberstein told
the commissioner Sutton and Stol-
ley were unfit to be members of the
department. He added that he did
not want them to work for him.
Following the recent action of the
city commission giving the police
chief direct charge of the men un-
der him, and curtailing the author
ity of the police commissioners, the
antagonistic attitudes struck by the
chief and the commissioner yester-
day is taken to indicate that show
down is slated.
Chief Is Victor.
The chief was the victor in the first
clash, however, and instead of coat
of whitewash being administered. ac-
cording to Ringers manifested
plans, to the two men who Eber-
stein claims are guilty, the case was
taken under advisement. 1t was de
clared that the commission would
Continued on Page Two. Column Ons.l