Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-11
Presence of Witnesses Police
Tried to Drive Away
From Omaha Causes
Postponement.


on the report of Detectives Herdzina
and Armstrong, who are charged
with being drunk at the time.
Until Monday no one connected
with the police department. had in
terviewed single witness outside of
policemen charged with misconduct
indirectly interested in the matter.
The mayor called at the hospital and
interviewed Mrs. Brown. Follow
ing this visit the mayor prepared tie
statement which he read to the coun-
Gil this morning.
Dodges Real Issue.
In spite of the fact that the state
nent was carefully prepared and
designed for a purpose, the mayor
was unablelo hide his prejudice.
The mayor used his every en-
deavor to keep Commissioner Zim-
man from asking for the suspension
of the detectives pending the coun-
ellis investigation. He ignored Mr..
Zimman, he tried to outtalk HIM
and attempted to put Commissioner
Tres motion for continuance. Mr.
Zimman was talking and Commits
sioner Ringer was on his feet pro-
testing. The mayor agreed with
Commissioner Ringer on every
point. Undaunted, Mr.. Zimman
continued to register his protest
under difficulties.
Il tell you, Mr.. Mayor I have a
right to be heard before this body"
shouted Commissioner Zimman. Il
know to certainty that policemen
every day are trying to intimidate
these girls who should be witnesses
in this case. This is absolutely true
and I can prove the truth of my
statement. Certain matters have
come to my attention recently
which have caused me to hang my
head in shame as member of this
body.
Want Men Suspended.
II tell you that these men should
be suspended. Such men should
not be clothed with the authority
of policemen in any civilized COM
munity."
Mr.. Zimman, who was standing
by Mr.. Ringers desk, looked the
police commissioner straight in the
eye. He walked closer and en-
plasized his accusations by bring
ing his hand forcibly down upon
the top of the desk.
Il repeat, sir, that these defense
less girls are being intimidated."
Appeals to Mayor
This proved more than the head
of the department could stand. Mr..
Ringer jumped to his feet. He
shouted protest and looked ask
ance at the mayor. The mayor
joined Ringer in his shouts of pro-
test. Mr.. Zimman, deliberately
and undaunted, continued to hurl
his charges despite the difficulties.
II don't care what you say" de-
clared Commissioner Zimman. Il
have responsibility as member
of this body. | have a duty to per-
form under the unfortunate condi-
tons which are facing us today. |
also have rights on the floor of this
council and | know what those rights
are. / recognize my duty here and
no one is going to keep me from dis
charging that duty.
81 tell you the tactics of the Oma-
ha police department are worse
than militarism in its most obnoN-
ious form. You are using Mrs.
Browns weakened physical condi-
ton as pretext to continue this
case. This is not being done IN
good faith. 1t is not necessary for
Mrs. Brown to be here for this trial.
This good woman already has been
subjected to enough cruel treat
ment and humiliation. l am not i'll
favor of adding insult to the injury
which already has been done her.
Attitude Entirely Wrong.
at seems to me that the attitude
OF the police commissioner and the
chief of police in this matter is en-
tirely wrong. Were l at the head
OF the police department, would
resign thousand times before l
would permit these conditions to
prevail under my management.
These methods will have to cease
somewhere sometime. The police
are running wild in Omaha without
respect to human liberty or human
rights. This practice must cease,
and it is up to this council to put a
stop to it if the, head of the depart