The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-12-27

The recent conjunction of the planets
seems to have stirred up a great storm
in police circles at the head of the
lakes. Mrs. Smith no sooner had made
her startling charges to the effect that
nearly a score Of policemen had habit
ually imbibed booze and even gambled
at her West hotel than Mayor Baxter
filed charges against chief Vincent
McKinnon, something like % counts
being included in the list of alleged
derelictions.
AS these lines are written, a day
ahead of the usual date, owing to
Christmas effect on publication day,
chief McKinnon is being given hear
ing before the police commissioners in
Superior. The Duluth policemen,
charged with derelictions, have had
their hearings set for Friday afternoon,
Dec. 26. The score of them affected
have employed Hon. Ben. M. Goldberg
to conduct their defense.
When the West hotel was raided, the
daily papers gave the event about a
dozen lines of attention. The Rip-saw
blew off the lid and showed the public
the boiling, seething, nasty mess be-
low. Since then, both daily papers
have given more or less space to the
mutual charges against Mrs. Selma
Smith and various members of the po.
lice force.
Mrs. Smith has insisted all along that
her place was raided because plain
clothes officer Cavanaugh had a grudge
against her. She also felt that there
was a possibility of the new manager
Of the old Rex theater doing what he
could to encourage Cavanaugh, said
manager Vance, in Mrs. Smiths esti.
nation, wishing to get the hotel for
himself or friends.
In an interview with the Rip-saw
man, Mrs. Smith repeatedly stated that
she was conscious of no guilt. She de-
clared that she never sold booze for
gain and that she never allowed women
in the place, either as roomers or tran
sient guests. She stated that she did
try to make her rooms comfortable and
popular with her guests.
Mrs. Smith said that she bought the
hotel six years ago, Mr.. David Williams
OF the First National bank loaning her
the money on her individual note to
acquire the place. Some time before
the raid she could have sold out for
$4,000 had she possessed lease. Mrs.
Smith also feels that Tom Furniss de-
ceived her and even caused her loss.
by assuring her that he did not propose
to sell out, when he really had about
Qnro0H IN Z
sell.
After the hearing Of Herbert L..
Cavanaugh, as a result of Mrs. Smith IS
charges that he made improper ad-
vances to her maid and that he raided
her place through spite, said officer
complained in the daily press that he
had not been given a square deal by
the civil service commission and even
by safety commissioner Murnian. Mr..
Cavanaugh was especially displeased
with the fact that the snarling Samuel
son butted into the hearing, yet the
defendant policeman was denied the
benefit of counsel where his interests
were so vitally concerned.
Mr.. Cavanaugh's very. plain and
startling statements added oil to the
flames. He has since resigned from
the. force. He declares that he is not
through, by any means, so far as show
ing up certain people and methods are
concerned. He also declares that if
certain people give certain testimony
at the hearing, in behalf Of Mrs. Smith
and to the detriment of himself and
others, although he will not be actually
on trial, some arrests for perjury will
be made. A conditional promise to
make complaint against John A. Todd
for illegally carrying booze adds zest
to the situation.
Mrs. Smith, by the way, looks on
Edward Vance as poor sport and
man of blemished honor. Vance, it will
be remembered, was arrested for gamb-
ling on the night of the raid, the game
being in his room, if the Rip-saw is
rightly informed.
At the police station, when $3.50 bail
was demanded of Vance, he was short
$lOO OF the sum. Virgil Anderson,
fellow galnester, kindly and cheerfully
advanced 500 to the grocery salesman.
Now Vance has a brother-in-law,
named Frank Morse, an insurance man.
living at 218 First avenue west. His
help and influence seem to have been
employed by the grocery salesman in
getting out Of the scrape.
1t is alleged that Morse represented
to the city attorney that Vance was a
Past Exalted Grand Ruler of the B.
P. o. E. That, presumably, had great
influence with the snarling Samuelson,