The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-01-24

police McKinnon on charges preferred
by mayor Baxter, is proving to be one
Of the longest continuous performances
of any show ever staged in this low
land city.
The suspension of the veteran chief
and then the beginning of his trial
happened some time last year. When
or how it will end cannot be told as
these lines are written.
That veteran chief McKinnon really
is the victim Of the Bingoland bunch
and few political gangsters is becom-
ing more and more apparent as the
days 60 by.
This Bingoland bunch, captained by
bold gangsters, with an eye to the
main chance, has been curse to Su-
perior for many years. Twice defeat
ed, it now is in position to receive
third and final defeat. It is bold,
desperate, last stand in foray to re-
gain and hold political domination.
There seems to be no realization that
the city, the citizens, the sentiments
of heavy majority and even the
times have changed.
McKinnon in Great Hazard.
A pitcher eventually goes to the
well once too often and chief McKin-
non stands in great hazard Of expert
encing that fate. Honest men and
women, regardless of class, color, creed
or political opinion, now feel that the
Man Without Sin is more to be pitied
than blamed and that his noisy, ILL
hammered, short-sighted, roughneck
friends are really his own worst enc
mics.
This deduction is warranted on the
facts as they have been slowly, tedi-
ously but surely brought out during
the trial. The lawyers for the de-
tense consistently employ dilatory tao
tics. A great effort has been made to
work the sympathy racket in favor Of
their client. They also introduce mass
of material, having no bearing on the
case, but which befogs the situation,
takes attention away from the defend
ant and wearies as well as disgusts the
people. The learned and long-winded
pettifoggers for the defense apparent
~ believe that public disgust will
cause the blame to be put on mayor
Baxter, the man with courage enough
to file the charges.
Incidentally, even if chief McKin
non is convicted, considerable question
able history may be written into the
records. While this chaff certainly
will be thrown out if appeal from the
police boards decision is made to the
circuit court, it may prove Of value
in some future political, campaign.
Jockeying for Political Benefit.
Many of the Bingoland bunch
wish to jockey for political advantage
rather than from love Of chief Nc
Kinnon. While he is an esteemed
member of the old gang, the younger
members Of the bunch realize that he
has had quite long day, so to speak,
and that his sun is about due to set.
Much of the evidence presented by
the defense has proved to be Of the
boomerang variety, throwing an unfa-
vorable light on both the defendant
and the witnesses, themselves, in many
cases.
Former mayor Crumpton, under
whom Mr.. McKinnon served as chief
of police, was one such witness. Mr..
Crumpton testified that chief McKin-
non was efficient and ever willing to
cooperate with the city's mayor, the
implied motive Of that testimony be-
ing, of course, to show that if chief
McKinnon had not done so under Bax-
ter, it was the fault of the latter and
not the former.
But the crafty lawyers for the de-
Tense overlooked the fact that Col.
Crumpton would not be immune from
cross-examination. Mr.. Hartley, attor-
ney for the prosecution, caused the
former mayor to testify that his pre-
5 decessor had abolished the redight
district and worked earnestly and ef-
fectively for law enforcement, just as
mayor Baxter has done.
Mr.. Crumpton then admitted that he
had no sooner become well established
in the mayors chair than the redlight
district was permitted to reopen and
Superior again became quite wide
open town.
Crumpton Course Was Illegal.
That course on the part Of the
Crumpton administration was abso-
lutely contrary to the laws of state
and city. Chief McKinnon's previous
testimony that he had given mayor
Crumpton hearty and efficient sup.
port during his administration, showed
logical minds that the chief was not
confirmed enemy of organized vice;
that he was willing to permit the
breaking of laws Of state and city for
: the purpose of holding the job of chief
Of police; and that, as result Of the
McKinnonian admissions, corrobora-
tive evidence was given to the Bax-
terrain charges.
It is true that the Crumpton admin
istration came years before the Bax-
ter administration, therefore what hap
pened then has no logical bearing on
the present case. That line of reason
ing, however, has been highly negatived
by the over-zealous and spiteful de-
Tense in bringing ancient history into
the case, a procedure never contem-
plated by mayor Baxter.
Former mayor Konkel, alias "Silver